Make a Dovetailed Shaker Tray with Megan Fitzpatrick

Make a classic Shaker silverware tray in this introduction to hand-cut dovetails. In this two-day class, you’ll learn:

• Dovetail layout using dividers
• How to use a backsaw to saw to a line
• How to wield a coping or fret saw
• How to pare and chop to a line with a chisel
• Strategies for transferring the tails to the pin board
• Techniques for fitting the joint
• How to lay out then cut and fair the handles (both the hand holds and the curved top edge)
• How to smooth-plane your surfaces
• How cut a rabbet
• And of course, how to put it all together (and why we like liquid hide glue).

For information on Covington, including where to stay and where to eat, click here.

Cost


The class fee is $425 (due at registration), plus a materials fee TBD (no more than $50, and hopefully less) due at the start of class. (Cancellations will be accepted up until four weeks before the class for a full refund. If cancellation occurs within four weeks prior to the start of class, a refund will be issued only if the slot can be filled.)

For information on Covington, including where to stay and where to eat, click here.

Tool List

• Cutting/Marking Gauge (FWIW, I prefer a wheel marking gauge, such as the Tite-Mark)
• Dividers (two pair if you have ‘em)
• Marking knife (Ideally, one that has one flat side, but any will do)
• Dovetail template/marking gauge or bevel gauge
• Dovetail saw
• Coping saw or fretsaw
• Bevel-edge chisels (ideally 1/4” or 3/8”, and 1/2” – but bring whatever you have)
• Chisel Mallet
• Rasp (11 or 13-grain)
• Files and/or sandpaper (#80 through #180-grit)
• Spokeshave (optional)
• Rabbet plane (optional)
• Block plane
• Smooth plane
• Double square (a.k.a. diemaker’s square or machinist’s square) or 4” or 6” square
• .5mm mechanical pencil (yes, really – .5!)

We have a small number of tools to share, for those who need them.

If the class sells out, we recommend signing up for the waitlist – we almost always have to fill at least one space.