Product Details

• Actors: Lonnie Bird
• Directors: Lonnie Bird
• Producers: Lonnie Bird
• Format: DVD
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1.0
• Studio: Lonnie Bird, Inc.
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FTYTR6
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,109 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Handcut dovetails are both strong and beautiful. In this 60-minute DVD, Lonnie will show you how to layout and cut perfect dovetails for your next project. The DVD covers tool selection, layout, through dovetails, half-blind dovetails, and steps to dovetailing a box. Whether you have already tried your hand at dovetails or this is your first attempt, you will find many useful tips and suggestions for making your dovetails fit precisely the first time. The DVD is divided into several chapters including Tool Selection, Sharpening Chisels, Sawing to a Line, Chiseling to a Line, Cutting a Through Dovetail, Cutting a Half-Blind Dovetail, and Dovetailing a Box. Lonnie Bird is a professional woodworker and noted author, having published six books and dozens of articles. He also runs his own woodworking school. You can check out his class schedule at lonniebird.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In a sea of dovetail instructional material this is just okay, June 23, 2006

By	Jason T. Amsden (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Given there is just a tremendous amount of instructional material on this joint, one can certainly be more critical of what is out there. Lonnie Bird must be one of the top instructors as if you go to his site, classes are "waiting list only" a year in advance. I purchased the video to get a glimpse into his teaching style with only the hope of picking up something new as I already own alot of dovetail making books and videos.

It isn't going to hurt you to buy this video. Lonnie's instructions are sound and the production quality is pretty good relative what is out on the market today.

However, there seems to be alot missing, especially on properly holding a saw and body stance as well as clamping details (key concepts to success). Only two joints are discussed; the through and half blind dovetail...no mitered corners or other advanced topics are discussed. Almost nothing is really discussed or shown in relation to what to do when things go wrong. I think a key to the hands-on instruction experience is the instructor can see your mistake and correct you. Given Lonnie's vast teaching experience, it would have been nice to have him demonstrate common errors and corrections he gives to his students. Unfortunately this is something lacking in alot of instructional materials.

I found the book The Complete Dovetail to be much more detailed and even though there seems to be a certain religion in regards to pins or tails first, I think The Complete Dovetail makes a pretty good argument to doing the tails first. Of course The Complete Dovetail is not a video and there is almost always something missed in the translation of a vocational skill into text. In that regard I would recommend the video Dovetail a Drawer with Frank Klausz before I would recommend this video. Having cut dovetails freehand with satisfactory results using Frank's style I have to say there has never been a more single satisfying event in my hobby. Watching Frank zip out a dovetail is very entertaining and can at least give you a reference to what is _the best_ in regards to the time it takes to crank out a dovetail joint. Between the two (the book and Frank's video) you will be well on your way..at least I think I am.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very well done video, July 20, 2006

By	David A. Norbury (Greensboro, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've taken Lonnie's dovetail class and the video is as good (and may actually be better) than taking the class in person. The fact that you can go back and review the techniques any time you want is a great benefit. The video is technically well done. It has excellent lighting and detailed camera shots. The process he outlines works very well and I have used it to make a lot of dovetails. I will never go back to the router jig approach. I have a Leigh jig and I hate it. Lots of noise and a lot of sawdust everywhere. Making dovetails with hand tools is not nearly as difficult as it first seems and, at least for me, a whole lot more enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes a lot of the mystery out of this topic, July 5, 2006

By	Jim Gannon (Northeast Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Its easy to tell Lonnie is both a woodworker AND a teacher. The process of cutting and chiseling to a line just works so well to de-mystify the process of cutting dovetails. Like other amateurs I've read many articles about how to do this but Lonnie's approach lets you master one step at a time. I attended one of Lonnie's classes and this is "his way" and it really works. It'll take some patience and some practice but, in the end, you'll be so impressed with how good you are(!!!) and how good a teacher he is.