The Dovetail Blog
Dovetail joints — bringing order in an otherwise orderless world.
A dovetail joint is called a dovetail because its shape resembles the fan-shaped tail of a dove. The joint consists of a series of interlocking tenons (pins) and mortises (tails) that are shaped like the spread-out tail feathers of a dove, providing a strong and visually appealing connection. The name reflects both the joint's shape and its functionality. To make a good dovetail joint it must be balanced, the strength versus the load it’s required to take, and hence it must look balanced, too strong and the elements will look bulky and out of place, too light and the potential...