Crafting a Dovetail Joint Coffee Drip Stand _ Korean Cedar Wood

 

Crafting a Coffee Drip Stand with Dovetail Joints

I made a coffee drip stand using dovetail joints. If you want to see the final result right away, scroll all the way down to the bottom and click the video link to watch the process.

I turned rough lumber into three perfectly flat boards using a jointer, thickness planer, and table saw. It’s always satisfying to see rough edges transform into smooth, precise surfaces.

Using a scribe gauge, square, and an adjustable angle ruler, I carefully mark the tails for the dovetail joint.

I secure the board with clamps and start sawing with a Suizan folding dozuki saw.

Sometimes I saw with the board upright, but laying it flat allows for much smoother cuts. This saw is incredibly sharp, featuring a 0.3mm blade that delivers exceptionally clean cuts.

The folding design not only protects the blade but also makes it highly convenient to store. With its ideal weight, this saw is especially recommended for men who appreciate quality tools!

I start by striking with a flat chisel to rough out the shape, then gently refine it with a dovetail chisel to clean up the surface.

This isn’t a process where you can just hammer away or randomly shave—it requires precision and technique. But I’ll skip the technical details for now. 😉

Using the tails as a guide, I mark the exact position of the pins on the second board. This step is crucial for achieving a seamless dovetail joint, as even a slight misalignment can affect the final fit.

With the pins fully marked, the board is now ready for precise cutting to match the tails. Attention to detail at this stage ensures the joint will be both strong and visually appealing.

For the mitered section, I make a 45-degree cut with the saw, while the rest is cut vertically. Experienced woodworkers can finish everything cleanly with just a saw.

As for me, with only 10 years of woodworking experience, I leave a bit of extra room and finish up with a chisel. 😅 It feels like you need at least 12 years of practice to pull off a perfect finish with just sawing—kind of like those "No Massé Shots Under 300 Points" rules at billiard halls. 😂

The chiseling for the pins is finally complete. Now, the most challenging task lies ahead!

Using a 45-degree jig made with the table saw, I align the double-edged saw flush against the surface and cut the mitered joint.

It would be great to get it perfectly right on the first try, but in reality, that’s quite challenging. I recommend leaving a little extra material and carefully trimming it down with a chisel to get a perfect fit. With enough practice, you’ll be able to nail it in one go!

Now, shall we try assembling it?

I test-fitted the tails and pins, and I can see a few small gaps here and there.

I applied glue and tightened the clamps securely.

The two boards fit perfectly at a right angle!

And with that, it’s complete!
You can check out the entire making process in the YouTube video below.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the video!