Secret Mitered Dovetails with Kaare Loftheim at Colonial Williamsburg

In the above video you’ll see a fantastic tutorial by Colonial Williamsburg craftsman Kaare Loftheim. He was kind enough to share a special tutorial on how to cut a Secret Mitered Dovetail joint!

What purpose does a secret mitered dovetail joint serve? In the 18th Century dovetails weren’t seen as a thing of beauty, as they are now. They were seen as provincial, so fine furniture makers hid the strong joint inside a cleaver miter.

I filmed this skill tutorial (and several other tutorials) inside the 18th Century Anthony Hay Cabinet Shop at Colonial Williamsburg.

Here are all my videos & articles of the Anthony Hay’s Cabinetmaking Shop at Colonial Williamsburg:

• Anthony Hay’s Cabinetmaking Shop Tour part 1
• Anthony Hay’s Cabinetmaking Shop Tour part 2
• Anthony Hay’s Cabinetmaking Shop Tour part 3
• Secret Mitered Dovetails with Kaare Loftheim at Colonial Williamsburg
• Treadle Lathe Wood Turning at Colonial Williamsburg Hay Cabinet Shop
• Resawing Wide Boards at Colonial Williamsburg Hay Cabinet Shop
• Dry Fitting a Walnut Chair with Brian Weldy at Colonial Williamsburg
• Stunning Colonial Williamsburg Mother Plane Collection

Below are a few photographs that I took at the Anthony Hay cabinet maker shop at historical Colonial Williamsburg:

Discover a treasure trove of woodworking knowledge by visiting the Anthony Hay Cabinet Shop blog.

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