Hand cut dovetails were used to hold the sides of drawers together, but also to join the structural members of case furniture. Hand made screws and nails were relatively expensive and could rust and expand, sometimes cracking the wood they secured. Glues of the period sometimes weakened. Dovetails have great strength, holding pieces of wood in perfect alignment over long periods of time. This lavishly hand-carved cabinet from about 1890 shows structural dovetail joints on the back side.

The name “dovetail” comes from the appearance of the joint, resembling the triangle shape of a bird’s tail. The earliest examples are from furniture placed with mummies in Egypt thousands of years ago, and also in the burials of ancient Chinese emperors.

For thousands of years, a dovetail joint was created by a skilled cabinetmaker using small, precision saws and wood chisels. Tiny angled saw cuts were followed by careful cutting by a sharpened chisel on both sides to avoid splintering. One board had tiny “tails,” and the other had the larger “pins,” carefully measured to match and fit together exactly. When the joint is expertly executed, it is a thing of beauty, and a secure joining of two boards that can last for centuries. A little glue cements the connection, and a good dovetail joint has great strength and durability.

Remember that extra long bits are great when drilling through thicker hard metal but are much easier to snap. If you must use a long drill bit, keep your drill as straight as possible.

Lengths of a bit shank range from 0.0135 inches to 1 ½ inches or 1mm to 15mm. The larger your shank, the longer the bit is overall.

The shank of the bit is just as important as the bit style. The type of shank on your bit will assist in getting the smooth cut you want for every scenario. The shanks can differ in length and shape.

Dovetail joint

Before discussing the types of drill bits best used to puncture holes in hardened steel, let's quickly discuss what hardened steel is to understand better why certain bits are necessary.

Dovetail joint uses

Genuine hand made dovetails like these were the standard of good furniture craftsmanship until about 1870, when American ingenuity developed the “pin and cove” or round style dovetail, often seen on late Victorian and Eastlake furniture. These were cut with a jig or pattern, and an apprentice could create a very well fitting and attractive joint. Popular here into the 1890’s, these joints never gained acceptance outside of the U.S. and Canada. European cabinetmakers continued their hand-cut dovetails well into the 1900’s.

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Before you begin working on your next hardened steel project, quickly examine the specs ideal for the perfect drill bit.

Simpler country furniture often had larger dovetails, or even a single tail and pin. This country pine cupboard from the 1890’s has big country dovetails:

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Having the proper coating on a drill bit can reduce the heat created when the high speed and pressure of the bit come into contact with the metal. Titanium nitride and black oxide are excellent coating options due to their ability to reduce friction, thus reducing heat.

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Dovetails Pants

Hardened steel is typically medium to high-carbon steel that goes through a hardening process. To strengthen the metal, it is exposed to extremely high temperatures, then tempered (cooled down quickly) and heated again, creating a chemical reaction that hardens the outer layers of the material and forms a durable core.

This secretary desk from about 1780 was built by a good country carpenter, notice the dovetails on the side of the drawer, and holding the top and side planks together as well.

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A spiral bit or twist drill bit is made up of flutes – twisted parts of metal with sharp edges on each side. The most common number of flutes for cutting hardened steel is 4.

Dovetails clothing

Hardened steel is specifically designed to hold up against the most rugged conditions and jobs, so choosing the right size, material, coating, length, number of flutes, and angles will help ensure the hole is precisely how you want it.

Because hardened steel is made to be durable, long-lasting, and wear-resistant, drilling into it isn’t an easy task that you can accomplish with any drill bit. You need one that is just as strong as the material itself.

Dovetail joints often hold two boards together in a box or drawer, almost like interlocking the fingertips of your hands. As the dovetail joint evolved through the last one hundred thirty years, it becomes a clue for the age and authenticity of antique furniture. The type of dovetailed joint, especially in drawers, reveals much about furniture construction and dating. With just a little study of these examples, it is easy to spot true hand made construction vs. machine made furniture.

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While cutting into hardened steel can be challenging, it isn’t impossible, and with the right drill bit set, you can do it with great precision and a smooth, clean finish.

While browsing your local hardware store, you will come across an array of metal drill bit styles and shapes, each made for a specific type of cut. While you can use any drill bit you desire if it is rated for hardened steel, the best kind is a spiral or twist bit.

Dovetail Jig

Other drawer joints include sliding keyhole or French dovetails that were have been used since the 1890’s. Here is an oak cylinder roll desk from about 1895 with keyhole dovetailed drawers.

When it comes to the appropriate length, you need to get a bit long enough to make its way through the steel item with a clean cut.

These routers were ancestors of the electric precision tools of today, and could be used to rapidly cut a machined dovetail joint. Each cut is exactly like the others, each “tail” and “pin” are exactly matched. A close inspection shows no irregular saw cuts or variation from a skilled craftsman, but rather a precise and identical manufactured machined joint. These machine-cut dovetails are as strong and long lasting as the hand-made joints, and became the standard of better American furniture ever since the late 1890’s. Here is an early example of machine-cut dovetails on a 1920’s sideboard from a dining set:

The best way to drill through hardened steel is by applying ample pressure at a downward angle, avoiding tilting or turning. Even the slightest angle can cause an aggressive and uneven cut or even break the bit's tip.

Hardened steel is one of the most challenging metals to cut through when it comes to drilling. Please use the information and tips to choose the right drill bit the next time you work with this rugged and tough material.

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Types of dovetail joints

Because this steel material is so rigid, using a bit that can’t withstand high speed and intense heat can result in a burnt-out drill and a very messy cut.

European cabinetmakers continued to produce hand-cut dovetails through the 1930’s. Electric power tools, like routers and various types of saws were put into widespread use after World War II in the 1940’s. There was resistance – in England, carpenters unions went on strike over the use of electric saws, fearing the end of their livelihoods. Nevertheless, by the 1950’s, power tools were used in almost all furniture construction across Great Britain.

The use of hand tools and hand-cut dovetails is now the province of hobbyists and a few small shops creating authentic replicas of antique furniture. This over-view of the dovetailing techniques should easily help identification and dating of most furniture from the last 200 years.

The next technological development in joinery was again American. In the 1890’s, American furniture began to be mass produced, with interchangeable parts and speedy production for the growing and affluent middle class. The slow and laborious crafting and carving, one piece at a time, by a master woodworker was not suited to the new mass market. Steam power, transferred by pulleys and leather belts, operated saws, carving machines and routers that could copy an original pattern exactly.

Cobalt bits and carbide bits are other favorites in this space because they are heat-resistant and more durable than high-speed steel options.

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Where can you get the top drill bits for drilling hardened steel that meets the above criteria? Consider purchasing quality products from these top manufacturers in the industry:

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Single dovetail joint

The tip of your bit will provide a unique cut and entrance point for the rest of the tool, so you must identify the type and size of hole you need to make and pick the bit designed for that job.

Another angle to look for is the point angle of the drill bit. This feature also comes in various options, each ideal for a specific task.

The drill bit size you use when cutting hardened steel should depend on the hole size you are looking to create. There are various options offered, including:

When browsing these sites, remember to key in on the specific details, recommendations, and requirements for the project you are about to tackle.

Dovetail meaning

Like stainless steel, hardened steel needs a strong and durable bit to get smooth precision when drilling into it. However, stainless steel doesn’t have as high a carbon content as hardened steel, making it a little easier to work with.

Hardened steel is often used in industrial settings or for products designed for strength and durability and made to last. Because hardened steel is specifically made to resist damage and breakage, drilling a hole into it can be difficult.

High-speed steel is the most popular material to use for drilling hardened steel. This bit has the strength and ability to puncture hardened steel with a smooth, clean cut.

Here is an example of an Eastlake chest of drawers with characteristic “spoon” carving and “pin and cove” dovetails from the 1880’s:

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