Dovetail Cutters

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

I am just starting the HH Grinding rest and have what may seem to be a simple question, the dovetail cutter, when we say 30 degree or 60 degree from what plane is the angle talking about?

What I mean to say is – is it 30 degree from the horizontal or the vertical plane?

Hope I have explained myself

thanks

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Measured up from the horizontal plane. Think about it, if the other way around, the resulting sliding assembly would be very shallow.

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

To be honest thats what prompted the question when I was looking at it – it just looked wrong so I then started to think which way was the dovetail measured

thanks

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Beware, not all "60 degree" dovetail slides are in fact 60, some are 55!

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

In this particular case would that really be an issue as the same cutter would be used to create the 2 mating parts, I understand the argument for getting what you ask for ie 60 degree should be 60 degree but as long as I use the same cutter it shouldn't really make a difference – or would it?

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

No, get a 60. What I was pointing out that some machines that look like they have 60 degree dovetails in fact have 55, don't ask! Sussex tools a good source.

[TrevorhParticipant @trevorh]

Thanks for the tip Kwil I will give them a ring

thanks for the advice

[Anonymous]

Posted by KWIL on 30/10/2012 10:42:54:

What I was pointing out that some machines that look like they have 60 degree dovetails in fact have 55, don't ask!

I won't ask, I'll just say Bridgeport.

Andrew

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

And M300

[Author]

Posts