Woodworking Demonstration – Dovetails with Bob Van Dyke

Cutting dovetails for furniture- an 18th Century approach with Bob Van Dyke

Contemporary furnituremakers tend to highlight the joinery used in their furniture and most people consider any “handwork” especially dovetails, as a hallmark of quality and craftmanship. In the 18th century cabinetmakers went to great lengths to conceal the joinery in the furniture they made. The ability to cut dovetails was considered so basic that no one gave them a second thought. How else would you hold two boards together? Nails
cost money, screws cost even more money- but dovetails were free!

Join furniture maker, instructor and writer Bob Van Dyke as he demonstrates the making of this most basic but still fascinating furniture joint. Bob will demonstrate the making of through and lapped (half blind) dovetails and will demonstrate examples of how these joints were utilized in the construction of everything from simple drawers and boxes to full size high chests and dressing tables. This demonstration is suitable for woodworkers and non-woodworkers alike- all you need is an interest in history, period furniture and, most importantly, Annapolis!

Bob Van Dyke Bio:
After 18 years as an award-winning chef in French restaurants Bob left the business to begin a career in woodworking and teaching. Furniture making had provided an outlet to the pressures of the restaurant business until 1993 when he started the Harris Enterprise School of Fine Woodworking in Manchester, CT. In seven years of operation the school gained national exposure and recognition. In 2000 he opened the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking in Manchester, CT. The school was an instant success with students and instructors regularly coming from all over the world to teach or attend classes. He continually strives to expand his skills and knowledge and had been studying and building period furniture for over 30 years. He is a Contributing Editor for Fine Woodworking Magazine and has written articles for Woodshop News and American Period Furniture. He has also done many videos for www.finewoodworking.com.

Bob teaches classes and gives seminars at a number of different schools and woodworking guilds around the country. He is an active member of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers and was the founder and editor of the Society’s quarterly e-magazine Pins & Tales until 2019. Bob resides in a converted historic horse-shoe nail factory in Hartford, Ct.- just three blocks from the Wadsworth Atheneum. His free time is spent researching historic inlay techniques, walking around Hartford and playing with his 4 grandsons whenever possible. He is especially interested in Federal-style furniture and the inlay work that was such a big part of that
style.
bobvandyke52@gmail.com