cutting dovetails

[chuck-ia]

I just seem to have a heck of a time filing dovetails for sights or underlugs. have in the past used a hacksaw and cut a bunch of slots, then chisled, then filed, once I got the right length and depth I use a 3 sided file with one side ground smooth to cut the dovetail, I can get them to fit tight but they just don't look perfect if ya look close. (sometimes ya don't have to look real close) I was wondering, have any of you used a machining vice that bolts to your drill press? I am thinking about getting one and trying it out. I would use a straight cutter and not a dovetail cutter, once I got the slot cut to the right depth and length I would still have to use a 3 sided file to cut the dovetail. It would not be as precise as a milling machine but I would think it would work. flinch

 

[OTHERN]

It probably wont work. Most drill presses are made to go up and down, not with a side pressure like you are talking about. The spindle will usually work loose and screwup everything, take it from someone who has tried it.

 

[Packdog]

What doesn't look right about them?

If they are sliding in above the level of the dovetail then you probably just need to knock the point of your lug or sight off a little.

PD

 

[Birddog6]

Two problems I see people have filing a dovetails.

1: Keeping the surfacr flat. This is a must (to make it look nice) & practice makes perfect. Try filing it & when you think you are close to done. take a permanent black marker & color in the slot fully. Now file it carefully & you will imediately see the high & low spots.

2: Carefully file off the pointed edge of the sight or dovetail to the same roundness of the slot you cut. Most files will not file a sharp pointed edge like the dovetail is cut, so when you make the opening large enough to accomodate the dovetail, you may have a gap as the dovetail part and the slot doesn't match.
Before you get the dovetail cut all the way, file that point off each side of the dovetail just a few thousands & now fit your dovetail. Lay the dovetail edge up to the slot & look at the slot & the dovetail. Also you can take a doveetail & cut one in half & use the half as a guide to making the slot point correct. Fit the sample on one side, then go to the other side, keep making sure you don't make the slot too big trying to get the angles right.

An alternative way is to file the dovetail & then use a chisel of proper angle & point to open the slot & lift it a tad, then you tap it down around the dovetail, take the dovetail out, tap it down a tad more to tighten it, put the dovetail back in & file finish it.

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