r/BeginnerWoodWorking • u/CtrayX • 6d ago

Discussion/Question ⁉️ Pine board composition.

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Learning to hand cut dovetails. Been a long week. Why are the insides of some of these big box pine boards like this? Some are solid and compact like the bottom board with the tails. Some are loose and falling apart like the top board with the pins. Why is this happening? Is it the board or me?

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u/charliesa5 6d ago edited 6d ago

Sharp chisels are a must--very sharp chisels. Then, there is the wood itself--it's very soft. Personally, I don't waste my time hand cutting dovetails in softwood. Poplar is ok to learn on, and is cheap, but even poplar is a bit soft.

If you insist on using soft wood, like pine, Rob Cosman uses a chisel with a 17º bevel, that is very sharp for pine.
Bevel for Pine

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u/CtrayX 6d ago

I do not insist on pine but believe I will move up to poplar next. Technique may have been the real issue here. I appreciate the link.