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Okay...10 hours spent now working on the dovetail M and T neck joint on the Dreadie..

Why am I reminded of the comedy skit where every time the bloke trims one leg on the table he then then discovers that one of the other legs is now a fraction too long??

Don't know how many shims and pieces of shavings Ive glued onto the tenon but Im probably getting close to a world record.

kiwigeo39085.2628009259

Looks like you're living a nightmare there Martin, how about going Mario's route and do a butt joint? Now that would simplify a whole lot!

Because of the compound taper of a dove tail mortise and tenon it is a joint that assumes true center when formed. It is a tricky thing to adjust the yaw on this joint unless you understand the cause and effect well. It should be totaly unnecessary to ever work the tenon or mortise faces. Rather work only the cheeks and heel fit to the body and as little as possible via flossing. That way all you are ever doing is moving the tenon in a bit deeper and with very minor rotations. There by only needing a single shim per side if at all. removing material from the tenon is just opening up a big can of worms. I am not saying you did, mind you. I am just warning newbees not to work the tenon.MichaelP39085.3775578704

send me pics and I can let you know what you need. In the mean time get some Chalk and sticky backed sand paper 100 grit.
    

[QUOTE=MichaelP] Rather work only the cheeks and heel fit to the body and as little as possible via flossing. That way all you are ever doing is moving the tenon in a bit deeper and with very minor rotations. There by only needing a single shim per side if at all. removing material from the tenon is just opening up a big can of worms. I am not saying you did, mind you. I am just warning newbees not to work the tenon.[/QUOTE]

Hi Michael,

No Im not removing anything from the tenon face..just adding shims over lower section of same.

Trial an error as they say but Ill get there.

Cheers

Okay I just nailed it....got the joint fitting nice and tight with no play on joint when I flex neck at headstock end.

After chalking up the tenon I noted that lower tenon was taking the chalk and there was nothing on bottom dovetail. I sanded a bit of lower tenon and eventually got chalk showing on lower dovetail indicating that it was making contact with bottom of mortise. Rake on neck didnt need any adjustment so all is good.

Thanks for the comments and encouragement.

Cheers