Dovetail Joinery

This series is meant to bring awareness of open ideas that are freely shared in open ways, often completely unlicensed. Each one of these technologies being closed and protected would have made the world very different. Some of them are so obvious you can't not copy them once you see them.

Have you ever stopped to think about how the furniture in your home is held together? Chances are, you've got at least one piece that uses dovetail joinery, a technique that's been around for centuries. But who invented this clever way of joining two pieces of wood together?

The truth is, we don't know for sure. Dovetail joinery has been used for so long that its origins are lost to history. Some say it was invented by the ancient Egyptians, while others claim it was the Greeks or the Chinese. Regardless of who came up with it first, the technique spread around the world, becoming a staple of woodworking everywhere.

What makes dovetail joinery so special? For one thing, it's incredibly strong. The interlocking tails and pins create a joint that's resistant to pulling apart, making it ideal for drawers, boxes, and other applications where strength is important. It's also beautiful to look at, with its distinctive zigzag pattern.

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