Free woodworking plan

Hand-Cut Dovetail Keepsake Box

Difficulty: Advanced · Estimated time: about 15 hr of hands-on work, not counting glue and finish drying or cure time

A small walnut box with through dovetails and a fitted lid.

A skill-building project for hand-tool work: marking, sawing and chopping through dovetails, then fitting a lid.

Materials

• Walnut — 1 @ 1/2" x 4" x 36"
• Baltic birch plywood — 1/4" x 8" x 10" (bottom panel)
• Brass hinges — 1 pair
• Shellac — 8 oz

Tools

• Dovetail saw
• Bench chisels (1/4", 1/2")
• Marking gauge
• Dovetail marker
• Coping saw

Safety: Power tools and finishes can cause serious injury. Read and follow every tool and product manual, use guards and push sticks, wear eye and hearing protection, and work in a ventilated area. These plans are for general information; check measurements and your own skill before cutting. You build at your own risk, and Handy at Home is not liable for injury or damage. See the Terms.

Steps

1. Mill and mark

   Dimension four sides and set a marking gauge to stock thickness; scribe baselines on all ends.

   • Label faces with a cabinetmaker's triangle.

2. Cut tails

   Lay out tails at 1:6, saw to the baseline, and remove waste with a coping saw and chisel.

   • Saw on the waste side of the line.

3. Transfer to pins

   Use the tails to knife the pin layout onto the mating boards.

   • Knife lines transfer cleaner than pencil for pin layout.

4. Cut pins and fit

   Saw and chop pins, then dry-fit. Pare tight spots carefully.

   • Never force a dry fit — it can split the board.

5. Bottom groove and glue-up

   Cut a groove for the bottom, glue up the box with the bottom floating, check for square.

   • Dry-fit the bottom in the groove before glue so it is not trapped too tight.

6. Lid and finish

   Saw the lid free, plane the mating edges, install hinges and apply shellac.

   • Cut the lid free only after the box is fully cured and square.

Always follow your tools’ safety instructions and wear eye protection. Free for personal use; please don’t resell or republish these plans.

© 2026 Handy at Home. Plan text and images are free for personal use only.