Bowtie Keys Butterfly Keys

Рет қаралды 420,231

Күн бұрын

How to make and install a dovetail key, or butterfly key, or as I call it, a bow tie key. Cut out the key, make a matching mortise in the workpiece, and glue it in place... all the details to make you successful! When working with "live-edge" or "natural-edge" slabs, cracks and splits are common. A decorative bow tie, or dovetail, key will secure the crack from opening wider and add a decorative touch to your work.

Пікірлер: 117

@mingw6965 11 жыл бұрын

Great video! The demonstration and thorough explanation is so valuable for me towards learning woodworking, especially live edge furniture. Thank you!!

@norahmad7060 8 жыл бұрын

one thing for sure. you got good voice, just like a TV newscaster.

@suleymaniku 9 жыл бұрын

This is a great tutorial. Greetings from Istanbul.

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

And greetings from Wisconsin, USA! Thanks for watching!

@bradsaltzman4145 8 жыл бұрын

Loved how well laid out and informative this video is. Ran into a crack in slab and this was just what I needed to get on track. Thanks!

@downtoearthwoodworks 8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@JughandleWooden 10 жыл бұрын

Nice job, I could listen to your voice all day, very soothing

@JordanDenningOnline 6 жыл бұрын

Get this man a radio talk show, Golden voice

@izeugirdor 11 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you make these videos. You are very informative and inspiring. Sorry to see the saw got you on the last cut. Keep up the good work.

@Schroedrsnufkin 10 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial. You gave me some great little secrets (the binder plastic). I think I can move to a higher level with this info. Bow ties are cool.

@bensimpsonnz 10 жыл бұрын

Steve your accent rules !!! Good video

@commanderscroob 9 жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to make and post this. I am restoring an antique washstand with a severely cracked top and shelf. The bowtie technique seems to be the solution and your tutorial will make it fairly easy! Cheers!

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

Sounds great. Good luck!

@jorgecarlos6282 7 жыл бұрын

Excelente video, precisamente anoche hice una mariposa, hoy en la noche la haré la mortaja y la insertaré, este video me llega caído del cielo. Gracias y cuidado con las manos maestro.

@annawiley8663 8 жыл бұрын

just magic to watch you work man! thanks for sharing with me bud!

@gr8scott95 10 жыл бұрын

Great video. This is next on my list of thing to conquer. I've done a few things with slab wood and am to a point that the next one I want to use has a big crack in the middle.

@davenagel4409 7 жыл бұрын

Remember the days when all we had was a wormdrive and thats all I needed to frame with when cutting studs, rafters and plywood

@PinwheelMusicChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome video, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

@bobjodoin825 11 жыл бұрын

Steve,I really have enjoyed your videos. I look forward to seeing new ones in the future.Thanks :)

@bostonfrank5081 11 жыл бұрын

Ever seen the movie "Me, Myself and Irene"? You sound exactly like the narrator from that movie. Great radio voice indeed. Thanks for the video, I will be using this technique to tie up (pun intended) some cracks on a couple walnut slabs that will be used for a dining room table top. Cheers!

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Good question... it's all a matter of what you want. If you want to make the crack less noticeable, your method is great. If you want the crack to be a feature, then you only need to stabilize it against further movement.

@raymondbarton8580 5 жыл бұрын

Great hints for a great outcome Thank you

@levicrowley9915 9 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial. Thank you!

@ljbobb1 8 жыл бұрын

I have some oak with beautiful grain & a split ..now I can save it ... thank you

@AndrePrudhomme 8 жыл бұрын

Great video! Enjoyed the bowtie commentary :)

@camboman5 8 жыл бұрын

Great video, indeed! Just cut my first bowtie key out of burl oak. I plan to install in black walnut slab.

@greygoosemafia 10 жыл бұрын

you do great work man. thanks for sharing. I m so interested in this sort of work.

@darrylgwarren 9 жыл бұрын

Great video and very helpful!

@DuncanManutz 8 жыл бұрын

When you mention "in the next video I'll..." you should include a link to it! Makes it easier to find. Thanks for uploading though!

@downtoearthwoodworks 8 жыл бұрын

+PhysicsOfCombat You are correct. To be perfectly "down to earth" honest, I didn't know how to do that when I did this video. However, I still don't do that because the system seems a bit "clunky" to me (sorry KZfaq, it's probably user error). But your point is extremely valid, and perhaps I will try the "annotation" system again. Thanks!!!

@evanpilot 8 жыл бұрын

+downtoearthwoodworks Put a link in the video's info box, that way we can just click it instead of having to type it out.

@ryanmmadden 10 жыл бұрын

You're the man! love the videos

@littlejoey22 10 жыл бұрын

Great video!

@brianrobicheau3035 9 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks.

@downtoearthwoodworks 10 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your kind comments, but what is really awesome is you getting started in woodworking! And no, it is not biting off more than you can chew! There are other woodworkers, clubs, stores, magazines, and the internet, all of which can be invaluable resources, but the most important thing to remember is that wood is readily available and if you mess up, it's not the end of the world! Most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the hobby!

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Not at all Sir... I made the bow ties from some scrap I had on hand, and it was just that thick. A lot of discoveries are "accidental" though, and I did find that working with a small piece that was thicker than it needed to be made handling it easier. Thanks for watching!

@pablomisan 9 жыл бұрын

16:08 close call! Thanks for this video, very clear!

@kenyork1107 3 жыл бұрын

My first time watching any of your videos and it want be my last . Great job , I've wanted to know how to do bowties , now I do thanks . Looking toward to seeing more .

@cillyede 11 жыл бұрын

Like your videos! Hubert - Germany

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Good point, and had the crack been larger or less stable, I would have clamped it to keep it from opening up more as I cut the mortise.

@pw3543 9 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed that thank you

@user-qr9zp3eu9k 8 жыл бұрын

great work

@jaciarasilveira7068 10 жыл бұрын

Ótimo vídeo!

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

When I have closed a crack, for either structural or aesthetic reasons, I always inject epoxy into the crack itself in addition to the bow tie key. However, if you are trying to make a crack sort of "disappear" you will need to experiment with the epoxy and try to get a color match, otherwise you could make the crack "more" visible.

@Erjet1008 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@haljenkinson7621 6 жыл бұрын

A very good You Tube video. Steve speaks to the subject, not about him.

@rahirey1 9 жыл бұрын

excelente trabajo, muy fino

@gzcox 9 жыл бұрын

Mister Steve, you did one hell of a tutorial. Thanks for that. Btw I like "The Hammer" very much (8:48) ;) Best regards...

@richparker7778 9 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video. Very informative. Is there a rule of thumb for the thickness of the key relative to the thickness of the board?

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

I knew a guy once that trimmed off dowels, bow tie keys, and thru tenons with a reciprocating saw... glad I wasn't doing that! Thanks for watching!

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

I don't know of any rule-of-thumb as to placement --- I tend to use a little intuition, a little aesthetic consideration, and a whole lot of guesswork. As far as thickness, some folks recommend going the full thickness of the slab, and if it were a really serious crack, that makes sense. On a slab where the crack is not anywhere near the failure point, and all I want to do is stabilize it, I try to put in a bowtie key half the thickness of the slab. I've never had one move or fail.

@scourtheearth 9 жыл бұрын

downtoearthwoodworks you should upload this video in HD!

@davidrojas9002 9 жыл бұрын

great voice.

@davidmatthews7015 8 жыл бұрын

ouch bet that cut stung a bit I'm always doing that with saws lol thanks for lesson it was very handy

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

This is partly aesthetic and partly structural. If the slab is thick and the crack is small (narrow), there is probably no need to go all the way through. If the slab is thin and the crack is wide, a bow tie key all the way through would be more structurally sound (and probably look better).

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Someone once told me I had a face made for radio... oh well. Actually I have never done any radio, but did a fair bit of public speaking in the past. I appreciate the compliment!

@221Dw 9 жыл бұрын

Why doesn't the insert need to go all the way through where the crack is? Isn't there a chance the crack could still spread there?

@richarwi 7 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy your videos........golden section......math teacher in there somewhere?

@blazingasn 11 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this informative video! Subscribed :D I'm wondering, I have a crack on a live edge table that goes all the way through. It's about 8" long. I would like to use a single Bowtie Key that is about half the thickness of the table itself. Would this be strong enough to stabilize it from further splitting? Where along the 8" length should I apply my bowtie? Thanks again!

@hexlets4842 7 жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you for posting this content. Had two quick questions- what woods work best for bowties? You used Walnut, is there other easy-to-source widely accepted woods that are acceptable? Second question- your check there is really minor... I've got some monsters (which I like for the overall look)- but if you have larger checks do you try and squeeze the wood together to reduce the size of the check? Or is that just too hard / not really feasible? Thanks again!

@1873Winchester 9 жыл бұрын

I'm wondering if you could make those keys on a router table... cut out the shape from a long piece of wood and then you have one really long standardized key from which to cut lots of keys as needed, to whatever size needed. I made a small octagonal patio and used thick splines and glue to join the outer pieces, now I think a long sliding butterfly dovetail would have worked even better and it would have held itself together by design rather than futzing with clamps and whatnot. If one could make the keys very long that is.

@mprice7676 11 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the quick reply! Do you think the bowtie key would be strong enough, or, would you need to epoxy the crack before clamping it together? Thanks again!

@MrSkeeter18 11 жыл бұрын

Hey. Always like your vid's. would it be better to clamp the end to gather before you might cut the bow-tie?

@meghanlacroix8993 7 жыл бұрын

Great video! What types of chisels would you recommend for the cleanup?

@downtoearthwoodworks 7 жыл бұрын

Any good paring chisel (that is super sharp!) will work well. My favorite is a 1/4" from here: www.traditionalwoodworker.com/6mm-1_4-Oire-Nomi-Marukatsu/productinfo/406%2D6006/

@mprice7676 11 жыл бұрын

I haven't read through all of the comments, but why wouldn't you clamp the crack closed prior to marking/cutting the mortise? Then, once the key is in place, the crack becomes a lot less noticeable? I am new to woodworking, so I have no experience with any of this. BTW! Most importantly...GREAT VIDEO!

@tima4157 10 жыл бұрын

This is awesome. I have always wanted to get into wood-working. I want to use a nice slab piece of maple to make a small desk around 50-60 inches long 30 inches wide with metal legs (so all I have to focus on is the wood slab and not making wooden legs) I have very little experience woodworking do you think this is a project for beginners or am I biting off more than I can chew?

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

You sure could. I cut into a bow tie with a marking knife once, which changed everything, so I have been a little "gun-shy" since. But yes, you could. Thanks for watching!

@dalewilliamson1125 11 жыл бұрын

Steve, is there a rule-of-thumb as to where the bow-tie is to be placed in the crack length? What about depth to slab thickness? Thanks for the video.

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching. The video on fixing/stabilizing knots and bark inclusions is almost done. Stay tuned!

@fouroakfarm 11 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the video. Could just mark with the knife and skip the pencil, no?

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Woops, I think I answered in the wrong text box. Anyway, my answer is below. Thanks!

@a88dev 11 жыл бұрын

You said that the crack went all the way through the wood. Is there a reason why the bowtie was not made to the full thickness off the slab?

@Ruffldeas 11 жыл бұрын

so i shouldnt cut through the entire piece to insert the bow tie even if the crack goes all the way thru?

@JamesTorrey 11 жыл бұрын

Is this key done just on one side?

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching!

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching! Next up, fixing some big open knots with epoxy.

@arboristBlairGlenn 9 жыл бұрын

Good information, need a little help in the production side of the edit and sound quality but worth watching. Thanks (everyone is a critique)😀

@jeph4life 9 жыл бұрын

how does the bowtie keep the crack from extending more?

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

The bowtie has a mechanical advantage, much like a dovetail joint. The bowtie key holds the crack and doesn't let it split open more.

@dinkjs 11 жыл бұрын

When you figured out your size ratio...to me it looks like a 2:1 ratio....meaning the middle section looks half of what the outside measurement is. Is this correct?

@frankthornal9489 11 жыл бұрын

Is there a reason you leave the bow tie sticking up proud that much?

@kevinbeitz1469 7 жыл бұрын

Just a new-be asking a question... Would it not be better to clamp the crack closed before making the Bow-tie? Then when finished the Bow-tie would be under tension .

@downtoearthwoodworks 7 жыл бұрын

True enough. A couple of things, though... people "like" seeing the crack, so closing it up would give a different "look." Just something to think about. Also, if there is too much pressure, it very likely could break the bow tie. Having said all that, I know people that routinely put a small amount of pressure on the crack and that helps keep the bow tie in place and they say it helps prevent the crack from growing. I prefer to do it without the tension and have never had either a growing crack or any other problem long term. I think it might have something to do with how stable the board is to start with. I've got a slab sitting in my shop with a nice big crack that hasn't moved a micron in several months. Eventually I will get around to the project it is intended for, and I will put the bow tie in without any tension.

@matthewking1946 9 жыл бұрын

Do you have to do it on both sides? or could you go all the way through?

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

Matthew King It depends on the nature of the defect (split, crack), how thick the slab is, the grain orientation of the slab itself, and other factors. Sometimes it is a good idea to put a bowtie key on both sides. Going all the way through is very tough if the slab is thick, but on a thinner slab is a great way to go.

@hassleoffa 11 жыл бұрын

I know this is off topic ... but ... were you in Radio, because you've got a pretty cool radio voice.

@timhyatt9185 9 жыл бұрын

is a single butterfly sufficient, to keep the crack from migrating up through the piece, or do you need to "get ahead" of it, and place one to block it from traveling further?

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

In all likelihood, a bowtie (butterfly) key close to the area where the crack starts will stop it from progressing further.

@davidl.579 7 жыл бұрын

you don't dampen the hole with a bit of water before you glue?

@downtoearthwoodworks 7 жыл бұрын

No, I do not.

@shanejones4513 10 жыл бұрын

Is that an elm slab?

@5h007n1ck 9 жыл бұрын

0:39 squirrel!

@piker3000 9 жыл бұрын

is there a recommended thickness ratio of bow tie to wood slab?

@downtoearthwoodworks 9 жыл бұрын

Not that I know of... going all the way through is impractical most of the time, but you also don't want to make it so thin that it doesn't have the necessary strength. I usually try to go about one-third the thickness of the slab.

@piker3000 9 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!! Your videos are excellent

@downtoearthwoodworks 11 жыл бұрын

Ahhh, many questions arise. How thick is the slab? What is the wood? What is the current moisture content and is the slab stabilized to the "natural" (average) humidity? If you want to take this discussion off-line, send me an email at downtoearthwoodworks@me.com

@MrSkeeter18 11 жыл бұрын

Try to close the crack

@confiscator 11 жыл бұрын

Love the uncanny Al Gore voice.

@c4rl05l0v3y 8 жыл бұрын

el cuchillo hacia la mano nunca!

@FowkesSteve 8 жыл бұрын

Why didn't you make a router template so as not to have to faff about with chisels?

@downtoearthwoodworks 8 жыл бұрын

I really like the look of sharp corners on the butterfly keys, and the inside corners made with a router are a little rounded. It's just a personal preference, and you could certainly do it with a router and a template. Thanks for watching!

@samirhoson4431 7 жыл бұрын

downtoearthwoodworks

@Zonatapio 6 жыл бұрын

I know what you did...I KNOW WHAT YOU DID...papyrus

@NeverBeenThereBefore 8 жыл бұрын

Why did you use the pencil at all? Why not just use the making knife?

@downtoearthwoodworks 8 жыл бұрын

+Matt Sweetnam The pencil line is easier to see when using the router to hog out the bulk of the waste in the middle area, the knife line is more precise and helps to locate the chisel for the critical edge cuts.

@Longomt58 8 жыл бұрын

+Matt Sweetnam, really easy to slip and mark up your surface that way. caution is king in wood working.

@gregrandol2801 3 жыл бұрын

I really like the Woodglut plans.

@billhanson827 8 жыл бұрын

Should've placed it on the edge; not the top.

@postie2187 8 жыл бұрын

key word, "decorative touch"

@krazypolak1820 5 жыл бұрын

Less taking more showings

@Fatschwab 6 жыл бұрын

The narrator put me to sleep. Did I miss anything?

@robzilla2165 9 жыл бұрын

Ok, I try not to be critical of videos posted especially when I don't have any, but am I the only one that thought the video could've been about 5 minutes in length if there wasn't so much talk? I love the technique and fit and finish of the bowtie or butterfly or dovetail or whatever he called it but there was only a few minutes of actual hands on woodworking and several minutes of needless banter, I liked the video but come on bro, cut the chatter a bit and showcase your skills for cryin out loud!

@dlwatib 9 жыл бұрын

I prefer a video that explains things in considerable detail to one that plays music and has no explanations. He stayed on topic the whole time, so your criticism is unwarranted.

@2Much2lose 7 жыл бұрын

robzilla2165 kind of ironic you'd complain about the length of the video but then write out a whole book for the guy.