Ash box

This is an ash box frame which has a dovetail oak key fitted on the face of the mitre, simply as a decorative effect. The dovetail is made using a Hoffmann router, usually it is used as a dedicated frame joining system, but from the back of the mitre and using a plastic key instead of a wooden one. With this frame the 10mm deep recess is cut, then the frame is glued and joined on an underpinner, then glue is put in the recess and the oak key is fitted. lastly the frame is strap clamped to give good tight corners all round. 

New samples

I've been meaning to make these samples for ages, I had to change the router bit on the dovetail jointing machine (Hoffmann) today for the big neoclassical frame moulding. There are 3 sizes of router bit and the keys are made from plastic, although the middle size also has some keys available in oak, beech, ash, and aluminium which can be used for some decorative effects.

Usually the key is only seen from the back, but with these I routed the dovetail all the way through the moulding, from the top we have:
ash frame, oak key, with liming wax

oak frame, aluminium key, with black wax

oak frame, ash key, with Harrell's antique wax

oak frame, beech key, with finishing oil