Dovetail cutter angle.

[Butcherbill]

Have been looking at dovetail cutters online, and it seems like 60 & 65 deg are the standard angles. Is one more common than the other? All the bases and sight blades I’ve been looking at on Brownells and Numrich only say 3/8” dovetail but don’t say what angle it is.

I’d like to mill up a couple front sight ramps and cut dovetails, I’ve got a couple front sight blades already. Likely from a Rem 700, might give a try at making up a ramped rear sight if the front goes well.

 

[bearhunter]

Its been my experience that either or will work in just about any combination, unless one of the components is to small.

Check out these folks in the UK, they will have the proper angles for different dovetail cutters in both metric and standard sizes.

traceytools.com

Tracey Tools Ltd.

You need to set up an account, which is free, and their shipping times and service are excellent.

They can and will get even the difficult stuff if they don't have it in stock. Might take a week longer if they don't.

 

[Butcherbill]

Thanks bearhunter, will have a look at their site.

 

[Jahnj0584]

I doubt it matters in reality (for scope mounts) due to there usually not even being a sharp corner on some components. Ive seen a few cooeys with 45* doves and have a solid enough hold. Two points of contact is what you're really after.

Sights definitely look better if the angle matches though.

 

[Potashminer]

Most European 11 mm wide dovetails will be using 45 -ish degree cutters. Most North American 3/8" wide dovetails will be using 60 -ish degree cutters. Your three edged file will have 60 degree corners, so that usually works handiest - grind one face "safe" to create very sharp corner edge. Any angle will work if you intend to use same cutter to cut the dovetail, as you intend to use to mill the sight or whatever that will go into it.

 

[guntech]

60 degree is the most common for me.

I use Brownell's 60 degree cutter that measures .359" and cut a dovetail in two passes. With the under size cutter you can accommodate an under size part...

An example of a tight fit...

 

[bearhunter]

Nice work

 

[Butcherbill]

Thanks for the help guys, appreciate it. Once work slows down over the winter I can see myself getting to it.

Potashminer, I will likely try cutting some with a file as well. Was watching a couple of Midway’s videos and they did one by hand with a file, looked like a fun way to do it. I enjoy hand filing for the most part.

Nice work guntech, real sharp looking.

 

[fingers284]

Thanks for the help guys, appreciate it. Once work slows down over the winter I can see myself getting to it.

Potashminer, I will likely try cutting some with a file as well. Was watching a couple of Midway’s videos and they did one by hand with a file, looked like a fun way to do it. I enjoy hand filing for the most part.

Nice work guntech, real sharp looking.

60 deg is most used in rifle & non 1911 dovetails, the 65 deg is what 1911 slide dovetails are cut with.

The 3 cornered file with one side ground off works excellent and is quicker than you would expect to do. If you have access to a milling machine, cut a "straight through square sided cut first to finished depth you want. If you don't have access to a milling machine make a series of cuts with a hacksaw but in this case don't cut to finish depth, now file the flat , straight walled cut to finished depth.
After you've finished the straight groove in the barrel , file the undercuts with the ground off side of the file laying bottomed out in the slot. Be very careful when final filing & fitting gets real close...two strokes of the file at a time between checks for final fitting....took me longer to type this than it takes to manually cut a dove with a new , sharp file.

 

[sean69]

I cut all mine by hand with a 3-square file ~ as for angles, that indicates 60^ so here is a lyman front sight:

i.e. buy the 60^ cutter

If you want to try a few by hand - it's easy, without much practice (seriously, you can nail it with only 2 or 3 practice cuts) you can layout, cut and fit one in about 20 minutes... it will probably take you around that to just setup on the mill

There is also a bit of a "knack" to the safe edge - the bottom of your cut tends to want to cup (convex) as you work, when grinding your safe edge, just make sure you grind the teeth off the face and not where the corners meet - you want that edge/corner sharp so you can correct the cupping (i.e. flip your file so it is cutting the bottom of the dovetail corner and the safe edge is in contact with the angled side)

Brownels and most of the builders supplies sell file guides for dovetails as well ~ but not really needed. (you will need a quality hacksaw though)

have FUN!

 

[buoff]

Dovetail

I got my 60 degree 3/8" carbide dovetail mill from KBC Tools (they have a store in Vancouver, you can order online too) They are not cheap.

Use it to make a Valmet scope base to clamp on the gun v-rail.

 

[MRP]

I cut all mine by hand with a 3-square file ~ as for angles, that indicates 60^ so here is a lyman front sight:

i.e. buy the 60^ cutter

If you want to try a few by hand - it's easy, without much practice (seriously, you can nail it with only 2 or 3 practice cuts) you can layout, cut and fit one in about 20 minutes... it will probably take you around that to just setup on the mill

There is also a bit of a "knack" to the safe edge - the bottom of your cut tends to want to cup (convex) as you work, when grinding your safe edge, just make sure you grind the teeth off the face and not where the corners meet - you want that edge/corner sharp so you can correct the cupping (i.e. flip your file so it is cutting the bottom of the dovetail corner and the safe edge is in contact with the angled side)

Brownels and most of the builders supplies sell file guides for dovetails as well ~ but not really needed. (you will need a quality hacksaw though)

have FUN!

Them fancy computer programmed tools are nice. But nothing like real hand craftsmanship. Nice job.