# Half-blind dovetail joint (lapped dovetail)

> What is a half-blind dovetail?

- Category: Joinery › Dovetail joints
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/half-blind-dovetail-joint/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=half-blind-dovetail-joint · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/half-blind-dovetail-joint/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files Xem Studio Design License (free to use and sell from, not to redistribute as files: https://xemstudio.com/license/)
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

## Overall (mm)

| length | width | height |
|---|---|---|
| 95.0 | 60.0 | 90.0 |

**Exact dimensions.** True size, with no printing tolerance added.

## Notes

- Woodworking joint drawn for 3D printing: the parts lock together by shape, so a print can be joined without glue or screws. Drawn at true size with the parts line to line (zero gap) in their assembled position — add your printer's fit allowance to the mating faces (your AI or slicer can do this).
- Like a through dovetail, but the tails stop short of the front face, so the joint shows only from the side.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 10 mm side, 15 mm front, 60 mm wide |
| parts | side, front |
| tails | 3, 1:6 |
| lap | 5 mm (tails hidden from the front) |
| assembles | the side drops onto the front |
| holds | pulling the front off — the drawer-front joint |

## Where the files are

- Xem Studio: [Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions)](https://xemstudio.com/) — web — Xem Studio design

## Free STEP/STL (3 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/LICENSE.md

- half-blind-dovetail-joint-side: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-side.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-side.stl) — Tail board (drawer side)
- half-blind-dovetail-joint-front: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-front.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-front.stl) — Pin board (drawer front), 15 mm thick with a 5 mm lap hiding the tails
- half-blind-dovetail-joint-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/half-blind-dovetail-joint/half-blind-dovetail-joint-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**Where is a half-blind dovetail used?**

Drawer fronts: the front face stays clean.

## Fits with

- [Through dovetail joint](https://xemstudio.com/objects/through-dovetail-joint/)
- [Sliding dovetail joint (dovetail housing)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/sliding-dovetail-joint/)