A dovetail joint is used to join the ends of two boards at right angles to each other. If you will put your hands together with your fingers meshing, you will more or less have a dovetail joint. The dovetail joint is the strongest of all joints used in cabinet-making. Dovetailing is always used when it will add to the quality of Suter's construction.
Dovetails securely fasten all large drawer fronts and backs to the sides of a piece.
The parting rails, which separate the drawers from one another at both the front and back of each piece, are dovetailed into the side panels. In the secretaries, five dovetail tenons are used to secure the desk's top to the sides. To allow the side panels to expand and contract with changes in humidity, the drawer siderunners are dry mortise and tenoned into the front and back rails. A single screw holds the runner to the side panel. Mortise and Tenon joints are also used in the construction of Suter's beds.