I want to try making a dovetail joint. I've watched a couple

>>1232198
1x4, 1x6, whatever, spruce pine or fir, it'll be the cheapest. Or poplar. Don't buy expensive woods to practice on. Get nicer woods from a mill or hardwood dealer, not the hardware store. You'll find higher prices and lower quality at home depot.

>>1232202
Okay got it.

>>1232202
This
They sell them at most hardware stores.
You can make a dovetal box with it easily enough, dont buy the more expensive hardwoods just cheap stuff

Look for the S4S wood, its stuff thats been "surfaced all 4 sides" so it will be square enough for what you want to do.

Also try to find their odd sized cutoff wood. Youll find a whole section of scrap wood thats small and cheap, maybe youll find something suitable to play with

How thick should the wood be?

>>1232209
1 inch nominal, so like 3/4". Get 1x whatever.

Another vote for poplar. Make sure its flat and square. The fibers in soft woods like pine will crush instead of sever unless your chisels are stupid sharp.

Try a dovetail a day for a couple weeks. Youll get better and better.

>>1232509
>The fibers in soft woods like pine will crush instead of sever unless your chisels are stupid sharp.

This. Choose denser species.