Chisels out, saws ready, it’s dovetail time. In this Beginner Dovetail Challenge, we take the boys into the shop to learn one of woodworking’s most classic and rewarding joints: the hand-cut dovetail.

What starts as a back-to-basics dovetail lesson quickly turns into a full-blown shop competition when the boys are told to build custom tool totes for $200 and pride. One plays it safe, one ...