Replies

1. 
   Eef | Nov 04, 2010 02:28pm | #1

   roberto, at los angeles

   roberto,

   at los angeles trade tech we had an old dodds dovetailing machine and it was often used to cut dt into 1/2" plywood drawer sides and fronts.  the result was usually quite a bit of tear-out at the back of most cuts, but it did a decent enough job.

   if you are thinking about hand-cut, then the cross-grain in the plywood, may be difficult to chisel out. a good dovetail jig, sharp bits and perhaps a backer board to minimize tear-out, ought to work ok.

   by the way, the last choice for an oft-used toy chest would be mdf.  the stuff would disintegrate in no time and, besides, it tends to off-gas some pretty nasty chemicals that you may not want around the children

   eef

2. 
   birchwoodguy | Nov 04, 2010 10:33pm | #2

   Joining MDF/PLY

   I have to agree with Eef on this.  The best option I find for plywood joints is either to cut box joints on the table saw with a box joint blade (Freud make a great one) or just use biscuits.  Your going to paint it anyway so the option is really just a matter of what is easy for you with your equipment and skills.

   Robert

3. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 05, 2010 05:39pm | #3

   material choices

   I'd use Poplar instead. Although Baltic Birch ply is better than construction ply, it is still subject to tearout at the edges.

4. 
   JohnWW | Nov 07, 2010 11:23am | #4

   Plywood Is No Fun To Dovetail

   You have gotten some good answers already, and basically what I would have recommended.  Personally, dovetails only work well in solid wood, they can made in plywood but it is no fun, and in MDF it is a very weak joint.

5. 
   cowtown | Nov 27, 2010 01:24am | #5

   dovetails in bb...

   there are mny commercial suppliers of drawer comonents who can flog this , ergo  there must be a way.....

   what about Set-ups  on the router table with zero clearance backers.

   Either that or mac-tac "wrap the corner" stuck on dovetalils.

   Save a bunch of work it would!!!!

   Eric