Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Mar 06, 2008 09:43pm | #1

   The joint has a name, but I don't remember what it is. It was used in the 19th century, sort of an "Industrial Revolution meets traditional woodworking" kind of thing. It was used more for visual effect than anything else.

   The drawer front parts are made with a cutter that's sort of like a plug cutter, but having atypical dimensions. The holes in the drawer side parts are just drilled, of course, but I don't know offhand how the scalloped front edge was made. It could be done with a template-guided router bit.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   QCInspector | Mar 06, 2008 10:12pm | #2

   Welcome to the forum.

   It's called a Knapp Joint and was the first machine made joint for drawers and such until others came up with dovetail machines.

   There have been some router templates sold that approximated them. I don't know if they are still out there.

   My father's method of making the joint (if I remember correctly) to fix antiques was to cut the drawer side scallops with the bandsaw and clean the sawn edge with a gouge. The front was drilled with the drill press using a large bit of the scallop size. I don't remember if he drilled the sides and end separately for the pins, or if after clamping the corner together he drilled holes for dowels in the pin locations. Joint size was true to the origional and was indistinguishable except for the new wood.

   I have seen an article somewhere (maybe Fine Wood Working) that used a plug cutter for the fronts but the proportions don't match the originals.

3. 
   hammer1 | Mar 06, 2008 10:27pm | #3

   It's also sometimes called crescent and pins. Not east to duplicate without a specialized machine. Precise spacing is required and that's a real challenge when working each part separately. Repairs to existing pieces can be done with a little whittlin'. You are working end grain on the end of a drawer front. That's not so easy under a drill press. You need a vertical table and a jig to position the work, and be able to align the bit with the place you need to drill. Forstener bits are available in many sizes, standard and metric. They are good for end grain but you will want to clamp a waste piece on the edge to prevent the bit from wandering. Use a dowel for the pin.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   vthighwheel | Mar 06, 2008 10:35pm | #4

   Thanks for the help, With the name of the joint I found some history

   The odd joinery in the drawer is called a Knapp joint. Charles Knapp patented the machine that made the joint in 1867. He sold the patent to a group of investors who produced the machinery and put it into production in a Mass. furniture factory on 1870. It was used extensively in the East and somewhat in the mid West before the turn of the century. When the Colonial Revival came along after the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, attention turned to things from the country's Colonial past and unfortunately this type joint did not fit. It looked too modern and did not resemble the dovetail joinery of the 18th century. The Knapp joint is seldom seen after 1905.

   Then search found a templant, it is not exact but close, thanks to you all

   http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=878-561&search=Portable%20Power%20Tool%20Accessories%20-%20Routers%20&%20Trimmers

    

   mike