Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 20, 2021 04:56am | #1

   I can't say anything about that particular project. But I've seen a great many plans with issues on measurements. My advice is to take them all with a very large grain of salt.

   Build the case. Then build the drawers to fit the case, not to fit the plans.

2. 
   DRBWWing | Jan 20, 2021 11:18am | #2

   What John said ^^. Take the measurements in a plan as a guide, and don't try to put it together like a puzzle or you will be very frustrated during the building process.

   A fundamental principle of furniture making is "like parts & spaces = each other, the exact dimension is usually of little to no consequence".

   IOW, making sure complimentary parts are the same length/width/thickness is way, way more important than the actual measurement.

   FWIW I don't think I've ever once followed a plan for exact measurements, as it seems I'm usually adapting it to a space or a room.

3. 
   jpe52 | Jan 20, 2021 04:33pm | #3

   I don't have Mike's book, but I'm guessing that this is the same as the
   dresser featured in FWW248. I'm working on that right now, after having
   purchased the digital plan. Although the plan does contain some minor errors and inconsistencies, the drawer widths and divider dimensions in the plan do add up to 38-3/4. In any case, I plan to make the drawers after the case is assembled.

4. 
   Rob_Sp | Jan 20, 2021 06:23pm | #4

   You might want to learn to layout on sticks. Not only will it highlight errors on the drawing, which are common but it allows for picking up dimensions for the cut list. It is most useful for transferring dimensions directly to the parts from the sticks such as laying out drawer openings and blades on opposing sides of a chest of drawers. Here is a good article on this subject.
   https://www.finewoodworking.com/2001/12/01/story-sticks-leave-little-room-for-error

5. 
   user-6920478 | Jan 20, 2021 07:01pm | #5

   Thanks for all the replies. I'm fairly new to this craft and it's very helpful hearing from others what I thought was really going on.
   Russ