Replies

1. 
   TomT226 | Mar 06, 2003 08:48pm | #1

   Don't know what you're making your boxes out of, but here's what I do. I use 1/2" baltic birch ply for the all of the sides. Use 1/4" AC birch or ash for the bottoms. I rabbet the sides on both ends and have a 1/4" dado running the length of both sides, and along the front, 1/2" from the bottom of the two sides and front. The back is ripped to match the top of the dado on the sides.

   Finish sand everything. Make a corner jig so you can support a side while bradding. Dry fit a box together (sides, front and back) and check your dimensions.

   Spread a little glue evenly on one rabbet of a side, use a brad nailer with 18 ga 3/4" brads, and shoot 3 for a 4" drawer side. Don't shoot any into the bottom dado. Put the other side on, then the back.

   Put the box on the front and slide the bottom in until it bottoms out on the front dado. Brad the bottom to the back only. No glue is needed. The bottom will square up the box when inserted.

   You can do a drawer lock joint with a good ply blade or a router table, but I don't find that it is any stronger than this arrangement.

1. 
   PenobscotMan | Mar 07, 2003 12:41am | #3

   Thanks, Tom, for the very detailed and helpful response. As luck would have it, another thread developed right after this one on locking rabbet joints for drawers. Stil, I'm probably going to go the way you recommend.

2. 
   BrianMcG | Mar 07, 2003 09:54am | #4

   Hi Tom, I'm pretty new around the shop and may be confused here, but you guys are using the term dado as running the length of the box sides and front. Wouldn't that actually be referred to as a groove? Doesn't a dado run crossgrain? Not trying to be picky here, just want to know what's correct. Thanks, Brian

1. 
   noone51 | Mar 08, 2003 06:39am | #6

   Brian, keep reading the books, you are correct...Watchout though... many will argue the point but few will be as correct as you. So what's the difference between a fixture and a jig...? An now for the final.... whats is the correct angle of a saw horse leg? and ... Bonus question, whats the correct angle for a scarf joint?

   Nice call... keep it up !.....

   Want the double bonus question ?

1. 
   BrianMcG | Mar 08, 2003 08:31am | #7

   Yikes!!!! What have I gotten myself into? I'm on it chief! Get back to you. Let me work on those three, then I'll take the double bonus Q....Thx! :)

   P.S. When I went to bed last night I was thinking I was in trouble with the dado/Groove thing cause I suddenly remembered it was mentioned that the drawer sides and front were baltic birch PLYWOOD...with the grain patterns running in a different direction with each ply. (Man! I LOVE wood working!) Talk to you later, B.

1. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 09, 2003 05:47am | #8

   Brian,

           Welcome to the ranks of wood workers.  Soon you will lay awake at nite planning future projects.  What do I build next? What wood? Joinery?  What new tools do I need?  Your wife will think you are nuts.  Gotta make the occasional project for her just to maintain the peace.  Seriously it is one of the best hobbies one can have.  It is a fantastic feeling to build something nice  and have the satisfaction of knowing you created it yourself.  Good luck with the drawers.

                                   Mark

2. 
   BrianMcG | Mar 09, 2003 09:27am | #9

   Hi Mark, I'm already there. Drifting off at night thinking about everything you mentioned and more.

   Your absolutely right about the feeling of satisfaction, and in my case, mild disbelief that I did ....that. Very cool indeed.

   Now if I could just get through this next project block. Can't decide what to use a 13" X 10' piece of Brazilian cherry (Jatoba) for. Or that nice walnut slab...Nice problem to have.

   Later, Brian

3. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 09, 2003 04:08pm | #10

   Brian,

          Been there done that.

                         Mark

2. 
   Byron | Mar 06, 2003 09:09pm | #2

   For more hints look under the "Feature library" then "Projects and design" for Bill Hylton's article on Chest of drawers.  It shows several different types of drawer joinery.

   Bmit

3. 
   NormInFujino | Mar 07, 2003 02:13pm | #5

   Back before I knew anything about w'working, the first "serious" project I did was a CD cabinet (late 1999); for the drawers, I cut rabbets on the drawer fronts, then butt-joined the sides to the rabbets, reinforcing the joints with bamboo dowels. It was pretty simple to do, and they've lasted since then carrying a pretty heavy load of CDs. If I were doing it today I'd use hand cut dovetails, but back then I was making things up as I went along.
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   ". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."

   Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

   
   

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   Edited 3/7/2003 6:14:01 AM ET by Norm in Fujino