I recently received an order for drawers joined at the front with sliding dovetails. Because the drawers were of many different sizes, I needed to make a router jig that would accommodate drawer fronts of different lengths and widths. The jig I came up with consists of a base with a fixed fence on one edge and a movable T-fence on the other edge. The workpiece is aligned against a stop attached to the base at the front of the jig. The T-fence moves left and right to allow for various widths of drawer fronts, and it locks in place with bolts and wing nuts. I also clamp the T-fence front and back with C-clamps for extra rigidity. A cam clamp holds the work tightly against the stop.

To make through-sliding dovetails, clamp the workpiece in place, and rout both sides with the router. To make stopped-sliding dovetails, either make a stop or draw a stop line on the drawer front about 1/2 in. from the edge.

Robert S. Kummerow, Elmhurst, Ill.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, June 1996 No. 118

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