Hello all,
I may not be seeing the trees through the forest here but I’m having trouble visualizing how to make a dovetail drawer box where the back is a 1/2″ shorter than the sides and front. This is how I want to construct the box so I can slide in the bottom and to facilitate the use of the Blum tandem slides I have.
I just got a new Leigh D4R and have read the manual and watched the video a few times. I keep a small box made I made with hand cut dovetail next to it to keep everything straight in my head.
How do you set the spacing for the pins and tails so that it comes out ok on the back piece? I was hoping I could use the same layout all the way around so I didn’t have to change set up. Should I cut rip the back pieces a 1/2″ shorter before or after I dovetail it? I maybe over thinking this but I was hoping someone could give me an easy answer so I don’t have to go through a lot of trail and error.
Thanks
Replies
If you want the dovetails at the back of the drawer to have the same size and spacing as those at the front, you have to arrange things so that the groove for the drawer bottom panel splits the lower edge of the lowermost full pin. This in turn requires that the lowermost tail be fairly narrow (or else the drawer bottom slot will be abnormally high). There will be one fewer pin/tail at the back than at the front. See attached sketch.
-Steve
GCG
Here are some photos of how you can do it. A word from the start. This is a technique explained from a person who cuts pins first.
1. I cut all of the rabbets in the sides, front and back at the same time. In this case(photos) its all the same wood. Not likely in a drawer with a primary wood face.
2. After the rabbet is cut I know where to align the sides and I know where to cut the back short... cut the entire rabbet off. Done. The rabbets keep you straight. I place my rabbet path high enough from the bottom edge to allow for my bottom pin on the drawer front to be below the rabbet in the drawer front.
Photos: box used as a drawer
The box or the drawer follows the same steps. Cut the pieces to length. set the lines for your rabbet(how high, deep and how wide). Cut the rabbets. Cut the rabbet off the back at the line. Mark your pins(full in back and half-blind in front). Cut pins on the back and front. Transfer to sides and you're in their.
Wow guys thanks!! The pictures were very helpfull as well. I think I've got it. Cutting the dados first is a good idea to help see what your doing. The drawers will have applied fronts (kitchen cabinets) so I think I'll just use TDs all around.
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