I’ve never understood the ‘proper’ way to create the visual reveal on the bottom of an inset drawer. To clarify for those who may use other terminology – the face of an inset drawer is flush with the surrounding cabinet face, unlike an ‘overlay’ drawer front which is larger than the drawer opening.
Specifically, I am referring to the construction of a traditional drawer (say 1800’s), not one that glides on modern metal glides but rather on wooden glides set front to back on both sides of the drawer box.
I can easily fit the reveal (gap between the drawer front and the case) on the top and sides with a hand plane but if the drawer glides on wooden glides that are flush with the case there would be no reveal on the bottom. I assume the correct / historic method is to raise the wooden glides ~ 3/16” or so above the case front to create the visual reveal. Is this correct?
Replies
You can plane the bottom edge of the drawer front with a rabbiting plane or a shoulder plane while not touching the sides (if the drawer is already assembled). You can also plane or lightly joint the bottom edge of the drawer front after the joinery is cut but before assembly, then fine tune the reveal with a rabbiting plane. The reveal can be as small as you like (1/16") if the front expands, so will the sides, keeping the bottom edge of the front from making contact.
Mike Pekovich shooting the bottom of the drawer front prior to glue @ 13:45
https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/joinery/ep-15c-drawer-grooves-and-glue-up
Thank you. I’ve been searching for that professional reference. Nice to see it in video.
I’ve asked this question on other forums and never got a definitive answer. Makes more sense than raising the runners.
My concern has always been seeing the raised runners on view of the front of the cabinet if I went that route.
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