Drawer with Dovetails: After planing and sanding the dovetails do not stand out but they perhaps will after applying a bit of finish |
Close up of the Drawer Sides |
This time I decided to make the drawers with half lap dovetails in front and through dovetails at the back. I hadn't cut dovetails in months and wondered how it would go.
My Moxon vice coupled with a simple jig to hold the pieces while marking the pins and the use of blue tape along the edges worked well. The blue tape, as suggested by some woodworkers on Youtube, shows exactly where to saw and helps produce a more accurate cut.
A simple jig which aids the laying out of tails: The two pieces are held in this jig in a vice. This prevents the two pieces from shifting and allows for accurate marking |
My weak eyes would often strain to out a thin knife line in darker woods. My ill-lit workshop didn't help either. Three recently installed super bright LEDs made a big difference in accurate marking and cutting.
At any rate, the drawer dovetails came out just fine which was a relief. A couple of weeks ago while making a drawer for a cabinet I had chosen the expedient of rebates instead of dovetail joinery.
Upon seeing the Facebook photo of my incomplete Ash cabinet, Merwin D'Souza a woodworking enthusiast from Bombay had remarked he would have liked to see me make a traditional drawer complete with half blind dovetails.
I was torn by indecision. Half blind dovetails are a thing of beauty but does every occasion call for one? Not this time I thought, busy as I have been trying to complete a built-in cupboard project.
Rebates in drawers take side pieces |
The back of the drawer sits inside two housings cut into the sides |
Dowels Added to drawer sides |
I went ahead with rebates in the front and two housing or
dado grooves at the back for the drawer. For added strength, I drilled three
dowel holes in each side in the front and hammered in dowels with a bit of
glue. While this method might seem lacking it nevertheless is good enough for
most purposes. The drawers are strong and will last a lifetime.
Completed Drwaer with rebates and housings |
These drawers should Serve Well for a Long time |
Dovetails of course are stronger and very pleasing to the
eye. But I think I will mostly go with the rebate method in making drawers.
This will help me get on with my projects instead of them lingering on for
weeks. Sometimes the practical and quicker option is the best. I can of course always
choose to change my mind later.
Indranil Banerjie
7 September 2018
Nice looking cabinet (and drawers), Indranil.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice Sir. Have a few questions if you may answer pls - 1. What wood, what kind of finish
ReplyDelete(polish) and what clamps- brand and type you use for such projects? thanks.
1. In this project I have used Maple for the drawer front and Ash for the insides and a 6mm plywood bottom. Virtually any wood can be used for making drawers but only the face side needs to be good looking. 2. Most of my clamps are unbranded though I have a few Bessey pipe clamps and Irwin F-clamps. Hope this answers your question.
ReplyDeleteYes Sir, Thank You :)
DeleteIndian Woodworker I really appreciate your hard work in crafting the drawer shelf and more than that letting us know about how to make it. Great Job Done! kudos
ReplyDeleteThe Indian Hawk