ASSEMBLY
PREPARATION
It is important to plan your work before starting!
If joining multiple pieces for a drawer or series of draw- ers, it is best to label the pieces as front, back and sides and which face will be inside or outside. It is also best to label the ends so it is clear which end mates with another. Labeling will save setup time and avoid costly mistakes in the long run.
A typical drawer has a 3/4" thick front with sides made of 1/2" material. Your drawer fronts and backs must be at least 5/8" thick to fully accommodate the length of the dovetails without compromising strength.
After all the pieces have been cut to size and checked to ensure squareness, set them on a bench in the order that they will be fitted together. Lay each piece down so the inside faces up. Label each piece on the inside as shown in Figure 6.
When planning the dimensions of your dovetail joints, it is important to consider how the tails and pins will be aligned across the joint. You want to avoid having very
thin partial tails on either side of the joint. Follow these Figure 6 shows the pieces laid out for labeling. guidelines and you will be assured of having at least 1⁄2
width tails and pins on each side of the joint.
•1⁄2" template; stock width should be 1" increments
•7⁄16" template; stock width should be 7⁄8" increments
•9⁄16" template; stock width should be 11⁄8" increments
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