Cutting Dovetails View 2

Machining Dovetails

ByMark

I wanted half blind dovetails for my kitchen drawers because they convey craftsmanship in addition to being a solid joint. Every time I use the Porter Cable dovetail jig, I have to check the manual because setup and orientation are critical for success. Once I have cut a few, orientation becomes second nature and the project proceeds smoothly. I constructed a total of 14 drawers of varying sizes for the kitchen cabinets and at the end of the process, I was glad to put the jig back on the shelf.

Positioned for Cutting Dovetails
The drawer fronts and backs are positioned horizontally on top of the jig and the drawer sides are in the clamp positioned vertically. The pieces are offset by a stop so they go together properly after routing the dovetails.
After the Cut
Here is what the dovetails look like after the routing operation has been completed.
Cutting Dovetails View 1
Cutting Dovetails View 1
Cutting Dovetails View 2
Cutting Dovetails View 2
Cutting Dovetails View 3
Cutting Dovetails View 3
14 Drawers
Here is the stack of drawers dry assembled to test the fit. The next steps are cutting the dado to accept the drawer bottom and machining slots and holes for the under drawer full extension soft close slides.

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