Best Joint For Plywood Drawers

A series of pins cut to extend from the end of one board interlock with a series of tails cut into the end of another board.

Best joint for plywood drawers.

The method is somewhat less durable than a dovetail joint but strong enough for average drawer use. A drawer lock joint consists of two specially shaped interlocking rabbets that allow the drawer front and back to be securely glued to the drawer sides. Bart goldberg i have to build 12 drawers for a new shop cabinet the base of a new workbench and i plan to use 1 2 baltic birch plywood for the sides. In general more thinner plies make for stronger flatter panels.

The dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a strong woodworking joint it is great for tensile strength resistance from pulling apart. I m assuming that dovetails are a bad idea for use in plywood. Assuming you re going with plywood for the drawer bottoms you ll get the best results with real hardwood plywood which is made entirely with thin plies of real hardwood. The drawer lock joint another solution is the drawer lock joint.

3 plenty strong plywood joints 1. Leave the fence and dado set where they are position your drawer parts inside face down with their bottom edges against the fence and cut the bottom holding groove. Position a drawer back on edge with its inside face against the fence. Now s a good time to cut the 1 4 x 1 4 groove in each of your fronts sides and backs for holding the drawer bottom.

The bottom should slide into the drawer in 1 4 x 1 4 grooves milled in the sides and drawer front. What is the best easiest joint to use given my material choice. Cut a 1 4 x 1 4 rabbet in both ends as shown at right. Make these cuts on all of your drawer backs.

Full width dado or groove 2. If the bottom is thicker than 1 4 you ll need to cut a bevel or rabbet on its edges.