Building Drawers From Plywood

Determine drawer height and rough cut parts.

Building drawers from plywood.

Material to the end of the jig. Measure opening cut drawer parts start out by measuring the width and height of the opening you have. Discover the secrets to making strong drawers by cutting locking rabbet joints on the tablesaw as taught by wood magazine design editor jeff mertz. Piece of plywood the same width as the drawer fronts and rip it down to 4 3 8 in.

Before we can figure out drawer front sizes we need to cover the different. Determine drawer front heights. Measure in from each side and mark a line at 2 1 8 in 3 1 8 in. However not all wood species are available in veneer plywood.

For a base cabinet less than 4 wide you can cut all the parts except the back. If the bottom is thicker than 1 4 you ll need to cut a bevel or rabbet on its edges. Make cabinets the easy way begin with the right cabinet dimensions. How to make drawers in 6 easy steps.

The bottom should slide into the drawer in 1 4 x 1 4 grooves milled in the sides and drawer front. Plywood for most drawers is 1 4 inch thick but can be 1 2 inch thick on large drawers. You can find these materials in many different types of hardwood so that one or both of the outer veneers can match your drawer boxes and or fronts. Make a no fuss case using your tablesaw.

The rule of thumb i use. How to build drawers everything you need to know step 1. Pocket holes simplify. Attach sides attach the sides the same.

The bottom is usually 1 4 thick plywood for small drawers or 1 2 thick material for bigger drawers or drawers that will hold heavy objects. In wood magazine torture tests this drawer joint proved stronger than even dovetails. Attach front back to bottom attach the front and back to the bottom with wood glue and 1 1 2 brad nails or. The 3 4 plywood case eliminates panel jointing planing and glue ups.

Fasten a scrap of 3 4 in. Measure drawer opening and cut fronts and backs. The first step in how to make drawers is to get the right height for them.