Actually finished a project
- Thread starter Jesse Cloud
- Start date
Iceclimber
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Very nice!
Can you tell me a bit about the procedure with regard to cutting the dovetails on a curved drawers like that.
Can you tell me a bit about the procedure with regard to cutting the dovetails on a curved drawers like that.
Jesse Cloud
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This was the first time I have done it, so don't take this as "the" way. First thing is to cut the ends of the drawer fronts square to the rest of the drawer. I used a version of the laminating form to make a tablesaw jig for this. Then find the angle at which the dovetails would be cut to follow the shape of the drawer. As this was a very gentle curve, the dovetails don't actually have to be curved, just angled.Iceclimber said:
Cut a few sticks with that master angle for reference. One can be used later as a guide for holding your chisel at the correct angle - very useful for me with my bum hand. The reference will also be used for setting table saw blades, etc.
Then cut the end of your drawer side to that angle, use a marking gauge to mark the depth of the tail at that angle and continue marking in the normal manner. Saw at that angle and chisel out waste maintaining the angle.
Use the tails to mark the pins in the drawer front. Saw the shoulder line normally. I used a small router to hog out most of the waste, if the router base is small enough, it will more or less follow the angle of the drawer. Finish the waste removal with a chisel and proceed with fitting and glueup as normal.
The only tricky thing for me was to be very careful with the last bits of waste removal. There is only a thin bit of drawer front left and
its easy to pierce all the way through. If I do this again, I might make the drawer front thicker.
An alternative method, not available for laminated drawer fronts, would be to leave some extra wood at the ends of the drawers and just cut the joinery square, trimming a curve into the square bit when done.
marty schlosser
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- Dec 7, 2007
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Jesse, I, too like both the design and execution.
Having made several pieces incorporating curved components, including drawers, I can attest that such elements add a certain style... and challenges, too.
Let me humbly state my procedures for dovetails in curved drawer fronts, as I approach it somewhat differently. The difference is simply that I keep the drawer sides joinery fully at right angles instead of angling them as it appears you've done. In other words, the drawer sides are made as though they're to fit a "standard" perpendicular, flat front. Once I've cut out all the dovetails in the drawer sides, I take the veneering mold I used for forming the drawer fronts and use it to hold the drawer front flat. This then allows me to readily trace the drawer sides' tails profiles onto both sides of the drawer's front, one at a time. Because the mold holds the drawer front flat, I can then quite easily cut the pins out. "Easy peasy"... kinda.
Nice work, and I'm glad to hear your back to being able to use all of your digits!
Having made several pieces incorporating curved components, including drawers, I can attest that such elements add a certain style... and challenges, too.
Let me humbly state my procedures for dovetails in curved drawer fronts, as I approach it somewhat differently. The difference is simply that I keep the drawer sides joinery fully at right angles instead of angling them as it appears you've done. In other words, the drawer sides are made as though they're to fit a "standard" perpendicular, flat front. Once I've cut out all the dovetails in the drawer sides, I take the veneering mold I used for forming the drawer fronts and use it to hold the drawer front flat. This then allows me to readily trace the drawer sides' tails profiles onto both sides of the drawer's front, one at a time. Because the mold holds the drawer front flat, I can then quite easily cut the pins out. "Easy peasy"... kinda.
Nice work, and I'm glad to hear your back to being able to use all of your digits!
butzla
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- Feb 5, 2008
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Jesse, Good to see you back. I was wondering where you went. When you say "critical finger", you mean the middle one? [poke]
And wow! What a beautiful piece! Three snaps up! I always wanted to get a vacuum bag press. I'll have to pick your brain sometime about which one to get.
Great post [not worthy] [jawdrop] [not worthy]
And wow! What a beautiful piece! Three snaps up! I always wanted to get a vacuum bag press. I'll have to pick your brain sometime about which one to get.
Great post [not worthy] [jawdrop] [not worthy]
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Very nice work, Jesse. I like the curved drawer fronts, and the holly stringing. Nice clean look to the drawer slides, too.
Wonderwino
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- Apr 5, 2008
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Really nice, Jesse! Glad to hear that you are back in the shop. I must have missed hearing about your accident. The curved front is really spectacular! [big grin]
ToddTurnerT4.75
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- Mar 3, 2016
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I have a thumb that matches your finger! Hope you are all better!
After looking at your Chest of Drawers, I will now remove my post.....VERY VERY nice work!
After looking at your Chest of Drawers, I will now remove my post.....VERY VERY nice work!
