Underbench Cabinet: Dovetailing for Blood! …Part 3
The
aim is to glue up the assembled drawer and let it dry in the drawer
case.
This drawer fits ...
...
however it is a tight squeeze and I know that there are issues which
need to be corrected before glue is applied. It is the same for every
drawer.
Each drawer needs to go through an assessment,
trouble-shooting for issues, until the drawer moves smoothly.
I
need to point out at this stage that, although drawers are made in
batches (a row), each drawer is fitted, tuned, and glued up before
assembling the next drawer. At this stage, six (of ten) drawers have
been completed to this stage. There is one further stage after this
chapter.
So we pull the drawer out of the case. It comes out
with effort. The sides twist slightly - I can feel one side is moving
more freely than the other. Something is causing it to hang
up.
Examining the half-blind dovetails, the first item of note
is that there is a slightly raised pin ...
Since
the drawer is a dry fit, it is a simple matter to knock it apart to
make any fixes.
The pin is planed flat.
I note that the
one drawer side sits a little proud at the underside, about 1mm ...
maybe not even that much ..
This
is also planed down.
The drawer back is presented to the case
opening ...
It
is a tight fit now. It will be a tighter fit later if there is
moisture in the air. The drawer back is removed and the height planed
down by about 1mm. Re-assembled,
the sides now are higher
...
The
sides are planed to the side height ...
I
can still feel a little more stickiness on one side. Are the sides
flat, or has there a cup developed to create a high spot?
Yes.
Slight but it is there ...
Plane
this flat. Just a few thin shavings ...
Now
the drawer is moving well - it feels taut, but free.
The case
is waxed, not so much at this stage to promote ease of movement, but
to prevent any glue adhering to the sides ..
Now
we are ready to glue the drawer parts. Here are the items involved
...
I
am using Titebond Liquid Hide Glue. I like that it has a longer open
time, that it is reversible, repairable, and cleans up with water.
There is a spatula for application, a fishtail chisel handy if a
corner needs to be cleaned, a small mallet, and a wet rag.
The
hide glue is decanted into a small bottle ...
This
small bottle is a game changer! I was watching Rob Cosman and noted
that he used small bottles as well. I found a bunch on eBay. What
they do is let you deposit glue in exactly the spot you want to do,
and then the spatula lets you spread it around.
I only glue
one side of the joint, but there is enough for both sides
...
It
is important that the sides are seated flush ...
The
drawer looks good ...
...
and, importantly, slides into the case smoothly and firmly.
Regards
from Perth
Derek
February 2021