What Lies Behind Drawer #1?
The
underbench cabinet is done ....
...
and now the drawers are being filled, starting with the centre drawer
in the top row.
There are 10 drawers in all, and the aim is to
use the space as efficiently as possible. Into this cabinet will be
those tools I want close at hand, and to access readily.
The
centre drawers in the top two rows are for marking tools. The top
drawer will be for squares I use all the time.
Opening
the drawer produces a 300mm Starrett combination square, a 150mm
Starrett double square, and a Veritas Sliding Square. these are
french fitted into a Jarrah panel (more on the french fitting
shortly). ...
Now
you know how I like secret drawers 
- well, if you slide this panel back ...
...
you find the treasure drawer with a pair of Colen Clenton mitre
squares infilled in Sheoak, and pair of Chris Vesper 4" and 7"
squares infilled in Tasmanian Blackwood, and a 2x2" Bridge City
saddle square ...
The
Jarrah panel for the latter squares is a loose fit, snug at the sides
and about 5mm of expansion space at the end. At the right side of the
photo are the rails, which were glued to the sides (but not the loose
panel)
Below
is the upper panel for the Starretts and Veritas squares. The panel
needed to be thin - it is 6mm thick - and cut outs made rather than
french fitted. This was to save space by having the tools hanging
down rather than sticking up.
The
eagle eyed will have noticed that the rear of the drawer was cut
away. This was to allow for the upper tray to slide past the drawer
back, which takes advantage of the space behind the drawer when it is
opened.
There was a little extra shaping as the body of the
Veritas hung down lower than the other squares.
The
upper tray runs on the Jarrah rails attached to the inside of the
drawer sides. Finally, there is a rail added above the tray to
prevent it tipping as it is slid back. This is in the same Tasmanian
Oak as the drawer sides.
The drawer manages about 90%
extension without any support.
Regards from Perth
Derek
April 2021