Thread: Drawer planing fixture

This is interesting Derek. Since I started making drawers last year, the one thing that has plagued me has been planing the sides for that perfect fit/cleanup after the glue-up. The number of weird ways I found to try and support them was impressive, if not entirely functional. To date, the only solution I had seen which showed promise was by Chris Becksvoort, but the size of his “jig” and the consequences for storage is what put me off implementing it.

The design you used has the advantage of more compact storage.

Cant your vice and the sliding board jack do the same thing Derek ?

Rob, one can do as you suggest. That is what I have done for years. However, it is not as secure a method as this fixture. Nor it is as likely to prevent damage - the leg vise squeezes from the side, and pressure is not even. The leg vise can rack. The sliding board jack would do the same (using a hold down or clamp). What this fixture does is secure the drawer from the inside, with a low centre of gravity, which reduces stress on the sides.

The desire to build this partly came from the photo that Lance posted, which I saw in the magazine. What I did was to make something similar a while ago, and then sliced into two pieces so that it could be adjustable. That became this one. The other motivator was watching Rob Cosman's recent drawer making series (20 plus videos) on YouTube as a wind down after a day of Telehealth. He cuts up a section of 1" thick MDF to fit inside every drawer he planes. That convinced me to make one fixture that I could adjust to fit every drawer I build.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Had a range of thoughts when I first saw this thread, Derek:

• its not jarrah,
• its over-engineered,
• you've solved a problem that doesn't exist.

But I was wrong. Its growing on me. I suspect that it will evolve over the next two or three years as many of your projects do.

I can see its value in holding a lot more than just drawers, Derek - boxes, and other moderately sized casework.

Add a non-slip surface to the insides of the arms and it could be used to hold things on the benchtop - a benchtop Fritz & Franz jig - drawers, boxes, cases for sawing, chiselling, sanding, adjusting, etc.

Add a "bench hook" bracket and it could be used vertically hanging over the edge of the bench.

Yep, I think that this is a great prototype.......