Thread: Draws in boxes?

Hi Ben

what I'd do is cut out all the pieces for the box sides and dimension them to final length and thickness

I'd then take the front piece and rip the drawer front off the bottom

Now the front piece will be 3mm or so (the width of your saw kerf plus a little for cleaning up saw marks) narrower than the other three sides, so cut trim that amount off the other three sides.

use clear packaging tape to reassemble the front into one piece

cut the mitres on each end of each piece

use masking tape (or packaging tape) to protect that part of the mitre that meets with the drawer front

glue the box up using a veneer panel, (preferably ply) for the box base
remember not to glue the drawer front to the base

when the glue is dry cut the tape and remove the drawer front

make the drawer as a simple tray that fits inside your box

attach the drawer front to the tray

Awesome thanks for that greatly appreciated.

thanks for posting these steps ian, I found them most interesting. I have never made a box, but am getting ready for it

I did get a bit lost on the following:

glue the box up using a veneer panel, (preferably ply) for the box base
remember not to glue the drawer front to the base

Should you completely remove the drawer front before assembling and gluing the box together?

with the mitre joint on the vertical sides and the drawer front, does the drawer front close on to a mitre at each side?

Bear with me if it is an ignorant question

Originally Posted by JillB

thanks for posting these steps ian, I found them most interesting. I have never made a box, but am getting ready for it

I did get a bit lost on the following:

Should you completely remove the drawer front before assembling and gluing the box together?

with the mitre joint on the vertical sides and the drawer front, does the drawer front close on to a mitre at each side?

Bear with me if it is an ignorant question

Hi Jill
it's not an ignorant question

The easiest way to glue up a mitred box is to use packaging tape (or wide masking tape) as a clamp
lay the box sides down on a flat surface with the outside faces facing upwards
use a straight edge along the top (and also along bottom if you can) to keep the pieces exactly in line
run tape across the outside of each joint pulling it tight
turn the sides, which with the tape will be all one piece, over and apply glue to the inside of the mitres -- if you're using ply for the base and top also put glue in slots for same
fold up the box using more tape to hold the 4th joint closed
check for square and adjust where necessary
put aside on a flat surface for the glue to set.

in the description I posted above, the applied mitred drawer front will close against a mitre each side.
This is not an essential design element, but probably the easiset way to incorporate a drawer into a mitred box. Other methods require a degree of precision shaping of the box side o side joints which is complicated to explain using words.
If you are intending to build a box that incorporates a drawer, joining the sides with rebate joints simplifies the oipertaion of the drawer somewhat.

Thanks for clarifying that, Ian, much appreciated