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Update: I've been team pre-cut drawer boxes forever
But after building my last set using traditional dovetails by hand, I'm completely converted. Has anyone else found that the extra time pays off in fit and strength down the line?
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elliotl2419d ago
My last kitchen job had 16 drawers and I cut them all by hand. Took about 3 full weekends but the difference was obvious when I slid the first one in. No wobble, no shims needed. The glue is just there to keep dust out at that point. I've seen too many machine cut boxes blow apart at the pins after a few years of heavy use. The mechanical lock from a tight hand cut joint doesn't let go. If you're patient and keep your chisels sharp it's not as hard as people make it out to be.
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Heard a woodworker I follow on YouTube say handcut dovetails actually hold up better over time because the mechanical interlock is tighter than any glue joint. Really got me thinking about how much we trust the machine to get it right when a little patience gets a better result. Plus the look of a tight handcut dovetail just can't be beat.
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