Dovetail Jigs are Back, Baby! | Drawer Boxes | Sideboard Pt 8

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It's time to construct the drawers.  I haven't used my dovetail jig in a while so I blew off the dust, read the manual, and knocked out all of the drawer joints in short order. The jig I like to use is the Leigh D4R. Here's some trivia for you. Did you know that the dovetail jig was invented by the founder of Leigh Jigs? Yup. Pretty cool.

Once the drawer joinery is complete, I moved on to prepping for the Blum undermount slide installation. Undermount slides are not as complicated as the instructions would have you believe, but there are a number of important steps involved in the installation. Once the locking mechanisms are attached to the underside of the drawer, I like to use spacers to install the slide itself to the case.

Stuff Shown in this Series:

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[MMWoodworking]

About time. I am so sick of everyone acting like you either need to be as good as Rob Cosman, or that dovetails aren't for you. Dovetail jigs are certainly costly, up front, and setup can drive people nuts, but for me, I have to spend that same amount of time doing warm ups on hand cutting them, that it is a break even time cost in the end.

[boomvader]

Thanks for admitting that even you need a bit of a refresher each time you use that jig! I can relate!

[crashkg]

The amazing thing about the Leigh jig is that you can put your tails and pins anywhere you want. They don't have to be equally spaced which I think is more aesthetically pleasing. Also you can make it so your pins aren't cut off ;-) Great explanation on using the jig BTW. Thanks.

[KayproJournal]

I love how Mark is like "I'm not going to worry about the dust collection" then a minute later he has it connected up. Routing dovetails is messy work and Mark is a smart man. (We all think "That's too much work" until we realize the consequences.) Thanks Mark for the great content.

[inmyimage]

Interesting to see you put the bottom in a groove on the back of the drawer box. I keep seeing a lot of youtubers cut the back short, slide the bottom in and then tack it up to the rear side of the box which just makes me question their experience. Maybe it’s my age showing but in my 54 years of life experience drawer boxes don’t fail, drawer bottoms do, especially if they are just tacked or glued in place. Seeing you enclose the back side of the drawer bottom increases my opinion on whether your knowledge as a furniture maker gives your plans and methods more credibility vs the people here who’s experience woodworking was based on a plan towards building a following and then becoming a professional youtuber who poses as an expert woodworker.

[MrBez]

I was very kindly given a leigh jig about 15 years back. I use it once a year or so and every time I'm amazed at the ingenuity of the design. In 30 years if I'm still kicking about I'll use it and still be thinking the same thing. I don't think the concept could be improved upon.

[JM-szoi]

Probably the best session I have watched in a long time. I’m going back to start at the beginning. Thanks for the instruction and entertainment.

[HarrisonFord]

Marc, long time fan and very thankful for all you do for us and have taught. This series is keeping me going as I quarantine in the back room for 5 days to keep my kiddos safe due to COVID and strep that somehow I managed to get both but no one else I know has either.

[precariousbyte]

So that lost dovetail pin.. I've glue my drawers up first, then gone back with a dado stack and cut the notches for my slides afterwards

[davidhabener]

I actually have that Leigh D4 jig, always afraid to use it. I bought it 20 years ago after New Yankee workshop. now I'm thinking of using it.
Thanks for the inspiration.

[medicus]

I cut my Blum slides relief cut with a dado stack after assembly and that way I dont loose my bottom dovetail because it’s glued to its pin. I set the height of the dado stack just a 64th under the bottom (plywood) and I fit it even with the bottom with just a few pass of a shoulder plane.

[Heritagewoodworx]

I do like the tutorial videos. It makes them longer but I learn a lot to help me get better at woodworking.

[jasonhagen]

Another great installation in this series Marc! I am learning so much from you. I think I might be designing a cabinet like this in my future! I also never thought about having 2 routers setup for making dovetails. I don’t know why it never dawned on me before to do this. Now I have an excuse to buy another Festool router!

[spencerstreet]

That's a fancy jig. :) I bought the sears branded plastic one in the 90s and have used it on and (mostly) off since then. But, I still have read the manual every time I use it.

[philcrannick]

Several years ago I purchased a dovetail jig after watching one of your videos, I think you were in Arizona at that time.

[stevengallaher]

6:29 I literally laughed out loud at when you showed up here with the dust extraction set up. :)

[darodes]

I have no intention to route dovetails but couldn’t resist that title 😂😂😂 love your content Marc

[bradb]

It's almost lunch time! That and the hoochie comment had me rolling!

[markpalmer]

Well I was just given a dovetail jig and ordered under mount runners a few days ago so this video is very timely.

[danielbrierly]

Great tip on the "use 2 routers", its been about 3 years since I've used my dovetail jig and about to dust it off (and make it dusty again) for another project...and i had forgotten about that handy time/frustration saving tip. thanks again for the good work!