Dovetailed face frame dry fitted in the case front.

 

On this piece of furniture the face frame is decorative. The drawer dividers have already been installed. The dividers are screwed to the case at the front, from underneath, and left to float in the dados to allow for wood movement in the case sides. Because the dovetails are not structural, the dovetailed pockets chiseled into the front of the case don't have to be cut to the full depth of the frame stock. So I carefully under cut the dovetailed ends of the face frame using a cross cut sled with a stop block on my tablesaw. The face frame is then snapped back in place in the case front. I use a square to line up the top edge of the face frame member with the top surface of the drawer divider. Then use a marking knife to scribe around the dovetail pin. I waste away as much material as I dare with a laminate trimmer and fluted straight bit, and finish the pocket for the dovetail by paring to the scribed lines with a bench chisel.

 

Stock for the 13/16 inch square face frame pieces were cut from the same piece of cherry, and then numbered so that there is complete grain match across the frame members on the case front. Sawn stock was jointed on all four sides to eliminate saw kerf marks. The photo above shows a burn mark dispite being passed over the jointer. I will have to clean that up with sand paper before applying a fnish to the case.

 

Past vistors to this blog will remember that the dovetailed drawer dividers on the Shaker workbench were structural and that the dovetailed dados in the front legs were cut fully thru the legs. Scroll down to see this if you are interested.

 

Thanks for visiting. STB