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Drawers provide practical storage space, but for woodworkers they do much more. A well-built, well-fitting drawer brings satisfaction every time it's opened and closed.
The term "piston-fit" often describes an inset drawer that's perfectly sized for a case opening, much like a piston in its bore. This means silky-smooth action with minimum side-to-side and vertical clearance and just a puff of air resistance to show off your skill. Building such a drawer requires careful sizing and a bit of finessing with a few hand tools, a household iron, and paraffin wax.
SIZING THE DRAWER PARTS
Fitting a drawer starts with milling stock for the drawer front, sides, and back to width. Measure the drawer opening height, and rip the drawer parts ¹/32" narrower. Leave all the pieces extra long.
The length of the drawer front is the most important dimension and requires a near-exact fit. To mark this dimension, lay the drawer front down on the case opening and run a marking knife along the inside wall of the case [Photo A].
This story is from the October 2023 edition of Wood.
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This story is from the October 2023 edition of Wood.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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