Popular Woodworking 2000-04 № 114, страница 20

holes through the bottom for the screws to attach the partitions to the bottom.

The next step requires a little juggling and an extra pair of hands. Glue the rails between the two partitions, then screw the partitions to the bottom. Now put the front rail in place in the partition's bridle joint and glue and tap the bottom tenons in place in the side panel mortises. Leave the top splayed open to glue the biscuits and tenons for the rear top rail and the long drawer rail. Tap it all into place, check for square and clamp it up.

Doors and Drawers

I used half-blind dovetail joinery for the drawers, using poplar as a secondary wood for the side and backs of the drawers, and ¹/4" birch ply for the bottoms. The drawer bottoms slide into ¹/4" x V4" grooves cut ¹/2" up on the sides and drawer front. The backs are cut ¹/2" shorter than the sides to allow the bottom to slide into place.

I went with a traditional drawer slide method and cut ^"-wide x ⁵/16"-deep grooves in the drawer sides before assembly. Once the drawer was assembled, I notched the drawer backs to continue the groove the

length of the drawer. I then mounted oak drawer runners to the inside of the cabinet. The captured drawer runners (with a little paraffin) prove a fine drawer slide and keep the drawer from drooping when opened to full length. The size and location of your runners is critical and should be checked carefully before mounting.

ARCHES WITHOUT A compASS

If you've taken a moment to try and figure out the radius necessary to make the arch on either the side or front rails, you'll know you're looking for a compass with about a 20 foot beam. Since this is a little silly, here's an easier way: Find a piece of hardwood fall-off measuring about '/4" x I" x 72".Tap a couple of brad nails into the rail at the extreme ends of the arch.Then bend the strip from the center up I" and clamp it in place.Take a pencil and trace the inside of the strip,and there's your arch. Obviously a shorter strip will work just as well for the side rails.

To mount the drawer runners, start with the top three drawers. Measure the opening space, subtract the height of the drawer, split the difference then add that number to the distance from the top of the drawer groove to the top of the drawer. In locating the front of the runner, remember that the legs extend ³/s" beyond the drawer section.