Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I'll be building a few cabinets and drawers shortly for the shop. I prefer to use hardwood (either poplar or maple) for drawers normally, but I think to save time and get things done a little more quickly I'll use 1/2" plywood (maybe BB, maybe not...haven't decided). But here's my question: when I use hardwood my joints are either DT (for household furniture) or drawer lock joints (for cabinets). But what do you use for plywood? I can't imagine either of my other ones working all the well; and for the record I have tried to cut DT joints in BB and wasn't all that enamored with the results. Besides, I dn't want to spend the time...I want something fast. What about just using wood screws to hold the sides to the drawers front. These will be drawers boxes that have a false front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips N Dust Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Pocket screws are an option or lock rabbet joint. I use the lock rabbet joint on the drawers in my router table and outfeed table cabinet, both used 1/2" bb ply schnewj 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 With the quality of "regular" plywood I have been exposed to, I'd certainly stick with baltic birch. Artie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 rebated rabbet and BB ply for years... no issues.. Artie, HARO50 and p_toad 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnewj Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Since they are shop drawers I would agree with Kelly. I would use pocket hole screws first and a locked rabbet second. I have been using 3/4 on my shop cabinets for the beef. Having a roll-a-round shop with limited space I tend to load the drawers up with quite a bit of weight. 3/4 gives me a little confidence that when I pile four or five routers, containers of fasteners, etc. into a drawer the draw will stick together and not fall apart. HARO50 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I just counted. There's 36 drawers in my shop. All BB. Most are whatever MM equates to near 3/4". The rest are the 1/2" equivalents. Those just hold small tools or paper. All the corner joints were made on the RT with Stick's posted method. It's probably just as fast or, faster to construct as pocket holes. Artie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: faster to construct as pocket holes. self squaring too.. Artie and Gene Howe 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I have seen a lot of recommendations for pocket screws, front set hidden by the false front, back set hidden at back. Never tried it. But I have use lock rabbet. Or this with "belt and suspenders" approach. In any case, definitely use glue. I like No Run No Drip for short grain situations (1/2 of plywood edge) HARO50, Artie and Gene Howe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips N Dust Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Stick486 said: rebated rabbet and BB ply for years... no issues.. This is what I call a lock rabbet joint. Probably goes by several other names too. I use glue and a few 23 gauge pins so I am not tying up my clamps. Edited April 5, 2018 by Chips N Dust Gene Howe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I've been known to add a few diagonal screws to my utility boxes for a little extra hold. HARO50 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted April 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 To be more clear (maybe) the drawer lock joint to which I referred is the lock rabbit mentioned in most posts. I actually hadn't thought of pocket screws, they might be an option. My concern with the dado/tongue joint (or lock rabbet, or drawer joint) is that the dado in the sides just has short wood plies glued together holding it....maybe I overthought that too much. Thanks guys, I think I may go with the lock rabbet. Lew, the 1/2" plywood I have is Columbia Forest Products cabinet grade...it's a lot better than some stuff that's sold. I have 2 sheets of it in the stash, and 1 sheet of BB, the 5x5 stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Fred, there's several ways to strengthen that joint. But, with all those glue surfaces, those joints should be plenty strong. And, you could always glue in the bottom. Mine are 12 years old, many are used every day and, they all use wood to wood gliding surfaces. None have ever failed. Artie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 59 minutes ago, Chips N Dust said: This is what I call a lock rabbet joint. Probably goes by several other names too. I use glue and a few 23 gauge pins so I am not tying up my clamps. I do the same w/ the 23GA.. here's rebated rabbets and the bit.. (Infinity).. now for the lock miters.. HARO50, p_toad, DuckSoup and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 39 minutes ago, HandyDan said: 've been known to add a few diagonal screws to my utility boxes for a little extra hold. 23GA pins along w/ glue are gorilla strong w/ a lot less material compromise... HARO50 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 9 minutes ago, Stick486 said: 23GA pins along w/ glue are gorilla strong w/ a lot less material compromise... I have some thin small head stainless screws I like to use. I add the screws after the drawers are assembled with glue and clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted April 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Gene, I always glue in my drawer bottoms.....your right, that should keep things plenty strong. Artie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnewj Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 7 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said: To be more clear (maybe) the drawer lock joint to which I referred is the lock rabbit mentioned in most posts. I actually hadn't thought of pocket screws, they might be an option. My concern with the dado/tongue joint (or lock rabbet, or drawer joint) is that the dado in the sides just has short wood plies glued together holding it....maybe I overthought that too much. Thanks guys, I think I may go with the lock rabbet. Lew, the 1/2" plywood I have is Columbia Forest Products cabinet grade...it's a lot better than some stuff that's sold. I have 2 sheets of it in the stash, and 1 sheet of BB, the 5x5 stuff. You can't go wrong with that, Fred. Once the glue dries they won't go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_toad Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 What? No love for drywall screws? Grandpadave52, HARO50 and Gene Howe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 They 3 minutes ago, p_toad said: What? No love for drywall screws? They are just fantastic for drywall. p_toad, Dave in Ohio and HARO50 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJR Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 I have used the 1/2" BB on many drawers. I used the PC dovetail jig and it worked out fine. RJR Stick486, Grandpadave52, Gerald and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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