Here is a quick
summary of the steps
to make your perfect
half blind dovetailed
drawer using the
Festool VS-600
One time only for each
template you will do a test cut
to determine the proper router
bit depth setting and the
template in/out setting to get
the fit you want. Save the test
pieces to use as a router depth
gage for all subsequent uses of
that template. From then on:
•
Prep your stock to be
flat, true and exactly the
thickness you want.
The front and back
components must be
the same thickness and
within the range of the
template you are using
(15-20mm for the SZ-14
and 21-28mm for the
SZ-20). The side
components can be a
different thickness so
long as that is also
within the range of the
template you are using.
•
Cut all components to a
width that is an even
increment of twice the
half blind template
spacing if you want
properly centered
dovetails. For the SZ-14
the template spacing is
22mm and for the SZ-20
32mm.
•
Cut the front and back
component to exactly
the width you want the
finished drawer to be.
Cut the side
components shorter
than the depth you
want your drawer to be
by 2 times the thickness
of the front/back
components less the
specified router bit
depth of cut (12mm for
the SZ-14 and 15mm for
the SZ-20).
•
Mark the top edge and
inside face of each
component.
•
Cut the joints in any
sequence, but always
align the top edge
against the side stop
with the inside face
away from the VS-600.
Always clamp the front
and back components
horizontally under the
top clamp bar and the
side components
vertically under the
front clamp bar.
•
Dado the groove for the
drawer bottom centered
up from the bottom
edge of the drawer by
one half the template
spacing (11mm for the
SZ-14 and 16mm for the
SZ-20).
•
Cut the drawer bottom
2mm to 4mm smaller
than the opening from
the bottom of the dados
both side to side and
front to back to allow
for expansion and
contraction of the
components with
normal seasonal
changes in humidity.
Do not rigidly glue the
bottom in place. Let it
float in the dados. A
dollop of rubber cement
or soft caulk will
prevent rattling.
•
Brush glue onto the
long grain portions of
both sides of the
dovetail joints, assemble
and square it up.
You’re done! A
perfect drawer with
half blind dovetail
joints in less than five
minutes, time after
time.
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