Jig / Fixture for Planing Inset Drawers to Size

[Charles Brown]

Question: what type of fixture do you guys use to plane drawers to fit after gluing them together. Typically I do half-blind dovetails in the front, through dovetails in the rear, and insert the drawer bottom after gluing up and planing the drawers. I can't find an elegant way to hold the drawers of various sizes so i can plane the tails / pins smooth and fit them to the case.

Any pictures of what you use?

Something that I can put between the dogs on my bench?

I'd love to have a universal jig (I build things ranging in size from a full chest of drawers to smaller tables) but understand I may need a few for the ranging size of the work. Ideas?

[Jim Koepke]

One idea seen for this is to take a couple of pieces of 2X material and connect on edge to the face of the other piece. This can be done in either an L or a T configuration depending on the need. Place one side in a vise and the top face of the other can support the drawer while it is being planed.

Another is to clamp a thick piece of wood to the bench so it hangs out enough to support the drawer and then plane the sides.

jtk