Auxiliary TS fence to trim large drawer boxes

[David Utterback]

Years ago, I got a great deal on some pre-finished maple dovetailed drawer boxes (half blind at all corners) from a commercial shop in the area. I have used them to build tool storage for the shop and plan to build some storage for my son's apartment.

The only suitable boxes are 3 of 24w X 21d X 7 1/8h plus one more that is 4 1/8h. I would like to trim the heights of 2 larger ones so each will have different heights. Combined heights of drawer boxes will be 22 7/8 if I take off 7/8" and 1 3/4" from two of them which will also preserve a half pin at the top of each corner.

My guess is that trimming the drawers would best be done on the table saw. I could saw thru the first 3 sides, shim the gap and only partially cut through the fourth side finishing with a hand saw. My question is how tall should the auxiliary fence be. Also, can anyone suggest plans for the construction so that it will be versatile for use later? I have plenty of BB plywood and have both the original SawStop fence and one with tracks for attaching jigs. Thanks!

[Matthew Curtis]

Why not set your current table saw fence to the height you want and put the bottom of your drawer against the fence? Make a cut, rotate, make a cut, rotate, make a cut, rotate, make final cut.
I have done this with my stock fence that is probably 3-4" tall.

[Dan Friedrichs]

I agree with Matthew...and don't understand what the aux fence your proposing would do?

I would do as Matthew said - just run all 4 sides through with the bottom against the fence. It sounds like you're worried about making the 4th (final) cut, but I don't think that's anything to worry about.

[Patrick Walsh]

As suggested above, just register bottom of drawer off the fence. The fourth cut is fine.

Had a boss that used to bitch the drawer order every dam time..

[Jerry Wright]

I cut the tops off of boxes with just the rip fence all the time. Set height of blade to just a hair under the thickness you are cutting. Then cut through with a razor knife after sawing. Make sure your rip fence is quite parallel to blade and you will need minimal cleanup.

[johnny means]

I,also, trim drawer heights on the table saw often. No special fences, shims or other accoutrements. I set the blade to the thickness of the wood and make four quick rips.