Shopsmith Forums

I did check the saw blade and it's square to the guide rail I use.

Hi puttin! Yep drawers offer square challenges all to themselves. Not only square as viewed from the top, but square fronts. Also they need to be the proper width.

Heath offered up a good helper for getting square joints. Additionally (at least for me) the final solution is in one word - "clamps"!!!!!!

If, when clamped up, the drawer is not square corner to corner, - a clamp across the widest corners diagonally will bring it into square. Usually there is very little clamping pressure required here. Another solution often used is sloping your original clamps a bit. This will often bring the four sides into square.

I have found parallel clamps (the expensive kind) to be a big help when gluing up drawers.

Also, the sides must be the correct parallel distance apart. If using side mounted drawer slides, the width of the drawer as compared to the opening is dictated by the manufacturer of the slides. This is usually 1/2" on each side.

For drawers having no slides, I make the sides of the drawers the exact height and make sure of this by sliding the sides in and out until they have a smooth, but not loose fit. When dry fitting - make sure the back and front are sized so the sides equal the width of the opening, or as close as I can. Slightly wider is good too. The next step, after gluing, is to size the drawer to the opening. This is done with a hand plane or sandpaper, first narrowing the rear of the drawer. After the drawer back fits the opening, the trimming/sanding continues to allow the drawer to slide fully into opening without binding.

Thanks Charlese. I did find out about the clamp across the diagonal today at the local Woodcraft store. I have the parallel clamps and that is what is holding the drawer in the known square on my workbench. I use a MFT table from Festool and works well. All I have to do is to remember to set all this up and not let it dry before getting to the known square on my bench.
I've got 7 more drawers to make so by the end of this I should have enough experience/mistakes to learn something. Main thing for me is it's fun.