"James "Cubby" Culbertson" wrote in message
...
Hiya,
I'm about to embark on building a dresser. I'd like to emulate this one:

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/produ...r&cm%5Fsrc=sch

Basically for those that don't go to the site to see it, it's a dresser
with multiple drawers and appears to have 4 square legs that run from the
floor to the underside of the top. Additionally, the sides and front are
set back slightly from the faces of the legs. Typical chest of drawers
construction would say to build a box, attach webs on the inside for the
drawers, and then put a base/feet on. What's throwing me a bit is the
full length legs. I'm thinking of two methods to incorporate them. Either
a) mortise into the legs for the front of the webs, build the sides as
panels with rails mortised into the legs adding a spacer to the back of
the sides to hold the webs or b) build as a traditional box with webs and
then notch the legs to set the box into. I suspect (a) is the best
choice for strength but I'm wondering if others have a better idea? I
hope this makes sense....it's difficult to describe via words sometimes!
Thanks for the help!
Cheers,
cc



I feel your pain! Before building a dresser for each of my two kids, I
got a copy of Bill Hylton's book "Chests of drawers". Seven plans plus a
couple of sections on case construction; still use it for reference from
time to time. One possibility for the webs is to M&T the front and back
rails into the legs with the interior edges of the rails flush to the edges
of the legs, M&T the front-to-back guides to the rails, but offset so that
the outside edge of the rail meets the panel on the inside of the case. Same
idea as notching the webs as previously suggested, but a different approach
to it. Option B, M&T the completed webs to the legs, front and back, and add
guides attached to the panel part of the frame and panel side to help align
the drawer as it opens and closes. Basically, the legs of the case support
the front and back rails of the webs, which in turn support the guides. One
caveat, though: if you use solid wood panels in your case, don't glue your
guides to them. Bad things can happen when the wood moves in response to
humidity. This would be ok with sheet good panels, though.
The first dresser was made when I was still learning about woodworking
(who am I kidding, I'm still learning :-) ). Frame and panel construction
using plywood panels and loose tenons, store bought slides for the drawers,
routed drawer lock joint for the drawers. The second dresser is the nicest
thing I've built to date. Solid cherry case joined together with hand cut
dovetails, traditional web frames attached to the sides with sliding
dovetails, drawers built with hand cut half blind DT's. And a lot of info I
got from the wreck archives on how to do it, so a big thank you to everyone
who takes the time to answer questions by newbies - I would wager I've
learned at least as much here as in any book I've read. And yes, dovetails
DO get easier the more you do them. (I'll post some pics on a.b.p.w in a
little bit.)
So, enough rambling for now, but I've been lurking for quite a while and
just wanted to say thanks to everyone and good luck with your dresser.
Clint Johnson