The June 2009 meeting focused on carcase construction, including floating tenons (Festool Domino and other techniques) presented by Jerry Davis, Sliding dovetails by Michael Mall, Full-blind multiple spline joint by Jophn Parkinson, Stopped dado by Susan Morgan, and Pocket screws by Terry Hall. There was a strong preference for using the sliding dovetails on the dividers between the drawers. However, that isn’t consistent with the wide fronts on the case - part of the design that was frozen earlier. Therefore the drawer dividers will be glued to the stiles and the front trim, perhaps supplemented with tenons/biscuits.
In the July 2009 meeting the decision was made to make the sides from floating panels using walnut or similar dark for the rails and stiles. The sample discussed had a moulding in the opening, like many cabinet doors - although that detail wasn’t discussed, we will assume moulding in the rails and stiles with the option to change when construction begins.
The decision was made to use flat panels as the panels for the sides, probably plywood, veneered with a highly figured maple (birds eye, curly, etc) - in part to learn the veneer techniques.
If the back would be against a wall, a rabbet and simple (plywood) panel would be sufficient for the back, but that was rejected, and a floating panel similar to the sides will be used on the back of the case, to make the final piece of furniture attractive from all sides.
The design includes a divider between each drawer, coming out flush with the front vertical trim pieces. This “web” crossing both front and back, and along the sides also supports the use of a dust panel. The drawer fronts appear to be flush with the dividers and side panels (inset/flush drawer fronts)
Support for the drawers was also discussed in the July meeting. First decision was “wood on wood” - no metal glides. One option is wooden rails on the side of the carcase, sliding in a groove in the side of the drawer. Good choice for small to medium size drawers. Another option is letting the drawers slide on the rails of the dust panel - with the dust panel above each drawer functioning as the kicker. This approach is suitable for moderately heavy drawers. A third option is a center rail to support the middle of the drawer (often used as a supplement to other supports for wide, heavy drawers). Since we already have the dust panels and dividers between the drawers, this option was tentatively chosen.
Choices for side-to-side support, with the drawers resting on the dust panels, are A) pieces glued on the top of the divider below each drawer, and B) the center rail to guide the drawer (whether or not it carries any of the load). This will be discussed further.
The drawer fronts are still under discussion - might be a solid wood with or without a veneer.
The design and construction of this chest will continue as a learning exercise in the techniques used to design and build a piece of fine furniture.
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