Tt

"T"

11/06/2004 12:10 PM

Drawer Question

I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg. My
question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall out
of the layers. Please help....


This topic has 8 replies

tT

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 7:24 PM

tpollard wrote:>I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at
the borg. My
>question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
>friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall out
>of the layers. Please help....
>
Of course you can. Maybe not finger joints(box), but I'd do half-blind
dovetails with a solid wood face, anytime. Depending on your methods, you may
need to back up the material to avoid tear-out. Tom
Work at your leisure!

Ba

B a r r y

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 10:32 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 16:53:37 -0400, "Scott Burright"
<[email protected]> wrote:


>Why not use a secondary hardwood like Poplar?

Basswood is GREAT for drawer sides and backs.

Barry

Gg

"George"

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 4:02 PM

Depends on the grade, I guess.

If you pay for a patched interior ( no voids ), you certainly can. Lower
grades problematic.

I've made box joints with fir ply, even luan. Masking tape minimized the
tear, and a spiral bit with slow feed helps, too.

"T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jsnyc.36328$My6.27069@fed1read05...
> I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg.
My
> question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
> friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall
out
> of the layers. Please help....
>
>

MG

"Mike G"

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

12/06/2004 12:17 PM

Yes, you can make dovetails in ply. What you have to be careful of, if you
are doing it with a router, is to use some sort of sacrificial backer board
so you don't chip out the surface veneer when the bit exits the wood.

--
Mike G.
Heirloom Woods
[email protected]
www.heirloom-woods.net
"T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jsnyc.36328$My6.27069@fed1read05...
> I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg.
My
> question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
> friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall
out
> of the layers. Please help....
>
>

PB

Pat Barber

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 7:53 PM

Yes.... but there might be a "hit" and "miss" on a few
pieces that might have voids.... Most 1/2" plywood I
have gotten recently(birch) was pretty good.


T wrote:

> I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg. My
> question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
> friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall out
> of the layers. Please help....
>
>

Bn

"Bob"

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

12/06/2004 12:36 AM

Take a look at John Lucas' site http://www.woodshopdemos.com and click on
the Main Menu. John and his lovely staff have done a number of projects
which involved making drawers with plywood. His demonstrations and
hints/tips using the various tools should enlighten you on this subject.

Bob S.


"T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jsnyc.36328$My6.27069@fed1read05...
> I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg.
My
> question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
> friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall
out
> of the layers. Please help....
>
>

BA

Bay Area Dave

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 7:50 PM

home depot sells void free ply? (guess I don't shop that
aisle much...)

dave

Tom wrote:

> tpollard wrote:>I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at
> the borg. My
>
>>question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
>>friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall out
>>of the layers. Please help....
>>
>
> Of course you can. Maybe not finger joints(box), but I'd do half-blind
> dovetails with a solid wood face, anytime. Depending on your methods, you may
> need to back up the material to avoid tear-out. Tom
> Work at your leisure!

SB

"Scott Burright"

in reply to "T" on 11/06/2004 12:10 PM

11/06/2004 4:53 PM


"T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jsnyc.36328$My6.27069@fed1read05...
> I am making drawers out of birch plywood, the kind they sell at the borg.
My
> question is, can I do dovetails and/or box joints with this this stuff? A
> friend told me that I probably couldn't because the laminate would fall
out
> of the layers. Please help....

Half-blind dovetails, yes. Might chip out here and there, but shouldn't
delaminate just because you cut it.

Why not use a secondary hardwood like Poplar?

--Scott

http://benchsaw.blogspot.com


You’ve reached the end of replies