Think about it, most of the stuff you build is a box in one way or another. Cabinets are boxes on walls. Tool chests are boxes with handles. So if you think about it, drawers are really just boxes inside of a box.

Ahhh, you say. It's not just a box, it's a box that has to fit perfectly and smoothly slide in and out. So it's the precision mechanics that spook you. Listen: the trick to drawers is learning one method, and then sticking with it. For a flush, inset drawer, start by measuring the drawer opening. Subtract 1/8" from the width and length and that's the size of your drawer front (this gives you 1/16" space all around). How deep should the drawer be? Don't worry about it too much. Simply make it 1" less than the depth of your opening and use a stop to hold the drawer flush to the front. Now choose one way to build your drawers. Make your drawers over and over the same way, and soon you'll build drawers that fit perfectly the first time.

Half-blind dovetails are one the highest expressions of the woodworking craft. Sure you can cut these half-blind dovetails on just about any $99 router jig. But there's something nice and traditional about hand-cutting your dovetails. It shows off your skills, and you can work quietly in your shop without the incessant whining of the router. Finally, you can make your dovetails for any size drawer, whereas many router jigs limit what size your drawer can be, so you have to design your projects around your jig.

Tools for Dovetails