This is a repost paraphrase.
In a recent thread concerning dumpster diving, somebody had photos of some drawers that they had picked up. These drawers in the photo had dovetails at the rear of the drawer, and they were cut such that the sides of the drawer wouldn't bow out and fall away from the back (I guess that means the tails were on the back of the drawer), rather than holding the back from falling, um, backwards. Why is this?
Funny this thread came up, because a friend of mine called me and asked me how to repair a drawer with a similar detail. Dovetails at the rear of the drawer, and a stapled rabbet joint at the front. WTFO? Why use an inferior joint at the point with the most stress? Keep in mind, this wasn't an expensive dresser, but if you're going to spend the money on dovetails, it would seem to me that you would want the "good" joint at the front of the drawer. What gives?
Thanks,
-Phil Crow