Question

As long as the bottom isn't glued in, I don't see the problem in changing a bottom even if it is captured. You just rip the back on your table saw at the top of the bottom (top of the dado) and pull that thin strip out (which makes the drawer a standard non-captured bottom). Except you have a saw cut in each side at the back, which no one will ever see. And if you want to do extra and work you won't even have that cut.

I know that I missed a" one heck of a "whing ding" I hope to one day participate in your world famous get together. This year we had way too much going on. But maybe next year with a little more warning.

Leon

If it "has to be that way" why do frame and panel doors work OK? :)

I think it only done this way as a carry over from the days before plywood was available. It is pretty rare to see an old drawer with it's original solid wood bottom that is NOT cracked. Leaving the back open just makes it easier to replace or R&R. One other reason might be simply to make construction easier, though I typically dado all for sides and have neaver had any trouble with assembly.

Larry W

With a F&P door you will have typically 2 inches or so into which you can oversize your groove by 1/8" to accomodate expansion. In a 1/2" thick drawer, there isn't a whole lot left after you subtract for the groove and the expansion allowance.

I'll buy that.

-Steve

Actually, the method of drawer making in question was devised to allow for ease of replacement of a drawer bottom and has little to do with expansion/contraction of wood.

That "no one will ever see" was another reason for circumventing that possibility and making the drawer bottom easy to replace in the first place.

Ok, these are nits to be picking, but technically (and since you seem to be well-humored :-)...

(1) It's "rabbet," not "rabbit."

(2) Dadoing is cutting a groove across the grain. Cutting a groove with the grain is ploughing. OTOH, I suppose the distinction could be considered archaic if the work is done with power tools.

Jim

What does Norm use? "dado" (you seem to be well-humored, too)

Dave

I groove all four sides, too, for the same reasons you mention. I figure that if you ever really had to remove a bottom, you could always plough a groove through the back (down to the drawer-bottom groove) and slide the bottom out that way. But I've never needed to.

Incidentally, I don't use fasteners in drawer-boxes. (I do use them to secure false fronts). I only mention this in case someone does use a brad or two ("to hold it in place while the glue dries" :-), that they would need to exercise some care in ploughing (plowing) the groove to release the bottom.

Jim Do I get a point deduction for excessive use of parentheses? (G)

Of course! (G)

Jim

but then again, he always uses a few brads "to hold it together until the glue dries"...

dave

As long as we are being pedantic (and I love to be pedantic).....

In that case the verb would be "plough", but the object of that verb (the noun) would be "groove".

Right?

This is confusing because "dado", at least in the modern WW vernacular, is both a noun and verb.

-Steve

Don't know why you would (or should) - I use more (a lot more). (G)

So is "plane", "saw", "drill", etc.. :-).