CHAPTER 11

Rabbetted
Half-Blind Dovetails
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Chapter 11 D4 User Guide

Chapter Foreword
Before attempting rabbetted half-blind
dovetails, first master the techniques of
flush half-blind dovetails in the previous
chapter.
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11-1
Mount and rout rabbeted drawer fronts
and sides exactly the same way as flush
drawer fronts, except...

11-2
The drawer side must be blocked away from
the front side stop by exactly the depth of
the rabbett. So make up a block ➀ and...

11-3
1
16
5 2

16 3
7 2
4
2 16 1 1
1 11 16 2

Stick the block ➀ to the jig face with dou-

7
16 1
13 4

ble-sided tape, making sure it touches the

side stop.
1
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Chapter 11 D4 User Guide

11-4
The drawer side will now be stepped in
from the side stop by the width of the rab-
2
1 11
16
1
7
16
5

16
7
1
2
3
4
1

1
2

2
1
bett, bringing the sockets in line with
4

the pins.
13

11-5 Rabbetted Pins

Block the scrap stop in the front of the jig out
from the jig’s front face by exactly the depth
of the rabbett ➀.This brings the pin ends
exactly in line with the front jig face ➁ ,
ensuring that the scale reading is accurate.

= 1

2 =

11-6
An easy accurate way to do this is to rabbett
1 the end of the scrap piece ➀ vertically over
the dado blade at the same time as you rab-
bett the drawer front (horizontally) ➁.

2
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11-7
Make sure you select a dovetail cutter that has
a working depth of cut less than the rabbet
height. Otherwise, you will rout into the
rabbet.

11-8
It is difficult to clean up the drawer sides
and front corner after assembling a rab-
beted drawer, so make sure the fit is flush
before you complete the drawers. See 10-
29 to10-31.
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Chapter 11 D4 User Guide