Dovetail drawers are recognized by their distinct pattern at the outside corner of a drawer. They look like jigsaw puzzle pieces joined together at a 90 degree angle. When you see a dovetailed joint, you can be assured that it is constructed of solid wood.

Are dovetail drawers a sign of quality?

Quality furniture will generally be constructed using dovetail joints. The dovetail joint is excellent for increasing the resistance against being pulled apart, also known as tensile strength, and is the most common joint construction found in quality made furniture.

Are drawers dovetailed?

Lets talk about the difference between the two drawer styles. Dovetail drawers are made of solid wood or plywood materials & fit together like a puzzle piece; they are designed for the joints to fit together. Standard drawers are made from furniture board and put together using glue and staples.

What do dovetail drawers look like?

Dovetail drawers are easily recognized by their distinct dovetail joint at the outside corner of the drawer. These look like jigsaw puzzle pieces joined together at a 90 degree angle. The benefit? Kitchen cabinets that have drawers secured with nails can come apart with heavy usage.

How can you tell if furniture is well made?

Good quality furniture frames will sit even level with the floor. Bad quality furniture will wobble, twist, or creak. Wood on a good quality furniture piece should be reasonably scratch resistant, if it dents easily the furniture will not stand up to much use.

What does it mean when drawers are dovetailed?

A dovetail drawer refers to the specific construction of the drawer; a dovetail joint is used to securely join the drawer side and the drawer front together. Once glued, a wooden dovetail joint requires no mechanical fasteners (its easier to see on the video than to explain)

Are dovetail joints glued?

Dovetail joints show the care and craftsmanship applied to woodworking projects. A few simple gluing and assembly tips make dovetail joint easier to put together. The glue can be applied while the pieces are completely separate, which is easier, but can be messy and difficult to fit joints together.

How do you make a dovetail drawer by hand?

14:1321:24How I Dovetail a Drawer (Hand Cut Dovetails) - YouTubeYouTube

Can you dovetail MDF?

The lack of strength inherent in the mdf is going to mean the dovetails are over-kill and not likely to benefit. As for practice, I suspect the lack of grain in the mdf will end up cheating you out of building any real experience with dovetails.

How can you tell if furniture is expensive?

Five Ways to Tell If Furniture Is Actually AntiqueLook for dovetailing. Multiple types of wood is a good thing. Beware of furniture thats made to look old. Do a thorough search for labels or stamps. Shut out symmetry.25 Mar 2016