Case Dovetails on Long Piece

[BKHam]

i'm making a dresser that is going to be part of a modern child's bed. the piece will be 75 inches long (to match the length of the single mattress), 18 inches wide and about 18 inches tall.

in short, a big rectangle.

i would typically put the tails on the sides and pins on the top / bottom. for the the vertical dividers, i am going to use solid wood panels with sliding dovetails. so they can go in after the outside case is glued up.

if i put the tails on the side, i would do beefier than usual pins because it would be supporting a 75 inch span. are beefy pins enough? or should i put the tails on the top and bottom?

 

[Roy G]

Bradley, it looks like you have some intermediate supports in the dresser. That would shorten your span considerably. Also, wood in shear is pretty strong so the pins, if you beef them up somewhat should be adequate for the load, unless your child is excessively rambunctious .

Roy G

 

[BKHam]

i thought about maybe switching to doweled dividers so that would make putting the tails on the top necessary since i would have drop the top down. the sliding dovetails can kind of annoying.

 

[JohnnyR]

Looks like you answered your own question. As for design, I hope this is going to be centered in a room as if it's against a wall it'll be impossible to change the sheets

 

[BKHam]

Looks like you answered your own question. As for design, I hope this is going to be centered in a room as if it's against a wall it'll be impossible to change the sheets

yes it has some room placement challenges. nice thing is that with the dresser right beside the mattress, really no need for a night stand. so we have left a walkway on the mattress side. however, this is for a 3 year old so i'm sure it may get placed in some illogical spots.

the bed part is done.

 

[Jeff]

Why do you need/want dovetails at all for this piece? There are 2 vertical pieces supporting the top and dividing the cabinet into 3 sections over the 75" length.

"if i put the tails on the side, i would do beefier than usual pins because it would be supporting a 75 inch span. are beefy pins enough? or should i put the tails on the top and bottom? "

There are less complicated ways to join the case sides to the top and bottom without using dovetails.

 

[BKHam]

Why do you need/want dovetails at all for this piece? There are 2 vertical pieces supporting the top and dividing the cabinet into 3 sections over the 75" length.

"if i put the tails on the side, i would do beefier than usual pins because it would be supporting a 75 inch span. are beefy pins enough? or should i put the tails on the top and bottom? "

There are less complicated ways to join the case sides to the top and bottom without using dovetails.

while true there are less complicated ways to do most tasks, your question gets at the deeper qeustion....why be a woodworker at all? i can just go to pottery barn and buy it.

i'm interested in making the best possible product and i'm willing to take on a challenge.

 

[Mike Davis]

I had the same concerns about my tool chest. I wanted nice dovetails but also great strength.

This was my solution.

 

[Jeff]

"while true there are less complicated ways to do most tasks, your question gets at the deeper qeustion....why be a woodworker at all? i can just go to pottery barn and buy it.

i'm interested in making the best possible product and i'm willing to take on a challenge."


That's fine so carry on.

You are still a woodworker even if you make the piece less complicated with less complicated joinery. Your choice.

 

[BKHam]

I had the same concerns about my tool chest. I wanted nice dovetails but also great strength.

This was my solution.


View attachment 193148

l like that layout pattern.

i'll decide over the next week. i have milled lightly twice and will do final milling and panel glue up this week.