Rebuilding a Vintage Dovetail Drawer

Article 117: Rebuilding a Vintage Dovetail Drawer

By: A Woodworker Who Won't Toss Out a Good Drawer

Vintage dovetail drawers are worth saving—even when the sides or bottoms have given up. Here's how to carefully restore one.

Materials

• Matching hardwood for drawer sides

• 1/4" plywood for bottom

• Wood glue

• Shellac or beeswax

Tools Needed

• Dovetail saw

• Chisels

• Mallet

• Clamps

• Square

• Measuring calipers

Steps

1. Assess and Measure

   • Rebuild using original dimensions and dovetail spacing.

2. Cut New Sides

   • Match the old thickness and height; mark new tails or pins.

3. Transfer and Cut Dovetails

   • Use a knife to trace existing layout if reusing one original piece.

4. Dry Fit and Glue Up

   • Clamp carefully to maintain squareness.

5. Replace Bottom

   • Slide or glue in a new 1/4" panel cut to fit grooved edge.

6. Finish

   • Apply shellac or paste wax to match aged patina.

Sketch – Drawer Box

Top View (without bottom):

+-------------+
|   Dovetail  |
|             |
+-------------+
 Dovetail joints at each corner.