3/32" out of whack..

[sediener]

I am finally getting some time to work on this. I started it before my daughter was born, she just turned one in October so it should be done by the time she's in kindergarden.

Front:


I was measuring for the lower stretchers and realize that I made the top dovetailed stretchers 3/32" too short in the back which turns the dresser into a slight parallelogram.


Rear dovetail:


Back:


The dustframes can slide out a bit in the notches in the rear so I can fix this with a little bit chisel work on the rear dovetails, but would leave a gap in the "pinboard". It would be covered by the top so isn't an aesthetic problem.

The drawers will have no mechanical slides and I want a pretty tight (almost piston) fit so I worry that the difference will cause them to bind a bit. My question is if it 3/32" is worth the extra work (and messing up my decent fit of the dovetails) or if it probably won't matter.

thanks,
Steve

 

[DaveO]

3/32" = .09375" or 2.38mm (for Bas) or a bit less than a 1/8" for the rest of us. Wood will move that much. If you can adjust to fit your drawers with a handplane then you are good to go.

Dave

 

[sediener]

I don't think I'll have that much movement in the direction I am worried about based on the way the case is constructed but I think I can adjust the runners to run orthogonal to the front of the case instead of running parallel to the sides which might make them pinch. I guess I can deal with a 2.38 mm error this time but next time it won't pass QC...

thanks

 

[mshel]

IMHO, fix it now and avoid other problems later on. That dovetail joint can be undone with some vinegar or a heat gun. Replacing that stretcher isn't that hard and then you will be back to square. Here is where you develop skills at fixing your mistakes. Skills that will come in handy later on and you can be assured you will at some point in time make the same mistake again, that is if you are like most of us; human.:gar-La; No one is perfect, not even the so called masters. Check out some of the fine antiques and you will see mistakes if you look close enough. Just my deflated .02


Mike

 

[DaveO]

I guess I can deal with a 2.38 mm error this time but next time it won't pass QC...

thanks

That's the truest answer to your question. Can you fix this and feel good about it. If you will look at the piece everyday and think about being off 3/32" then you should remake the faulty pieces or come up with a solution that will make it right in your eyes. I have a lot of furniture that is "handmade" and not 100% dead on...actually all my furniture
Folks see it and they are impressed that I made it, woodworkers see it and are impressed. But I know that I could have done better, and it doesn't bother me. I will do better next time. I don't think that 100% perfection is obtainable with something as variable as wood.

Dave

 

[flatheadfisher]

Gees, I look forward to learning how to get something that precise! I don't think I will ever have enough skill to get to the point that being off that much will bother me. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of your progress.

 

[Travis Porter]

I second Mike's opinion. I have done the make it work philosophy and ended up having a worse mess down stream. Your call whether you can make it work out or not.

Orthogonal? I haven't seen that word used in a loooonnnnnnggggg time