Notch cutting jig for under mount drawer slides.

[twistsol]

Blum and most other brands of undermount drawer slides require a 35mm wide notch in the back of the drawer. If you google how to cut the notch you'll get as many answers as there are woodworkers. Last night I came up with a brilliant idea and made the jig below.


It sits on the drawer bottom and using a flush trim bit I should be able to cut away the notch. My brilliant idea didn't quite work out as planned.



Here is how it went on the four drawers I had to notch.

1. First Drawer first notch, blew out the large chunk of wood on the right side of the notch trying to take the whole thing out in one pass.
2. First drawer second notch. Cut it in three passes changing the bit depth and still had a splinter break free on the right side of the notch.
3. Second drawer first notch, tried taking shallow cuts moving left to right. Started out ok, then again most of the way through the cut took out a big splinter to the right of the notch.
4. Second Drawer second notch. Took shallow passes both horizontally and vertically, and it came out OK, but took twice as long as other methods.
5. Third drawer first and second notches. Cut the sides of the notch with a hand saw and then took a full pass. Worked flawlessly, and I thought I was on to something
6. Fourth drawer first notch. Same procedure as 5, but the piece broke free, jammed between the bit and the drawer back and while jerking the router left, split the back of the drawer at the groove for the floor and tore it off all the way to the handsaw cut for the next notch. Scared the crap out of me in the process.
7. Fourth drawer first and second notch after I make a new back, I'll cut them with a hand saw and chisel like I always have.

I have another idea for version 2.0 next time I need to build drawers.

[leehljp]

I will be waiting to see version 2.
Drawer building always interested me and I have my own ways too. I have to get each step visually in my mind before going ahead. Sometimes it is a few days later before I see a problem developing with what is in my mind, but I back up and look at everything again, make some adjustments and go forwards. Drawers can be tricky with hidden mounts, motions and

[Jim Frye]

I just used a stacked dado (Freud 8" Super Dado) setup (29/32" wide) on the table saw to mill away the portion of the drawer back to clear the undermount slide mechanism. It did require resetting the fence to get the full width (1 1/4"), but it was still quick and easy. And you need a different jig for each drawer width?