glue and screws only?

[jp]

I want to build a set of drawers for under my bench, and a rolling stand with drawers for my BT. Can i get away with just glue and loads of screws for the casework, or do I HAVE to use buscuits, or dados, etc.?

I have the tools to do it 'right' but with two kids under 3, i have no shop time as it is.

thanks

[RodKirby]

If you have a router table, you can cut rabbets very quickly - more glueing surface and they really help with alignment.

Use a "good" glue (Titebond?) and you won't need "loads of screws", just nails to hold things while the glue cures - 24 hours at least.

[beetee3]

For speed, strength and ease of construction it's hard to got wrong with pocket screw technology. I have some shop cabinets that I built entirely with pocket screws that have proven plenty durable. I had intended to dismantle them, glue up the edges and then re-assemble them, but the pocket screws alone have been so sturdy that I've never bothered.

[drumpriest]

Glue and screws works just fine, but it can be ugly, and you do have to worry about alignment. Biscuits are great, alignment help, and really easy to use. I havn't used pocket screws, but I hear the same of them.

The rabbet is also good, I agree.

I find cutting biscuit slots to be easier than predrilling for screws, to tell you the truth. You setup the cutter once, and whip through them in no time.

[monte]

quote:Originally posted by RodKirby

If you have a router table, you can cut rabbets very quickly - more glueing surface and they really help with alignment.

Use a "good" glue (Titebond?) and you won't need "loads of screws", just nails to hold things while the glue cures - 24 hours at least.

I'm with Rod on this. While it may take a few more minutes with the preparation to assemble the unit, your project will be much stronger and easier to align.

[crokett]

I built my DP stand out of MDF with rabbetted glued, screwed joints for casework and drawers. It has held up just fine.

[DonHo]

I agree with beetee3, pocket screws are hard to beat. I used pocket screws to assemble almost all my mobile tool cabinets and to assemble the drawers also.
I did use glue.
DonHo

[mater]

I would cut a dado for the bottom and then used pocket screws to assemble.

[ejs1097]

I built my carts with rabbits in the top, bottom, and back of the sides and assembled with glue and brads. It's holding up great with no racking. I used my router for the rabbits, added an extra 45 minutes maybe (built 2 cabinets at once). The rabbits sped up assembly though since I didn't have to fuss with keeping pieces still or square.

I know alot of guys start with a torsion panel for the base of their BT stand, I'm planning on doing the same since the lateral force and weight will be greater.

I know what you mean, I also have 2 kids under 3. I try to send the wife away to grandma with the kids to get more work done.

[Tom Miller]

I like to think of my projects for the shop as on-the-job training for other projects. It's a good time to practice your technique for building cabinet carcases, drawers, etc.

Regards,
Tom

[onedash]

I love pocket hole screws. I use biscuits a lot too. I just put the bread board edges on my kitchen table. I used M&T. That was way harder than I thought it was going to be. But they were about 4" deep by 40" long and I figured pocket holes screws and or biscuits wouldnt be strong enough to endure any abuse. They would have looked better im sure because I ended up with a small gap between the bb edge and the table. I should have figured out went wrong but a little glue and sawdust fixed that. Hope its not to ugly when I stain it.

[JimD]

I currently enjoy using my biscuit joiner, pocket screw jig (Penn State), dovetail jigs (2) and dedicated mortiser. My shop drawers, however, as well as a lot of my early furniture uses butt joints (no rabbetts) with screws and glue. The screws are hidden by wooden plugs (dowel pieces initially and then plugs cut from similar wood later). I have a wardrobe cabinet over 7 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 22 inches deep (two 1x12s glued together) that has survived moves from Philly to Kansas City, then Omaha, then Pittsburgh and now South Carolina. It is over 20 years old. The carcase joints are all glue and screws as are all the drawers. Still works and looks fine (or at least as good as it ever did). That is just one example - there are several others. They all have held up fine. I like the appearance of other options better but I have not had a problem with plain old screws (coarse drywall) and glue.

Jim