Cutting Groove For Drawer Bottom. If youre using plywood or hardboard for drawer bottoms the groove must be slightly less than 14-in. Set up the slot cutter on your router table to the proper height and put the bottomless drawer over the cutter.
If you want to recove some of the lost space rabbet the panel so that it is thinner on the edge many old pieces have reduced edge panels similar to inverted raised panels flat inside the drawer but raised on the underside and you can reduce the width of the groove and lessen the distance from the bottom. Choose the Router Bit The width and depth of the groove you cut is determined by the cutters diameter on the bit you choose. An advantage of putting the drawer bottom in a dado is that the drawer would not slide very well on a plywood bottom.
As long as the groove is at least as deep as needed to hold the panel the bottom finish isnt critical.
If the bottom is thicker than 14 youll need to cut a bevel or rabbet on its edges. Set up the slot cutter on your router table to the proper height and put the bottomless drawer over the cutter. Cut a groove for the drawer bottom in all the drawer parts. An advantage of putting the drawer bottom in a dado is that the drawer would not slide very well on a plywood bottom.
