Scrollsaw Chest Project #2: Side And Front Panels

I got a new toy for this project. I’ve used dowel joinery in the past, but I thought a jig would make this particular project easier. With the use of a jig, my reasoning was, it would be assured that the dowels were placed perfectly square, eliminating joining problems that I sometimes encounter. So, I went into town and the only one I found was at Home Depot. This is the General EZ Pro Doweling Jig Kit. I bought it at Home Depot for $29.99. I wish I had left it there. I was getting better results by simply using point centers. With this jig, I could have matched up my 3/8” dowels with the correct size rifle ammo, stood back at a hundred yards out and shot holes into the wood more accurately than this jig.
After much practicing on scrap wood, I wound up using my tried and true method of point centers and the drill press on pieces that allowed me to do so. The longer ones that I couldn’t use the press on I was just careful to get the holes as straight as possible.

So I built up my side and front panels using dowels in the joints.

The above photo shows the front and side panels being cut. This is at about two hours and about halfway in. Since these are all the same, I am stack cutting four at one time.

Here’s one of the side panels, cut, glued, and clamped up waiting for the glue to dry.

And the front panel.

-- http://wddsrfinewoodworks.blogspot.com/