Small Bookcase with Dado Joints
A sturdy 30" × 36" bookcase with shelves housed in router-cut dados, a plywood back, and a wall anchor. A great router project.
- Time10–16 hours plus finishing
- Est. cost$90–$200
#joinery
Plans
Dovetailed Blanket Chest
An heirloom chest with hand-cut through-dovetails, a mitered base, and a breadboard-end lid. Case 36" × 18" × 18".
- Time35–60 hours over several weeks
- Est. cost$150–$550
Shaker-Style Side Table
A clean, timeless side table with tapered legs, mortise-and-tenon aprons, and a top that floats on wood buttons. 18" × 18" × 26" tall.
- Time15–25 hours over several weekends
- Est. cost$80–$200
Tips
Mortise and Tenon by Hand
Layout with a mortise gauge, chopping a clean mortise, sawing and fitting the tenon, and drawboring for a joint that stays tight.
Hand-Cut Dovetails: A Practical Workflow
Tails-first layout, sawing to the line, chopping clean baselines, and transferring accurately — a dependable method for through-dovetails.
Pocket Holes vs. Dowels vs. Biscuits: Which Joint When?
An honest comparison of three popular machine-assisted joints — how each works, where it shines, and where it falls short.