I'm looking to add a breadboard end to the top of my dresser, and I'm a bit experienced in woodworking. I'm planning to use 3/4" maple for this project. Do you think it's wise to cut quarter-inch rabbets or dados for the breadboard, or is that too thin? Also, if I go ahead with this, can I drawbore the dowels? Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Using a drawbored breadboard edge for your dresser sounds cool! I did a similar thing for my bedroom set and the tenons were around 1/4". Just be cautious about the overall design; if your dresser is substantial, a 1/4" tenon might struggle with the weight and stress. Here's a picture of my work for reference! [Image](https://preview.redd.it/nbjdstdbtj0f1.png?width=452&format=png&auto=webp&s=4249019cb3bb853d17634ecaf4c80ade24d771b2)
I’d be a bit careful with the 3/4" thickness. For breadboard edges, the rule of thumb is to keep the tenon no greater than 1/3 of the material's thickness, which makes a 1/4" tenon acceptable. However, for a dresser that might be larger, a 1/4" tenon could be too flimsy. You might want to sketch out your design to see if it would make sense structurally. Could definitely work, just be mindful of the proportions!
Thanks for the tip, I'll sketch it out to get a better idea!