Drawer Lock Joint: A How-To Video -

A drawer lock joint is suitable for most common furniture and kitchen drawers. And MLCS offers the perfect tools to create this production-style joint:

Drawer Lock Router Bits (#5552, #7851, #7852),
Drawer Lock Shaper Cutter (#1082), and
Katana^® Drawer Lock Router Bit (#18850).

Notably, accurate alignment and setup of the router is important for a solid, tight-fitted joint. Therefore, such bits should be used in a router table with a straight, squared fence.

Drawer Lock Joint Walk-Through

First, cut the drawer-side joint.
Then set the bit height so that the end notch on the drawer side (about 1/8” for Bit #7851) is the same as the end notch on the bit.

*Tip: For Drawer Lock Router Bits #5552, #7852, and the Katana® Drawer Lock Router Bit #18850, the end notch on the side is roughly 3/16”.

Now set the fence so that the entire cutting edge of the bit cuts wood. *Tip: Whereas it can be a bit deep, it cannot be shallow or the joint won’t work.
Afterwards, run the sides through the router table vertically with the inside against the fence.

*Tip: Frequently, a featherboard (like this one from our own stock, Item “E”) helps give a clean smooth feed.

At this time, run all of the side joints.

*Tip: Before cutting, match the sides with the front. In fact, make a sample cut first!

Next, cut down the drawer front on the table, inside face down.
While the bit height remains the same, make a first cut into the edge against the fence.
Finally, expose more of the bit and cut again, until the proper lip overlap extends past the side piece.

*Tip: All in all, wood thickness and variations can create a need for slight adjustments. So always use test pieces to determine your final settings.