The fast and easy half-half-half drawer construction method 

3 years later and still a excellent video.

Quick reminder of fraction math. To divide a fraction by 2, double the bottom number (denominator). For example to calculate one-half of 1/2, multiply the 2 at the bottom to get 1/4. One half of 9/16, multiply the 16 at the bottom to get 9/32.

Running boards on end through the table saw can be a dangerous process...especially without a really good zero clearance plate. For the ends and bottoms (rabbets), I use a sacrificial fence right up to the blade. As long as the sacrificial fence is HALF the width of your work piece you don't even have to measure. With this method you can run pieces through on their face to create the rabbet instead of on end. That will help keep you fingers from becoming Stumpy Nubs.

Stumpy - I seldom comment, however this video deserves a thumbs up. That is by far the best explanation / tutorial I've ever seen regarding this process! WELL DONE!!

I've found that if you do multiple drawers of similar width and depth, you can run larger pieces of wood through the saw to cut the dado and rabbet for multiple drawers at once. Then, you can just cut off the heights you need and run the groove in for the bottom in the individual drawer faces after. This allows you to manipulate larger pieces on the table saw for better support. This is also useful when the bottom has to be set at a specific distance, i.e. for undermount slides that might not respect the 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 of this method.

Besides being a master craftsman, you are a master teacher. Well done video!

WOW!!! How many vids & PBS shows have I seen this process shown but never retained the knowledge? OK, maybe part is the failing memory of an old man but your explanation of half-half-half will be embedded in my brain now Thanks, James!!!

The best part of this video is when you explain the dangers of using the tablesaw with vertical boards. Showing options for how to get the job done while minimizing the dangers is key. Thanks for this!

I use my radial arm saw for this other than the grooved bottom, I don't rip with it. I use a spacer against the stop to cut the drawer front. You don't have to stand these up on edge even on a table saw using a removable spacer! Great video all the same.

Amazingly simple once explained. Thank you.

Thank you so much for the descriptions and visuals to the half-half-half. You just made things so much easier for me. :-)

This has to be the absolute most useful cabinet video I have ever seen. One to save to later and to share now.

I always love these videos where I learn a quick and easy way to make a great joint that speeds up production!!

That looks simple enough that I can try myself! Thanks a lot!

Great, love the 1 set up. You are a very knowledgeable guy!

Excellent explanation! Concise and thorough!

I've heard tell of this one-setup method but hadn't seen it demonstrated so crystal clearly. Your timing is perfect since I'm planning to make drawers using this method very soon. 👍🏼

Great video, especially love the safety tips at the end! Usually tutorials don't have safety tips like that

Good job! Easy to understand. I will be referring to this video when I get around to making drawers

Thank you for this quick tip on box joinery. Just used it today on some drawer boxes!

Excellent vid, as always clear, concise, and entertaining.

Love the way you explain the things. Simple, straight forward

This may be the coolest thing I've seen when it comes to making drawers! Thank you!

Excellent video. Makes sense in so many ways. Thank you for the safety discussion as well, too often overlooked.

Excellent tutorial! Will do my drawers like that!

Great video. Thank you, James!

Great timing. I’m need to build a bunch of draws and will definitely use this method. 👍

Hey James, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent tutorial on making drawers with a dado blade and the one-step setup. Also, many thanks for including SAFETY issues regarding this setup.

This is video is definitely one to save for me. Very helpful!

you make it all so simple, love all your videos.

So patient and well demonstrated! Thanks for putting your knowledge on the internet

Hey Stumpy 😀 !! I love your clearly explained, analytical and practical approach to things !!! Once again, an outstanding video ✌️!!!

As always you are clear, concise and complete. Keep up the great work!

Jim, thank you for another amazing clear and safety driven approach. Thank you!

Great video. Great description. Thank you for sharing.

That is fantastic! What a great easy way to make drawers! Thank you so much for this tip, I agree with Paul B., you are a great teacher!!

Your method makes sense. Thanks for the thorough explanation.

Enjoyed this video. Simplifying what many would deem complicated. Thanks

Thanks! I have now used this method for 3 shop cabinets and it works great. Please note plywood, even from the same stack is not always the same thickness. So I always cut all the sides of a drawer from the same sheet of ply.

As always, Stumpy, you articulate the task so well, be it complicated or simple, or a combination of the two. Well done! Also, love the description, works for any thickness of stock.

As a beginner this is an awesome idea and thank you so much!

Thank you Stumpy for this video, I was looking for a method to make drawers that had some joinery for added strength. This is the method I will adapt! Keep up the great videos!

Love this video. For shop drawers I never use dados but this is so simple there is no reason not to!

Simple and easy to understand explanations are always found in your videos.

As usual, your videos are well done and have value. Thanks!

This was an awesome video. Makes the process SO clear. Thanks for all the great videos. This here newbie is learning a lot from you.

I've been experimenting with some different drawer methods and I love the simplicity and efficiency of this technique. Heading out to the shop now to try this out. Thanks!

OMG! You simplified the process while providing enough detail for accuracy and safety! Amazing!

Great idea - can't wait to try it out !

This is one of the best WW tips I have ever seen! I just made a bunch of drawers and this tip worked great. Saves lots of time.

Thanks for the great video James! This is the best instruction on building drawers that I've ever seen. Thank you so much! 👍

You're the best teacher on youtube. I've been putting off making cabinetry for my house for a long time and this is a brilliant explanation on drawers and makes it so easy to understand.

I enjoy your instruction- very intelligent yet simple 👍

Definitely I will try this for my first drawer build.

Nicely done video. Clear simple explanation. Thank You.

Absolutely great information!! Thanks

Wow! So grateful to find your channel on You Tube. What a well done video of explicitly explained steps! Thank you.

Thank you , very useful lesson and well presented

What a great explanation of half-half-half. I HAVE to try this with my new dado set. Thank you.

Very clear, organized, and helpful information. Wonderful video.

This is awesome! Never heard of this set up before.

I know I'm really late to the party here, but I just made my first set of this style of drawer this weekend. One thing I ran into that may help other people (and that I have not seen on any of the explanation videos) is... You really need to be precise when cutting your pieces to length before cutting the rabbets and dados, especially your bottom panels. If you can use all the same stops on a cross cut sled or something like that, you will probably get the best results. I don't have a cross cut setup, so I cut my sides to length on the miter saw, and bottom panels on the table saw. My drawers would not go together, because the bottom panels were almost an 1/8th too long. So I had to reset my table saw up to rip them down, reset the the dado blade up, and recut 1 dado on each of my 4 drawer bottoms. Not the end of the world, but it was enough to make me walk away from the project for the day!

I've probably commented this exact comment 10 times on your channel, so what's one more? I cant tell you how much I love these videos. So well put together. Unbelievably informative. Just a great way to spend spare time watching something useful. BTW.. I hardly do any wood working projects... but if I was going to, man your teachings would be GOLD. Keep up the awesome work

I really appreciate the advice on working safely, greetings from Argentina

I am working my way through your videos and always find some excellent tips and tricks. very much appreciated!!!!!

This is incredibly helpful and efficient. Thank you nubs, your stumpiness has proven resourceful yet again.

Thanks Stumpy! Makes it easy, even in metric.

Whoa, half half half. That makes so much sense! Thanks for making this video!

Thanks for this video I have seen this done for drawers but you are the first I have seen explaining it Your half half half half to me is a better explanation

I have watched this a couple of times. I will undoubtedly watch it again. Thanks.

This and your finger joint videos are the most concise and clear I've been able to find, I'll be giving both these methods a try in the next few days for making fancy boxes and a bunch of road cases, thank you!

Good Morning James, thank you for this video, the value added is huge and will save me tons of time going forward, I appreciate your tutorials.

Excellent video and explanation. Best I've ever watched.

I really appreciated the clear step by step process you used to explain this method of building drawers and the fact the setup remains the same is a real time saver. At the same time, this method results in a quality drawer over and over. Thank you.

Hello James, I learned this as the 1/4, 1/4, 1/4 system, but knew it was really a 1/2, 1/2, 1/2 material setup. I think it's not only a fast and easy way to make drawers, but very strong as well. Thank you for sharing in your usual clear and straight forward style 👍

Excellent video! Thank you.

Timing couldn't be better. Just getting ready to batch out a bunch of 1/2 inch and 3/4 drawers. Can't wait to try it.

Probably as simple and complete explanation as I've heard including the safety aspect. Good job kid.

You have got to be the cleverest guy out there in the shop. This is very well done indeed, outstanding. Thank you for the training.

I've watched multiple videos on draw construction, looking for one that was easy to follow. Yours was by far the best! Thanks!

stumpy your presentation is really clear and concise, it shows you are a REAL PRO thank You .

One of your best videos imo

Thanks for your knowledge. Great video!🌳🌲

Watched several videos explaining this, but this has been the best one explaining the concept. Others did well adding the glue-up process though so I'd take a look at a few others as well.

This is by far the best tutorial for making drawers I've ever seen. You always do a great job with explaining the process or showing us some "cool tools ". But here you out did yourself and I'm going to put it to use. Thanks, God bless you.

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge

Thanks, just the info I needed for my next project.

You have impeccable timing sir! The day you posted this video, I just measured for a project that is just 2 units of drawers for a desk. When I came home I saw the notification for your video and watched it.

James, I have used the 1/4 1/4 1/4 method for many years with great success. thank you so much for explaining it so well. Love your videos. Keep them coming. John in Missouri Valley Iowa.

Great info, James. Thanks!

Loved the video! Great explanation. I am just getting restarted after a 30 year pause and was looking for an easy way to adapt different sizes of lumber.

Haven't made a drawer, other than dovetail joints before because they are typically complicated. And dovetails for me?....well they are time consuming and complicated too! Your video helps a great deal with understanding a simpler way of construction for typical drawers. I have watched your video twice, but still need to build one in my shop to get it under my belt. Thanks.

Very well explained. Back in the days when the epoxy slide was the state of the art we used to build drawers using this method but we would attach the bottoms without recessing them at all. The slides would totally cover and support the bottoms. I don’t miss the 3/4 extension, but I sure do miss that easy construction method. Great vid, James. Scott

Very well explained with diagrams too. Good job

I love this sooooo much-thank you Stumpy!!

Great, technique! Thank you for sharing. I am in the process of building drawers using this method now.

Great video. That is my preferred drawer setup on the table saw. I use a tall sacrificial fence and a feather board for the edge cuts though.

Thank you, James!

Thanks for such great video. I am new to woodworking and this was very clear. Thanks

Great explanation. When you do your videos I feel like you are speaking directly to me. I will totally watch them three or four times to absorb your instructions. Not that it isn't thoroughly explained but more I can't believe it is as easy as you make it look. lol