Making Drawers from MDF for Dummies

Simple drawer joinery

We see it darned near every day... you know exactly what we mean: all those freelancers who think they can google something and then write useful instructions based on what they think they understand from their search results. The problem? they usually can't. Too many find useless content and don't recognize its uselessness, or they find something tangentially related and think it's helpful even though it's not, because they lack the background to realize it's useless. Want an example? Check out what Mary Jane (real name Malene Jorgensen) posted at HomeSteady.com when she tried to answer the question, "Can You Make Drawers Out of MDF?"

The answer is, "Yes, you can, but you can't make them the way Mary Jane says to!"
Our correspondent, allegedly proud owner of a "Master of Arts in psychology of language use," must've thought that she could combine some boilerplate information about MDF with instructions for building a wooden box and pretend that's how you build a drawer out of the stuff.

Nothing could be further from the truth! Check out some of the rookie woodworker mistakes Mary Jane makes in her post:

• "...cutting must be done with a table saw or circular saw to get accurate and even cuts." – You don't get "accurate and even cuts" with a circular saw, especially if you're a beginner.
• "Use medium-grit sandpaper to eliminate any cracks or splinters that may surface after the cutting is complete." – MDF doesn't splinter; and if it does crack, sandpaper won't be of any use.
• "Assemble the side panels with the back panel first and then add the drawer bottom using a hammer and nails." – What: no dadoes? no rabbets? FWIW, you don't fasten MDF with nails. And what about glue?
• "Use clamps and a level when constructing the drawer frames for an even build." – WTF is an "even build"? and why a level? why not a square?

Based on those passages, it's pretty obvious that this freelancer has no idea what she's talking about. Here's are some hints:

1. You don't assemble MDF with nails because they won't hold.
2. You don't just tack on the bottom of any drawer: a drawer bottom lies in a rabbet.
3. You don't use a level to assemble a drawer; you douse a square.

Is it any wonder why "Mary Jane" is our Dumbass of the Day?

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