This is the third of three articles on making a simple dovetailed box. The first two articles explained how to mill the cherry stock for the box and lay out and cut the dovetails. Here, we show how to put the box together and install the hardware; but first you need to cut the grooves for the box’s top and bottom.

Grooves for Captured Top and Bottom

The simplest way to cut the grooves for the top and bottom is on a tablesaw, as shown in the Shaker Candle Box project. The only problem is that the ends of tablesawn grooves will show at the ends of the dovetails. Making a stopped cut, however, is tricky and dangerous on a tablesaw (and I don’t recommend experimentation). The best way to groove is with a router table, though it can be done with a handheld router if you’re extremely careful.