Alexander Novak

Co-founder, architect

Alexander is a co-founder of CarpDraw and a practising architect. He prepares technical drawings for his own projects, so he runs into the same problem every week: turning a furniture idea or a reference photo into drawings and specifications a maker can actually build from. CarpDraw is the tool he wanted for that work, and he writes here about drawings, dimensions and getting furniture from idea to build.

Published guides

Pale maple L-shaped corner on a workbench with a plane and wood shavings

Half Lap Joint: Cut a Flush Corner in 5 Steps

Mark, cut and fit a half lap joint with a measured practice example, clear diagrams and fixes for proud faces and shoulder gaps.

Alexander Novak 9 October 2026 11 min read

AI-generated photo of a pale wood shelf with a banded front edge, veneer coil and upright iron on a workbench

Edge Banding: 5 Steps for Clean Plywood Edges

Apply iron-on veneer edge banding to a plywood shelf. Check the panel, leave trimming room, test the bond and finish the edge without tear-out.

Alexander Novak 9 October 2026 11 min read

Open wooden drawer box with a tape measure and square on a workshop bench

Drawer Dimensions: Measure the Box, Not the Front

Measure the opening, choose the slides, and calculate the drawer box. A worked example separates outside size from usable storage space.

Alexander Novak 9 October 2026 10 min read

Open pale wood drawer box on a worn workshop bench

Dovetail Joint: Plan and Fit a Better Drawer Corner

Understand pins and tails, plan a drawer corner around its bottom groove, and follow a practice-first fitting sequence with dimensioned diagrams.

Alexander Novak 8 October 2026 11 min read

Light wood bookcase with books, baskets and pottery beside a study window

Shelf Spacing: Calculate Clear Gaps Before You Drill

Measure what you store, subtract shelf thickness and mark every level from one datum. A worked example shows how to calculate equal clear openings.

Alexander Novak 8 October 2026 11 min read

Unfinished plywood cabinet and separate back panel on a workshop bench

Rabbet Joint: Cut a Clean Seat for a Cabinet Back

Size and cut a cabinet-back rabbet from real material measurements. Check the seat, keep the box square and avoid a weak edge.

Alexander Novak 8 October 2026 11 min read

Light wood bed with linen bedding beside a window in a sunlit bedroom

Bed Frame Dimensions: 8 Sizes and the Space They Need

Compare eight US mattress sizes, separate them from outer bed frame dimensions, and check height, room clearance and delivery before ordering.

Alexander Novak 7 October 2026 11 min read

Maple board with an open cross-grain dado beside a separate upright board on a workbench

Dado Joint: Cut a Clean Fit in 5 Steps

Size a dado from the real mating board. Use a measured cross section, a router test cut and a dry-fit checklist before cutting finished furniture parts.

Alexander Novak 7 October 2026 11 min read

Separated maple furniture rail and leg showing a tenon and rectangular mortise on a workbench

Mortise and Tenon Joint: Cut and Fit It in 5 Steps

Cut one stopped furniture joint, from reference faces and sample dimensions to a clean dry fit. Includes an exact diagram and a mistake checklist.

Alexander Novak 7 October 2026 11 min read