All the dividers in my pencil trays are just glued to the bottom, sides and each other. No dados. Of course, it doesn’t take the daily abuse of a silverware tray, but it’s pretty solid. Just make the pieces fit as tight as possible and figure out a way to clamp them tight during glue up. Use waterproof glue since sometimes the silverware will go into the drawer after washing and won’t be 100% dry. In my house at least. ;-)

Losing fingers since 1969