drawer design, particularly drawer bottoms

[engineer one]

just a thought, there seem to be a lot of different ideas about the thickness of the drawer bottom.

anyone have any ideas about the most effective, or does it change with what you put in the drawers, or also how wide and deep they are???

i kind of think that 6mm would be useful for clothes and in drawers narrower than 600 mm.

but what about tool units even 400-600 wide would you make them out of 12mm or 18mm.

also has anyone used that method of drawer running where the bottom runs in a groove, and the sides and ends fit on top. saw it in FWW some time ago, and it seems a good idea for certain things.???

paul :wink:

 

[Chris Knight]

I tend to use quarter inch material - ply or solid wood. Sometimes I go up to 3/8 but never thicker. If the drawer has a wide span I use muntins to add support. Using thicker material makes the drawer heavier than necessary and unwieldy.

As an aside, this comment also applies to drawer sides - they are far too thick on much modern furniture IMHO.

I think you may be referring to NK slides as here http://www.taunton.com/FWN/SkillsAndTec ... px?id=2730

I have used them once on a dresser in a bank of graduated drawers - they work fine but as far as making is concerned, I prefer the traditional method. As far as wear is concerned (they have wider runners and should wear less) I shan't be around to make a valid comparison!

 

[tim]

Chris,

I think Paul means the type of drawer where the base runs in a kerf cut into the carcase side with the drawer body planted on top. Like the cabinet under your workbench..... :wink: :lol:

Cheers

Tim

 

[engineer one]

i must say i think you are right about the thickness of drawer sides on many modern bits of furniture. too many so called pine chests look like a cart horse has designed and manufactured them. this is of course laziness.

i agree about the wear factor. i just wonder whether you are making drawers for heavier items. muntins are the complete answer.

i asked because i do not know, not because i had a better idea :lol: :lol:

paul :wink:

 

[Chris Knight]

Tim,

Ah, the penny drops!

Paul, yes I use that sort of drawer a fair bit for utility drawers. Quick and easy to make and very practical in maximising use of available space (height particularly). If you don't want to see the grooves from the front, just overlap the sides a bit.

I wouldn't/couldn't use that style with a central muntin so that sort of restricts the width. the widest I have used are 20 inches across.

 

[engineer one]

so maybe i could have used the phrase "utility drawers"

maybe we could make a feature of the grooves :lol: :lol:

why do you /could you not use muntins????
paul :wink: