Help with decision required.

xy mosian · 23 Jul 2009

I wonder if any could help me make a decision.

I am about to make a chest of drawers for our bedroom.
Material will be 'joinery quality softwood' to match an existing bedhead.
Drawer fronts to be flush, set in, rather than overlapping.

My problem is whether or not to use full extension drawer runners or a more traditional all wood construction.

As I see it:-

All wood,
Thinner drawer sides possible.
Somewhat easier, standard dovetail, joints between front and sides.

Full Extension runners,
Heavier drawer sides, to take fixing screws.
Sliding dovetail joint front to side, to allow overlap to hide runners.

I am at the design stage, battling with sketchup for the first time, and would like to hear any reasoned comments.

Thanks for your help.

xy

OPJ · 23 Jul 2009

I always prefer to use 'wooden hardware' in any personal piece of furniture with with the minimal amount of visible steel...

If you go for wooden runners then, don't use pine - it's too soft and they'll only begin to wear away over time. Something like oak would be better.

I'll be soon be making something fairly similar - it's a pine chest of drawers... :roll:

I'm using oak for the runners and front drawer rails. As the drawer sides are also softwood, I'll be adding oak slips to take some of the wear from there also.

I'm not too familiar with extension runners so, I can't advise you there, I'm afraid. I'm sure someone else will step in shortly, though.

MikeG. · 23 Jul 2009

You can use pine, Olly.........I just give them a rub with a wax candle when fitting. This last probably 5 years I reckon..........then just give them another rub. I rarely have used anything other than pine for drawers, and I just broke up a 25 year old bureau where the pine drawers and runners were just fine (but is showed me how much I had improved over that time period!!...........it was a bit embarrassing really!)

Mike

OPJ · 23 Jul 2009

Ah, well, too late for me now, Mike. I've already ordered the pine for this project and don't want to buy any more wood! With the cost of the oak on top [brown oak, as well!! :shock:], that's over £100 for materials - that's enough for me (and for Pete!).

xy mosian · 23 Jul 2009

Thank you gentlemen, just the sort of push in the 'right' direction I needed.
I have been playing with router cut sliding dovetails today, boy the're tuff to get spot on. Tails too thin and a very sloppy joint. So traditional drawers it is.

Mike, thanks for the candle wax tip. I have used hard-dry soap in the past but might give candle wax a try. Finding out how much you have improved over twenty five years is surely not embarassing. My problem is I cannot sometimes figure out how I managed to find the skill, or enthusiasm twenty five years ago.

OPJ, the oak trimming idea is useful. I was going to trim the lower edge of the drawer sides with short lengths of pine to disturb grain lines. Wear in that area is normally along lines defined by the grain after all.

Thanks again gents.