Wardrobe drawers

[Sgian Dubh]

Why bother with shims? Why not just make the drawers narrower so the inner face of the side aligns with the slide? I use about 10mm sides with an 11mm gap between the side and the carcase giving the 21mm between the side inner face and the carcase that's usually specified. Chris

For me it's just a personal aesthetic preference I suppose because I like a gap between the outer face of the drawer side and the inner face of the carcass to be small, say between 4 and 6 mm. I suppose it also increases the capacity of the drawer by a barely significant amount. Granted, if you use a side mounted slide nearly all of them require a gap of roughly 12.5 mm either side, but with the undermount type you can achieve a smaller gap. If you use an 18 mm thick side you end up with a side gap of usually (I think) 7 mm but, unless the drawer is to carry very heavy loads, this seems a visually clunky looking choice for a drawer. Using a thinner side (8- 12 mm) and shimming it out gives me the look I prefer, and the extra work involved to do the shimming and placing the locking device correctly is very small really once set up. Slainte.

 

[stuartpaul]

Thank you all.

The drawers will be 12mm birch ply with full extention runners to provide the best access to all (her!) storage.

Given that a number of these drawers will be over 1100mm should I consider muntins? Base will be 6mm ply and whilst the storage isn't going to be heavy (clothing etc.) I don't want to have to deal with sagging at a later date. It'll be easier to fit them at the initial stage that try and retro fit later.

 

[Jacob]

Just measured a 100 (ish) year old trad wardrobe drawer. All solid wood no ply. Not sure of the wood, something like poplar I imagine
34" x 14.5" x 10"
sides 11mm
back 13mm
front 18mm
bottom 9mm no muntins grain going the long way into slips. Slips essential with a big drawer

Has been in use all that time (was my grandparent's)
Good for another 100.

 

[stuartpaul]

Thanks Jacob but it doesn't really answer my question!

Will a 12mm birch ply drawer with a 6mm ply bottom need a muntin? I'm inclined to include one as I don't want to have problems later.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Its all ply - just glue the bottom in. In can't move if it's held on all four sides.

 

[Jacob]

Thanks Jacob but it doesn't really answer my question!

Will a 12mm birch ply drawer with a 6mm ply bottom need a muntin? I'm inclined to include one as I don't want to have problems later.

I'd guess yes. Not for strength but for stability. Depending on use, environment etc. ply can sag, shrink or expand. I'd set the ply loose in slots all four edges