After finishing up the construction of a Shaker-style writing desk, I realized I needed a way to keep my infant daughter’s hands out of certain drawers. Since the drawers were already glued up, and because I really didn’t wish to go through the hassle of mortising in a lock set, I decided to break out a woodworking trick that’s been around for generations.

This simple drawer stop is mounted to the drawer bottom, and consists of a flexible tongue depressor-like component and a small ramp block that holds it in-line with the inside of a desk’s front apron or web-frame assembly. When opening the drawer, the end of the stop hits the back of the apron/web frame and prevents it from fully opening. Because the wood used is thin and flexible, the user can simply reach beneath the table, depress the flexible tab and open the drawer with ease.

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