Creating the Bottom Reveal on an Inset Drawer Front
I want to build a set of inset drawers in a cabinet. I want the reveal (gap) on all four sides of the drawer front to be ~ 3/16” between the cabinet case and the drawer front.
The drawers will run on wooden slides connecting the case front to back, no metal / mechanical hardware. Very traditional.
If I build and glue the dovetail jointed drawers to rough size I can hand plane the top and sides to final dimension. My question is how to get the bottom gap to size. Do I hand plane the drawer front (drawer is complete) leaving the sides slightly wider (top to bottom) or do I raise the front to back cabinet slides to ‘raise’ the entire drawer to create the reveal?
Sorry, I’ve asked this question before but didn’t properly articulate the issue. The drawer will be complete and glued prior to fitting.
Replies
Both ways will work and there is no "right" way to do it. Choose what works best for your cabinet and construction process. In my experience, 3/16" reveal around a drawer is on the high side and can lead to more movement than desired in the drawer motion. I normally shoot for 1/16" reveal all the way around, but that is just a design preference.
I second Jake. A 3/16" reveal is unusual. You might want to do a mock up to make sure 3/16" is what you want. But if you truly want the 3/16" reveal consider give the drawer sides a tighter fit, say, 1/16" and then increase to your desired 3/16" reveal by beveling just the drawer front.
Thanks. You are likely right about the 3/16”. I saw that on a WWGOA video. We had several basement doors installed recently. I removed them to paint as I didn’t want to paint around the hardware and by the time I reinstalled them weeks later they had swollen so much they wouldn’t close. NOT HAPPY! I re-mortised the hinges and that worked (so far).
I’m very aware of humidity issues now. In Toronto where I live I believe October is the most humid month (according to a cabinet maker I spoke to) so I will take that into account.
My issue is really the method of creating the reveal. Hand planing the bottom of the drawer front without touching the bottom of the drawer sides seems problematic but I guess that’s how it’s done.
Sorry about your basement doors, but drawer carcasses and fronts should not move as much. I don't think you'll have a problem hand planing just the drawer front if you bevel/taper it so that your full reveal is only in the very front. The reveal doesn't have to go the entire depth of the drawer front.
I don't know if it the right way, but I always make the bottom edges of my drawer sides extend below the drawer front by the amount of reveal I want. Easy to do. You can even add a thin strip along the bottom of the drawer sides if needed.
Pali, hadn’t though of that. Good point. bilyo, thanks, good suggestion.
Another thought was to finish the case as normal then add a strip of hardwood or slippery plastic material to the top of the runner to raise the door. The latter would lubricate the drawer travel. Not very authentic though.