Replies

1. 
   Floss | Apr 19, 2005 03:20am | #1

   Try finishing your drawer and inside of the cabinet with shellac and then rub it out and apply a coat of good paste wax. They should slide like butter then. You could omit the shellac but I have found it is nice to have a finish on the drawer and cabinet to aid in controlling the absorption of moisture which in turn helps to regulate wood movement.

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
2. 
   joinerswork | Apr 19, 2005 04:12pm | #2

   Yersmay,

   You don't say how long the drawer is.  If it is especially long, as compared to its depth, it may be more inclined to hang up crosswise. Your 1/32" of endwise slack is not too much, I like to have a little bit more, especially at this time of yr, as humidity levels start their way up in the summer it may bind up tight.  I like to run drawer guides all the way to the back of the case, but have seen old work that had guides as short as 1/2 depth. 

   Here are some things to check for:

   1-  Is the case square, front to back?  Is the drawer?

   2-  Is the drawer too long in back? I like a little bit (1/16") of taper front to back. 

   3-  Do the bottoms of the drawer's sides bear fully on the runners underneath?  If the drawer is trying to rock on two corners, it may be binding at the top somewhere.

   4-  As another poster says, a little lubrication will sometimes work wonders.  A candle stub rubbed on the framing members inside the case will get a sticky drawer going. 

   I normally don't find a need for a center guide unless the drawer is very long, over 48"