Replies

1. 
   mfg_king | Dec 17, 2002 05:40am | #1

   My dresser has 31" wide drawers and its bottom is 1/4" plywood. They also slide on a center dovetail and this center piece seems to help support the drawer bottom. The bottom is like most other bottoms; it's slipped into grooves on the drawer sides and dados in the drawer front and back so it's well supported from all sides.

2. 
   Ricky_Yu | Dec 17, 2002 01:28pm | #2

   You could make the bottom the traditional way out of solid lumber and with the bevels in the front and sides and the elongated screw hole in the back. That way, you can dictate the thickness. But if you have already constucted your drawer box already to accomodate plywood (i.e., with grooves on the front, back, and sides), then the solid lumber may not be appropriate because of wood movement. Another suggestion is to laminate a 1/8" piece of plywood to the 1/4" cherry plywood to get a 3/8" thickness. Use some flat mdf sheets to sandwich the layers and use clamps or heavy weights to apply the pressure.

3. 
   Alan | Dec 17, 2002 04:25pm | #3

   Jeff,

   Cabinet grade birch plywood comes in several thicknesses, including 3/8".  I don't see a reason to use cherry ply.  It is, after all, a drawer bottom; once filled with socks and boxers no one will see it anyway--especially if SWMBO lines it with paper!

   Though as a "traditionalist" it sort of rubs me the wrong way, I find there are real advantages to using plywood for drawer bottoms:  you can make the drawer back with a groove, rather than cutting it narrower and nailing the bottom to it; and you can glue the bottom in the groove.  If you make sure to cut it absolutely square, a plywood drawer bottom can do much to make and keep the drawer square.  A drawer as large as yours can easily rack long after it's been made perfectly true and square.

   Alan

4. 
   RW | Dec 18, 2002 02:25am | #4

   Almost exactly what he said. I have an 8 drawer dresser, the drawers I made 35 w, 18 d, and varying heights. Dovetailed glide in the middle, 1/4" ply bottoms. Works just fine.

   " You are young, my son, and as the years go by time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain therefore awhile from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest matters." - Plato