Replies

1. 
   USANigel | Aug 18, 2009 11:25pm | #1

   I would correct the drawer. Take a framing square and find where the problem lays. Are the sides the same length? Back and fronts? Is the drawer base square?

   Out of square stuff is tough to install so it works nice.

1. 
   stretchy | Aug 18, 2009 11:32pm | #2

   I haven't built the drawers yet, because i wasn't sure if it was possible to even fit them if the case itself is out of square. In the drawer case one side is longer near the back and shorter by the drawer front and one side is the opposite.

1. 
   USANigel | Aug 18, 2009 11:44pm | #3

   If the sides are parallel and the front lines up, you should be ok. I use full extension slides for my drawers and they need 1/2" clearance each side.

   For a basic drawer, I cut to height, then a pair for the sides to match the drawer runner length. For the front you can cut to overlap the front edges, but the back should be inside case width-side thickness-runner clearance.

   Pocket screw together with some glue. Glue and staple a base on the drawer and install.

   Make different heights for different stuff. Some peel and stick foam will hold dividers in place.

1. 
   stretchy | Aug 18, 2009 11:55pm | #4

   That's the thing though, the sides of the case aren't parallel. They are off by about a half inch front to back.

1. 
   USANigel | Aug 19, 2009 12:35am | #5

   That's alot! Take it apart and try again or you will need to make spacers for the slides which gets to be a pain.

2. 
   stretchy | Aug 19, 2009 12:44am | #6

   Ha! That's what i thought too. Oh well, i think i'll just leave the compartments open and not put any drawers in then. Storage is storage. Thanks for the input.

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Aug 19, 2009 03:30am | #7

   One good trick I just read in the latest Woodworking magazine is to make your drawers slightly tapered towards the back to make them easier to fit. The tipster aims for 1/16" less at the back, but you could easily make greater taper. The joints might be a bit trickier, depending on your choice of joinery.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodworks.com
   and www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   stretchy | Aug 20, 2009 12:16am | #8

   I had read that also, but i'm using (or was planning on using at least) full extension drawer slides so i don't think that would apply here.

3. 
   jvk | Aug 20, 2009 12:19pm | #9

   If you're going to use an overlay drawer front then shim the slides square and parrallel, build the box of the drawers to those dimensions, then overlay the front to look even.

   trimjim
1. 
   zolton | Aug 20, 2009 04:14pm | #10

   TrimJim,

   That's what I was going to suggest.

   Just cut a tapered shim the width of your drawer slide, going from 1/2 inch to zero, 22 inches long (or however deep the cabinet is). Nail and glue it inside the cabinet to make the sides parallel, and hang the drawer slide from that.

   If anyone notices the fix, call it something you did "for heightened effect."

   Zolton

   If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

   Edited 8/20/2009 9:14 am ET by Zolton

1. 
   stretchy | Aug 21, 2009 01:15am | #11

   That's helpful thanks. I was going to try something like that but i didn't realize that it would be easier to shim the slides parallel first then build the drawer. That should be much easier.

1. 
   zolton | Aug 21, 2009 01:42am | #12

   I hate to tell you how I know about that tapered shim trick. Some things are just better left unsaid, I guess...Get on with it and start taperin'! And please let us know how it comes out.ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

4. 
   stretchy | Aug 23, 2009 12:10am | #13

   Ok here's what I did. I put the slide in on the sides of each drawer case flush and then figured out which part of the slide on the other side needed to be shimmed (front or back portion). Then I screwed the slide in flush on the non-shimmed portion but only put the screw in half way on the other part. Then i put a square piece of wood which was actually one of the drawer bottoms in the spot between the slides and flush with the secured slide. then i made the gap even on the other slide. Because only a portion of the slide was secured I could pivot the other end. When the gap was consistent, i put various scrap pieces in as shims near the screw and screwed it fast. Hope thats a good explanation, it worked pretty well (i think). It also took forever, so i'll have to build the drawers tomorrow... hopefully.

1. 
   Hastings | Aug 23, 2009 06:34pm | #14

   Stretchy:"It also took forever"Part of woodworking is the ability to fix, or work around mistakes. That said, life is much easier if one can get one's stock nice and square and then build nice square thingies.We all have to fix things, but I think it fair to say that quareness is not typically one of them.I suggest that you find the root cause of your problem and fix that so you don't have to go through this again.Regards,Hastings

1. 
   stretchy | Aug 24, 2009 11:10pm | #16

   Hastings:Agreed. My problem was three fold (at least).
   1) My miter gauge was slightly out of parallel, which i subsequently fixed i think.
   2) When screwing some of the case components together (it was all butt joints) they got pulled out of square. I'm guessing this is from some movement when i pre-drilled the holes.
   3) The case components were rather large and it was difficult for me to get a piece of plywood cut that wasn't at least slightly warped.Also, just for the record, after remeasuring I was off by 1/4in. Bad, but only half as bad as I originally thought. And I have to say, I did learn a lot by having to fix these issues. I'm hoping with the outfeed table in place and the miter gauge square it will be easier for me to get square pieces out of large slightly warped sheet goods. The finished piece came out far better than I had hoped and I actually am proud of it! Looking forward to my next effort. Thanks to everyone for your input

2. 
   zolton | Aug 23, 2009 07:34pm | #15

   Stretch, Great fix! You figured it out. And now you'll not that same mistake again. Although tedious, that's how most of us learn. Some, like me, never seem to though...ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon