Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 17, 2006 02:23pm | #1

   Finish is not needed on drawers, but if you do decide to put some finish on them shellac is good and doesn't leave a lingering odor.  A waterborne finish would also be OK from the odor point of view.   

1. 
   myxylplyk | May 17, 2006 03:32pm | #2

   Well, in MOST cases, finish isn't required inside drawers.

   However, in a chest of drawers that will also be a changing table I would recommend that you seal the insides too.

   Use two good coats of shellac.  Thin the first to about 1lb cut.  Use a 2 or 3 lb cut for the final coat.  The inexpensive stuff that's available at home centers is fine.

   The types of liquids that can, and will, find it's way into the drawers will be repelled by the shellac, long enough to be cleaned.  If you wait, the next post will be how to "seal" in some noxious aroma that found its way into these drawers.

   Good luck and congrats

   Myx

2. 
   BG | May 17, 2006 06:02pm | #3

   Lou,

   I'm not sure you have enough time for any finish on the drawers(june 28). Last year I made 5 pipe holders with little drawers in the bottom; two were mahogany finished in shellac, 3 maple finished in lacquer. I let the drawers sit seperate from the pipe holders for about a month drying. After that the lacquer drawers stuck for the first year. The shellac was better and stoped being a problem in about 6 months. I put some wax on and that helped both. Maybe, in your case, just waxing would be enough... 

   
   

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   Edited 5/17/2006 11:03 am ET by BG

3. 
   charlesstanford | May 17, 2006 07:23pm | #4

   Lou, shellac is the perfect finish for inside a drawer.  Perfect.

   Wax the runners and bottom of the drawers.  Don't wax the inside where the clothing will be.

4. 
   John_D | May 17, 2006 07:36pm | #5

   Hey congratulations on the little boys.  I have twin girls who will be turning 2 in early July.

   PMBI but I have a little advice on the changing table:  Buy one of those nice changing table pads that has a valley or v-shape in it (amazon.com sells the Simmons Contoured Changing Pad for $22), and size your top to hold that securely.  Even at 2 years old it keeps my girls safely on the table.  The other feature I wish my changing table had was a drawer that pulled out to the right, which I could open when changing.  Ideally it'd be tall enough to hold the wipes package, and a few diapers.  As your boys get taller, they'll start kicking off stuff you try to put on the dresser's top whilst changing.

   Have fun... what a nice present you're making them. :)

   My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
1. 
   tom77 | May 18, 2006 04:35am | #6

   I built a changing table in the form of a dresser and used the top drawer to hold the baby while changing.  That leaves the top free to place your supplies, etc.  The drawer was mounted on full extension drawer glides and my daughter says it works great.  The dresser weight is ample to prevent tipping.

1. 
   Biscardi | May 18, 2006 05:12am | #7

   Once I made drawer sides of aromatic cedar. I did not finish them as I wanted them to smell nice.

   Don't ever do that!!!

   The cedar exudes just enough resinous pitch to cement the drawers to the case.

   Frank

2. 
   John_D | May 18, 2006 06:05am | #8

   That sounds clever.  I was afraid of tipping!  And your way, you have plenty of extra space atop the dresser.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.