Andy,
I am building an entertainment center. Across the bottom will be 4 drawers. The drawers are around 22″side to side 8″ high and 18″ deep. I am going to through dovetail the drawers out of maple and put a cherry front on them. My question is can I get away with using soft maple as opposed to hard maple to save a little on the cost, or is there some advantage that hard maple will give me?
Thank you,
Michael Burton
Replies
So I can help you better, first, Michael, tell me: What's your proposed drawer-hanging system? Metal slides? Wood runners? Wood-on-wood, whether it's riiding in an enclosed case opening or on a web frame?
—Andy
They will be full extension metal slides, it will be an enclosed case, the slides will be riding on 3/4" plywood dividers.
Michael—Thanks for the clarification on the slide system.You should be A-OK using soft maple, or pretty much any softer wood, given the fact that you're hanging the drawers on metal slides.If you had a wood-to-wood system, such as wooden slides or the drawer box itself riding against the wooden case parts, then a harder wood would provide longer wear over the life of the drawer and its constantly rubbing parts. Commercial slides only require good screw purchase into the case and drawer box, and your soft maple should do fine.Good luck!—Andy
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