Replies

1. 
   BG | May 07, 2003 12:56am | #1

   Dovetail,

   Recently there was an interesting discussion between Richard J and S4S on draw making hopefully one of they will notice your post. 

   I built some large plywood draws for the shop that were to slide in on plywood.  In that situation I cut some hardboard strips and attached with glue and pins to the bottom of the draws and the plywood....it worked..but not pretty... 

1. 
   AlanTurner | May 07, 2003 05:26pm | #5

   S4S here to report.  I toyed with the notion of buttons of UHMW at the front bottom of the carcase (drawer divider), top of the back of the drawer, etc.  Didn't do it.  Got great fitting and working drawers, and the real trick was extreme care in milling the front and sides to dead flat and square.  I was resawing hard maple for the sides.  I did so, then let them move, then flattened them a day or 2 later; jointer then planer.  The drawer sides were fitted pretty close, just relieved on the top by a 1/16" or so, and the back about 1/4".  Shellac'd the drawer interiors and exteriors, and the inside of the carcase.  They worked just OK, even tho' the fit was right.  After finally finishing the enitre piece, went back and used paste wax on the drawer sides and the bottoms of the sides, and on the drawer dividers, and sides of the carcase.  Then they worked perfectly.  The wax is important, but I couldn't put it on till the entire finishing process was complete.  Had my fingers crossed.  As said above, the stock preparation was the critical element, plus a dead square glue up.

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | May 07, 2003 01:13am | #2

   Yes.  There are thin plastic peel-and-stick strips for exactly that.  Check most woodworking catalogs.

3. 
   notDusty | May 07, 2003 08:17am | #3

         dovetail ,      If it is wood to wood contact , no mechanical drawer slides , try parafin wax . Wax all the bearing surfaces and it will reduce friction and allow for smoother sliding .A center support can also be used along with a kicker strip to keep the drawer from tipping out .

                       good luck

4. 
   camel | May 07, 2003 01:36pm | #4

   Ken- I don't know you're exact dimensions, so all I can do is be vague. The best way for this is to plan ahead. Before you cut any wood, you should know what your faceframe overlay is on the carcass and have your drawer slides already ordered. But hey, hindsight is 20/20 right?

   If the bottom of your faceframe is flush with the bottom of your carcass, and you've got an 1/2" relief under your drawers, you can use them pre-made wooden drawer slides. I use two per drawer, instead of one and side guides built into sides of cabinet. Just figure out spacing, notch drawer back and cut to length. Depending on the size and load requirment of your drawers, you can use the side mount underneath too. I can go on forever, but I can't see your cabinet, so I won't.

   Do you have room for the side mount? You might. You might just have to make shims on the inside of faceframe to accomadate the type of slides and the type of drawer(inset or overlay). Good luck, just save yourself alot of frustration and plan 10 steps ahead if you have to in the future.

   John E. Nanasy

1. 
   dovetail3 | May 07, 2003 08:28pm | #6

   Thanks: Without a long explanation I messed up and can not

   use guides. My idea is to add strips of nylon tape to the

   bottoms and hope they slide easily upon the shelf supports.

   I haven't done this before but it seems like a good alternative

   Ken

1. 
   camel | May 08, 2003 12:45am | #7

   Ken- Hey whatever works at this point right? I bet you won't let that happen again. Good luck and keep having fun while you can, before you get this dumb idea of doing this crap for a living. John E. Nanasy

5. 
   LarryPile | May 08, 2003 05:04am | #8

   Hi,

   Having recently discovered NK drawer slides (see old issues of FWW or the new Taunton "Chests" book) I cannot recommend them highly enough.  They're durable, easy to make after you "get" the concept, and they slide like butter AND if your drawer or your opening isn't perfectly square....or shifts, the slides still work.  I just finished a 9-drawer dresser out of White Oak..and all of the drawers are stunningly easy to slide...Oh, and I added UHMW plastic under the NK slides for more ease...it may have been unnecessary...but who knows. 

   I'll never do conventional drawers again...

   L~

1. 
   dovetail3 | May 08, 2003 07:32pm | #9

   Larry: Sounds great. Is NK the brand? Do you know what

   issue of FWW? Are they side mount? Full extension?

   Thanks Much

   Ken