Drawers? Help

[mattlago]

Going to weld up a desk. Fairly certain I can steal enuff ideas on that to build the frame and top etc.

I am less looking forward to making drawers and my skill set isn't at that level. It will be steel frame and wood top so the drawer could be either material.

Then I googled buying some and was stunned by pricing. Does anyone have any tips or shortcuts on this?

 

[Kaizen]

A drawer itself is easy. Just a box. The hard part is getting it to fit the opening, making it look good, and the drawer slides. There are several acceptable ways to make wooden ones. Doesn’t have to be dado’s and dovetails. I would probably try metal as you can tack it and test fit and mod if needed. I have a heck of a time with side drawer slides so stick to bottom mount ones. Make sure you use full extension ones. And yea they are expensive


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[matt_i]

Armed with a stomp shear, finger brake and corner notcher you can fold some decent drawers. The price of entry for those machines is kind of high but they are tools you can always use. Over 4" deep you'll probably have to go with a press brake.

You could always go the Gerstner route and build wood frames but go with sheetmetal bottom.

 

[gahrajmahal]

If you have an IKEA nearby purchase a drawer assembly for their kitchen cabinets. Since everything is pieces you assemble, their drawers have heavy metal sides, a decent chip board bottom and heavy ball bearing slides. All you add is your own drawer front. They come in multiple sizes and widths and are reasonable price. I used the widest size in the garage, around 24" and hung it under my racking style shelving on some angle brackets. I keep it full of nuts and bolts when I buy boxes.

 

[NUTTSGT]

One thing I have always remembered form HS Industrial Arts class is when making drawers is to "allow for slide and fit."

 

[mattlago]

TY everyone

 

[tapered-pin]

wood..

wood drawers, steel frame wood top.. handsome!

 

[Tom Sestito]

With the first drawers I ever made, I took some liberties with the overall sizing thinking it 'wasn't that critical'. So I made the drawers again after they didn't fit.

The most important part about drawers is understanding what the outside dimension needs to be so you can allow your hardware to fit and function smoothly.

I generally prefer to make the cabinet first and the drawers second. This ensure the opening for the drawer doesn't change mid-way through the build and I don't need to re-make the drawers.

Lastly, understand your drawers construction and your hardware solution before you start the build, and even have the hardware with you.

Good luck! You're going to make mistakes but that's part of the process. In the end you'll be left with a better product than what you can buy at a big box store.

 

[tapered-pin]

I generally prefer to make the cabinet first and the drawers second.

Critical in my opinion.

that is until you've made a hundred drawers for several different applications, anyway..
(it's not rocket science. you just have to consciously plan and measure everything)