Table of Contents
How thick should plywood be for a drawer bottom?
Drawers are typically made with matching plywood bottoms. Plywood for drawer bottoms is available in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ thickness. 3/8″ thick plywood is the best overall thickness for drawer bottoms and is available for Maple, Birch, Beech, Cherry, and Walnut.
What can I use for the bottom of a drawer?
The most common materials for drawer bottoms are 1⁄4” hardboard or plywood. For small and medium-size drawers, hardboard will stand up to a moderate amount of weight. For a heavier load, you can step up to plywood. Baltic birch plywood is a great choice.
What type of plywood is used for drawers?
Drawer sides should generally be constructed of half-inch plywood, while the drawer bottom should be made of quarter-inch plywood. Columbia makes it easy to construct quality, durable drawers using our maple drawer sides. These are available in standard 8-foot lengths, and a variety of widths that are ready to cut.
Is 1 2 plywood strong enough for drawers?
Drawer box side thickness should be at least 1/2″ but if you can find 5/8″ plywood your boxes will be stronger. 1/4″ thick plywood is good enough for most drawers. PureBond 1/4″ Maple Plywood is great for drawer bottoms. Another good choice that is about 1/2 the cost is 1/4″ Tempered Hardboard .
What thickness should a drawer bottom be?
Drawer Basics The sides and back of the drawer should be 1⁄2” or 5⁄8” thick. Use thinner stock for smaller drawers and thicker stock for big ones. The bottom is usually 1⁄4“-thick plywood for small drawers or 1⁄2“-thick material for bigger drawers, or drawers that will hold heavy objects.
How can I make my drawer bottom stronger?
Turn the drawer over and squeeze carpenter’s glue on the bottom of the drawer. Center the plywood on the bottom of the drawer. Allow the glue to dry overnight. This simple method offers additional stability to the drawer to keep the bottom from sagging.
Can I use MDF for a drawer bottom?
I use 3\8 MDF for drawer bottoms. I find it plenty strong and stable.
How deep should a drawer bottom groove be?
On a table saw, set the cut height for a little more than half the thickness of the drawer side material, and cut a groove to fit the thickness of the drawer bottom material. A good spot for the groove is approximately 3/8″ from the bottom edge of the drawer sides.
What size plywood should I use for drawers?
Plywood for most drawers is 1/4 inch thick but can be 1/2 inch thick on large drawers. You can find these materials in many different types of hardwood so that one or both of the outer veneers can match your drawer boxes and/or fronts. However, not all wood species are available in veneer plywood.
Can I make drawers out of plywood?
This makes plywood an excellent choice for furniture building, including building the drawers which go in many types of furniture: cabinets, dressers, tables, etc. The dimensional stability of plywood means that the sides of the drawer won’t expand in humid weather.
What wood do you use to build drawers?
Poplar is a great all-around choice for drawer box construction. It is stable, durable, and much less expensive than most hardwoods. The color of poplar heartwood ranges from a creamy white to a yellowish tan or brown. It is very easy to work with and has straight, uniform grain.
Should I use half inch or 3/4 inch plywood?
If you’re building vertical cabinets, 1/2 plywood is strong enough and is often more than enough for general use. That’s why most builders opt to use 3/4 plywood for all of their cabinets.
How much gap should be between drawer fronts?
Drawer depth or height is not critical, but the most common difference between the drawer and the opening is 3/4 inch. For example, if the opening measures 4 inches vertically, the drawer should be built 3 1/4 inches. This allows 1/4 inch at the bottom where the slide is attached, and 1/2 inch at the top for clearance.
Is 12mm plywood OK for shelves?
It is generally unsuitable for shelving as the finish is poor. Use 12mm chipboard as a minimum and support the shelf at no greater than 300mm centres for all but the lightest of loads. Or 18mm chipboard with supports no greater than 700mm apart.
Is Pine Good for drawer boxes?
Pine is often used as a secondary wood on period pieces. If you dovetail it, the dovetails will prevent cupping. The only problem with the pine is that it wears out on the bottom of the drawer from opening and closing, but this takes a long time and a lot of use. Make sure the pine is kiln dried.
What material is best for drawers?
“While solid wood is premium for drawer front and sides, plywood is a better choice for the bottom section of a drawer because it won’t shrink or swell,” Kayer says. Other common drawer materials include metal and manufactured melamine. Most slides operate with plastic or metal ball bearings.
Is MDF good for drawers?
MDF is an abbreviation for medium-density fiberboard, which is a type of wood particle boards. MDF sheets are not the same as chipboard or plywood. The reason why MDF is an ideal choice for drawer-building is because it cuts and sands well.
Can you make a dresser out of MDF?
These plans are so versatile that you could create your dresser (you could remove a drawer and create a nice shelf). There are several things you should take into account before getting the project started. In addition, you will need to use 3/4” MDF, so make sure you buy quality sheets.
How do you put a bottom in a dovetail box?
How much smaller should a drawer be than the opening?
That means each drawer should be 1” to 1-1/16” smaller than the opening to fit properly.
