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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.
How thick should a wooden drawer bottom be?
3/8″ thick plywood is the best overall thickness for drawer bottoms and is available for Maple, Birch, Beech, Cherry, and Walnut. 1/4″ and 1/2″ thickness is available for all wood species and in White or Almond Melamine as well as other options.
How do you support the bottom of a drawer?
Cut a small block of solid wood or plywood to 3/8 inch thick X 2 inches wide X 4 inches long and glue it to the underside of the drawer bottom. Allow the glue to cure overnight. Next, flip the drawer right-side up and fasten a 1 ½ X 1 ½-inch metal corner brace to the rear center of the drawer.
What kind of wood do you use for drawer bottoms?
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.
How thick should a drawer bottom be?
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.
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 .
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.
Can I use MDF for a drawer bottom?
I use 3\8 MDF for drawer bottoms. I find it plenty strong and stable.
Is Poplar good for drawers?
Poplar is a great all-around choice for drawer box construction. It is stable, durable, and much less expensive than most hardwoods. The overall look of popular blends well with birch plywood, which is an excellent choice for the drawer bottoms.
How deep should drawers be?
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.
How thick should Cabinet plywood be?
Use 1/4-inch plywood for the cabinet back unless it will support the weight of the cabinet, in which case 1/2 inch is a better choice. Select 1/2-inch plywood for drawer sides, fronts and backs, but 1/4 inch is suitable for drawer bottoms. Plain front plywood doors are rare, but they can be made from 3/8-inch plywood.
How much space do you need for drawer slides?
You can get side-mount slides in ¾ or full extension, which refers to how far the drawer boxes pull out of the cabinets. Most side-mount slides require 1/2” to 17/32” of clearance on each side of a drawer. That means each drawer should be 1” to 1-1/16” smaller than the opening to fit properly.
Why do drawers have floating bottoms?
The only time you need a floating bottom in a drawer is when the bottom is made from boards. When it is made from plywood or masonite, don’t bother floating it, as they are both dimensionally stable. If the bottom is not an entineered product, I’d float it no matter what size it is.
How thick should Plywood be 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.
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.
Is 12mm plywood OK for shelves?
12mm Hardwood Plywood is the perfect thickness for modular shelving too – it’s lightweight but not too clunky – which is ideal if you’re looking to make contemporary hexagonal shelving like the picture below.
Is MDF good for making drawers?
MDF Particle Boards These panels are constructed using powdered wood, which is held together with glue. 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.
What kind of plywood do you use 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.
