Quick Answer: How To Cut Drawer Bottoms

Cutting the groove for the drawer can be done with a table saw or a router and router table. 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.

How thick 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 deep should Dado be for drawer bottom?

The maximum dado size to accept any bottom is 3/8″. The dado for a 1/2″ thick bottom is only 3/8″, therefore the dado must be made 3/8″ wide and 5/8″ up from the bottom edge to achieve a 1/2″ recess for under-mount hardware. The 1/2″ bottom is then rabbetted to fit into the groove.

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.

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.

Can I use MDF for a drawer bottom?

I use 3\8 MDF for drawer bottoms. I find it plenty strong and stable.

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 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.

Where do you cut the groove for a drawer bottom?

What is dado cut?

Dado cutting is the process of adding a groove to a board. In woodworking, dado cuts are commonly used to provide a slot to hold drawer bottoms or door panels. The stacked dado set is, as the name implies, a number of thin blades. The blades are added together to make the required width of the dado groove.

What is the maximum depth of a rabbet or a dado?

I kind of assume that dadoes, grooves, rabbets / rebates should be no deeper than half the thickness of the material. So, in 3/4″ stock, dadoes should be no deeper than 3/8″.

Can drawer slides be shorter than drawer?

You should always use the longest slide possible for your application, without exceeding the drawer depth into the cabinet. The Height of a Drawer Slide is usually only a limiting factor, in the sense that you can’t install a slide that is taller than your drawer or pull-out.

How do you find the area of a drawer?

Measure the height and width of the drawer opening and add 1-1/2 inches to get the face size of the drawer. For example, if the drawer opening measures 18-by-22 inches, you will need to cut one piece 3/4-by-19 1/2-by-23 1/2 inches.

How do you measure a drawer opening?

From the opening, you need to measure the width – from side to side horizontally – and height -from top to bottom vertically. The opening is the space that the new box fits in. There two types of mount guides that you can choose when installing drawer boxes. Each mount changes the measurements of the opening.

What do you line drawers with?

While you could line drawers with yesterday’s newspapers, there are so many other possibilities. Try leftover fabric, removable wallpaper, oilcloth, or even sheet metal (for utility drawers). You may have to cut your lining down to size. Measure the inside of the drawer to get the dimensions.

How do you stick down drawer liners?

It’s easy to add shelf covers! Measure the surface. Mark the dimensions and cutting lines. Cut the shelf lining. If you want to make sure the plastic shelf liner doesn’t slip, put a little blob of reusable mounting putty in each corner. Load up your shelves and drawers!.

How do you cut plastic shelf liners?

Trim with box cutter by holding a straight edge ruler and running a box cutter along the edge from the top and bottom mark you made. This will give a straight edge that will fit a drawer perfectly. Now, you’re ready to cut the liner to the size needed.

What is a Plough plane?

A grooving plane, plow plane, or plough plane is a plane used in woodworking to make grooves and (with some of the metal versions) small rabbets. They are traditionally used for drawer bottoms or rear walls.

Can you build drawers out of MDF?

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 drawers out of plywood?

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 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.

Is hardboard good 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. Baltic birch plywood is a great choice.