Hey folks! I'm embarking on my first project to build some drawers for my wardrobe, and I'm looking for some guidance. Any tips or tricks you could share, especially regarding joints, materials, and sizing? How can I determine the right drawer sizes so there's good spacing between them? I'm only using manual tools aside from my drill, so any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
The beauty of drawer making is that you can keep it simple or get as fancy as you want. For even my most basic design, I usually make a dado cut for the bottom panel to sit in. I'm not sure how you'd do that with just hand tools though. If you use solid wood and take your time with it, you'll get some really nice results!
I've built a few drawers myself, and I've always gone with dovetail joints; they’re sturdy! I’ve done them the traditional way without any nails or screws, and I trust they'll last forever. If you decide to go the dovetail or box joint route, you'll probably be making something that lasts—maybe even a future heirloom!
Haha, sounds like a future museum piece!
While I’m no pro, I've checked out some resources on drawer making. One key thing to remember is to make sure your joints are solid enough to handle the wear and tear of daily use. If you're using nails, make sure they're positioned perpendicularly to maximize strength. Also, I’ve been working on an app that helps create customizable plans for drawers—it's still in beta, but you can check it out for free: https://beta.otterplans.com/en/plans/drawer/customize! Hope that helps!
Yeah, I've heard router planes work great for making dadoes!