I'm building a dresser this weekend that's 72 inches long, 20 inches deep, and 30 inches high, featuring four drawers on each side. With the length being 6 feet, the drawers will end up about 34 inches wide. I've seen warnings about making wide drawers; is a 34" x 18" drawer a poor choice? I noticed IKEA has a Gullaberg dresser that's 66 inches long with drawers around 30-32 inches wide. I found some Knape & Vogt soft-close slides that fit the weight and size specs, but should I consider under-mount slides instead? I'm relatively new to drawer making, so I'd appreciate any insights! Thanks!
4 Answers
If you use the right slides and build it properly, wide drawers can definitely work! I’d recommend using Blum undermount slides with lateral stabilizers for extra support. They really help in keeping things running smoothly!
I’ve found that wider drawers can twist horizontally, which leads to binding issues. Adding a middle runner can help prevent that and also reinforce the bottom of the drawer. You can buy pre-made runners, but making your own from offcuts using a router is pretty straightforward!
I just finished a similar dresser with 34-inch drawers. I understand the concerns about long drawers, but it mainly depends on the materials used. I went with 18 mm plywood for the box and 6 mm for the base, which are well suited for this size.
I’m curious about your approach! Is the main issue related to the wear of the slides, or how the drawer box is constructed? 18 and 6mm seem like a good choice, so your reassurance helps a lot. What slides did you end up using?
Undermount slides are usually the way to go, especially if your budget and design permit it. Just make sure the drawer bottom has enough support; sounds like you’ve got a solid plan going!
That’s interesting! I've noticed some specs say they're only suitable for certain widths. Is the drawer width a major factor, or should the weight capacity be the main concern?