Hi all, I had to make some drawers today to go into the study. I also built all the units in there a while ago, but hadn't quite finished the job! There has been an ugly hole where the drawers are supposed to go ever since.
So here goes. I built them using 18mm MDF and 3mm hardboard from B&Q and drawer runners from Screwfix. The runners, in hindsight, were the wrong ones. The ones I bought have a large bracket to hold the drawer. I prefer the smaller runners that are the same size on both sides of the runner (if you know what I mean!)
Step 1.
Make sure you have a willing helper, it makes things much easier! Bless her, she's only 2 and won't let me go to the workshop alone!
Right, here are the runners. See what I mean about them having deep sides!
Step 2.
Very important!! Do a sketch first. You will only end up in tears if you cut all your wood and realise you didn't take something into account!
Step 3.
Cut your timber. If you have a skillsaw, clamp a straight piece of wood onto the timber you are cutting, making sure you measure the distance from the edge of the blade to the edge of the saw's baseplate and compensate when marking off. (See where I made a mark for the size I wanted, then added 30mm to compensate) If you have a local B&Q that offers a cutting service, I would reccomend getting your wood cut to size. It is easy enough to cut large sheets of timber at home using this method, but lots of small pieces proves to be a bit more tricky!!
Step 4.
Once you have all your wood cut to size, drill and countersink the ends of 2 of the pieces.
Apply a thin bead of glue to the ends of the other bits of wood
and screw the whole lot together. (I used 3.5x25mm wood screws)
If you are making larger drawers or doing any other kind of similar work, you can use a special clamp (called Clarence, or Clarence the clamp
) to hold the 2 bits of wood together. It makes things a whole lot easier! I bought these at a car boot sale for 99p each!
Step 5.
Now for the hardboard (which I prepared earlier and costs under £2 for a large sheet!) Place the hardboard onto the frame you have just assembled, shiny face towards the inside of the drawer. Align and nail it down along one edge only. Then use your square to make sure then sides are all square and put a couple of nails in the opposite corners to hold it all together.
Here's the finished article:
Now screw the runners on. You might find it easier to clamp them in place and then screw them on the stop them moving. Make sure the front of the runner is in line with the front of the drawer.
Now, you have to screw the other side of the runners into the unit. Make sure you measure properly and get them aligned nicely. Also, make sure the front of the runner is in line with the front of the face of the unit.
Then just slide them home! If you measured properly they should be a snug fit!
Next you need to make the fronts for the drawers. I haven't done that yet because I ran out of wood! I'll add that bit next week when I get some more wood!
So here goes. I built them using 18mm MDF and 3mm hardboard from B&Q and drawer runners from Screwfix. The runners, in hindsight, were the wrong ones. The ones I bought have a large bracket to hold the drawer. I prefer the smaller runners that are the same size on both sides of the runner (if you know what I mean!)
Step 1.
Make sure you have a willing helper, it makes things much easier! Bless her, she's only 2 and won't let me go to the workshop alone!
Right, here are the runners. See what I mean about them having deep sides!
Step 2.
Very important!! Do a sketch first. You will only end up in tears if you cut all your wood and realise you didn't take something into account!
Step 3.
Cut your timber. If you have a skillsaw, clamp a straight piece of wood onto the timber you are cutting, making sure you measure the distance from the edge of the blade to the edge of the saw's baseplate and compensate when marking off. (See where I made a mark for the size I wanted, then added 30mm to compensate) If you have a local B&Q that offers a cutting service, I would reccomend getting your wood cut to size. It is easy enough to cut large sheets of timber at home using this method, but lots of small pieces proves to be a bit more tricky!!
Step 4.
Once you have all your wood cut to size, drill and countersink the ends of 2 of the pieces.
Apply a thin bead of glue to the ends of the other bits of wood
and screw the whole lot together. (I used 3.5x25mm wood screws)
If you are making larger drawers or doing any other kind of similar work, you can use a special clamp (called Clarence, or Clarence the clamp
) to hold the 2 bits of wood together. It makes things a whole lot easier! I bought these at a car boot sale for 99p each!
Step 5.
Now for the hardboard (which I prepared earlier and costs under £2 for a large sheet!) Place the hardboard onto the frame you have just assembled, shiny face towards the inside of the drawer. Align and nail it down along one edge only. Then use your square to make sure then sides are all square and put a couple of nails in the opposite corners to hold it all together.
Here's the finished article:
Now screw the runners on. You might find it easier to clamp them in place and then screw them on the stop them moving. Make sure the front of the runner is in line with the front of the drawer.
Now, you have to screw the other side of the runners into the unit. Make sure you measure properly and get them aligned nicely. Also, make sure the front of the runner is in line with the front of the face of the unit.
Then just slide them home! If you measured properly they should be a snug fit!
Next you need to make the fronts for the drawers. I haven't done that yet because I ran out of wood!
I'll add that bit next week when I get some more wood!
