I'm mending a drawer; Front is wood but side is plastic.

Jeff543 · 15 Apr 2021

I'm mending another drawer here, I've taken the front out (there are no dowels only a plastic fitting) as below. I've glued it up at the attachments and am weighing it down with a 5KG weight.

I want to screw a bracket into the inside -corner of the problem- side of the drawer but as you can see the (white) side is plastic. I can use wood screws for the wooden bit but should I use washes and should I use different screws for the plastic side or will wood-screws do?

Thanks.

Harry Bloomfield · 15 Apr 2021

I would just glue the strengthening bracket to the plastic, using an adhesive suitable for both the plastic and the steel. The plastic is not very strong and quite brittle, so not good at working with point loads. The kitchen I bought long ago, came with similar plastic drawers. They didn't survive long and I eventually changed the drawers for pressed steel versions, complete with new runners, transferring the drawer fronts over. They didn't cost much, came in various sizes on Ebay.

Deleted member 174758 · 15 Apr 2021

Actually, apart from specific plastics screws self tappers screwed into an appropriate sized pilot hole often work quite well for many plastics

You know, I'm beginning to wonder if you've been overdoing the weights and now don't know your own strength!

Jeff543 · 15 Apr 2021

Thanks , what about washers? No I didn't break this drawer it's a relative's drawer lol

Anyway this is 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm

Jeff543 · 15 Apr 2021

I've ordered
3.5mm (No.6) x 13mm Pozi Countersunk Self-tapping Screw A2 Stainless DIN 7982C Z

Will one bracket suffice in that one problem-corner?

Deleted member 174758 · 16 Apr 2021

For a lightweight, lightly loaded drawer one bracket should probably be OK - position it nearer the top than the bottom, though. You should make sure that you drill pilot holes before screwing it.

Sounds like it the plastic might be something like ABS plastic, so 2.7mm or slightly larger should work. Any smaller and I'd be concerned about cracking the plastic when you drive the screw. Hand drive your screw (avoid power drivers in fragile stuff). If needs be advance the screw 1 to 1-1/2 turns, then back off the screw 1/2 turn before advancing another 1 to 1-1/2 turns and so on. This seems to allow the screw to form a thread a bit better then just driving it in in one pass and reduces the tendency to crack

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

JobAndKnock said:
For a lightweight, lightly loaded drawer one bracket should probably be OK - position it nearer the top than the bottom, though. You should make sure that you drill pilot holes before screwing it.

Sounds like it the plastic might be something like ABS plastic, so 2.7mm or slightly larger should work. Any smaller and I'd be concerned about cracking the plastic when you drive the screw. Hand drive your screw (avoid power drivers in fragile stuff). If needs be advance the screw 1 to 1-1/2 turns, then back off the screw 1/2 turn before advancing another 1 to 1-1/2 turns and so on. This seems to allow the screw to form a thread a bit better then just driving it in in one pass and reduces the tendency to crack

This is not chipboard, hard work getting this screw in by hand.

JohnD · 21 Apr 2021

Jeff543 said:
This is not chipboard, hard work getting this screw in by hand.

drill a pilot hole.

Deleted member 174758 · 21 Apr 2021

JohnD said:
drill a pilot hole.

I did suggest that

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

I glued back the loose front part of drawer first before I started with the screwdriver as stated in OP.

I then glued the bracket on.

I miscalculated the width of the plastic because I only measured the top which is wider. Anyway found a very small screw for the plastic side of the bracket and started screwing in but the screw looks like it's busting through the plastic but it's not holding down the bracket. It shouldn't hinder the ease with which the drawer goes in and out though.

As for the wood-side of the bracket I used all my.might to get the screw in with a screwdriver as far as I could. I don't know what type of wood that is but its quite tough.

Deleted member 174758 · 21 Apr 2021

Did you drilla pilot hole, though? Drilling a small hole makes the job of screwing materials together a heck of a lot eaasie.if you atecexerting a lot of pressure to drive a screw either the screw is too big for the pilot hole - other is no.pilot hole!

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

JobAndKnock said:
Did you drilla pilot hole, though? Drilling a small hole makes the job of screwing materials together a heck of a lot eaasie.if you atecexerting a lot of pressure to drive a screw either the screw is too big for the pilot hole - other is no.pilot hole!

No I have yet to use my new drill.

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

This is the wood, i don't know what it is but it is tough wood.

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

This is the bracket, I don't think i can any more with it.

Jeff543 · 21 Apr 2021

Another bracket shot;

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I'm mending a drawer; Front is wood but side is plastic.

Deleted member 174758

Deleted member 174758

Deleted member 174758

Deleted member 174758

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