Pp

Puckdropper

27/06/2011 6:01 PM

Desk Drawer tolerances

I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what kind of
clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".

Puckdropper


This topic has 14 replies

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 3:10 PM


"dadiOH" wrote:

> Flush, I presume? 1/16 total for both sides (ends), 1/8 total for
> top & bottom. You can use less if you slope the drawer front sides
> and ends inward slightly.
-----------------------------------
Did a chest in hard maple.

The above worked for me.

Lew

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

28/06/2011 1:01 AM

"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

>
> Flush, I presume? 1/16 total for both sides (ends), 1/8 total for top &
> bottom. You can use less if you slope the drawer front sides and ends
> inward slightly.
>

Thank you, that sounds reasonable.

Puckdropper

ST

Steve Turner

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

28/06/2011 8:20 AM

On 6/27/2011 9:28 PM, Swingman wrote:
> On 6/27/2011 7:02 PM, Leon wrote:
>
>> On 6/27/2011 1:01 PM, Puckdropper wrote:
>>> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what
>>> kind of
>>> clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>>>
>>> Puckdropper
>>
>> Personally I would only allow 1/16 TOTAL in width and height if it is
>> floating, any more than that and you end up with a drawer that gets
>> pushed to one side and a big gap.
>
> Bingo ... <Or 1 1/2 sixteenths on 'one of those days'. <SEG> >
>
> Until you use these on a job or two, you really don't appreciate just how big a
> 1/16" gap really is:
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=66917&cat=1,43456
>
> :)

I saw those in the latest Lee Valley catalog the other day and I almost made a
bee-line straight to the computer to put a set on order. 'cept I CAN'T just
order those and nothing else, and I can't start an order without going
completely overboard, so I forced myself to think about big ugly fat chicks
instead and the darkness passed.

(Was unable to post this from news.eternal-september.org for some reason;
switched to astraweb instead...)

--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

Ll

Leon

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

29/06/2011 6:09 AM

On 6/29/2011 12:44 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:20:53 -0500, Steve Turner
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I saw those in the latest Lee Valley catalog the other day and I almost made a
>> bee-line straight to the computer to put a set on order. 'cept I CAN'T just
>> order those and nothing else, and I can't start an order without going
>> completely overboard,
>
> I believe they're available at other stores besides Lee Valley. Of
> course, maybe you can hold this spacer order in reserve for that time
> when you need something to put you over the top when making another
> Lee Valley order.<g>

Actually you can buy direct. Lee Valley seems to maybe have a unique
packaging and or style shim as the manufacturer does not offer the same
style shims.

http://www.handi-shim.com/purchase.html

Ll

Leon

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

29/06/2011 8:05 AM

On 6/29/2011 7:10 AM, Swingman wrote:
> On 6/29/2011 6:09 AM, Leon wrote:
>
>> Actually you can buy direct. Lee Valley seems to maybe have a unique
>> packaging and or style shim as the manufacturer does not offer the same
>> style shims.
>>
>> http://www.handi-shim.com/purchase.html
>
> And it appears that LV is cheaper ...
>

Unless you want a larger quantity of the same sized shim.
LV only offers assortments of different sizes.

Wc

"WW"

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 1:17 PM


"Puckdropper" <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what kind of
> clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>
> Puckdropper

Assuming no drawer slides dadiOH has a good idea. WW

Sk

Swingman

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

29/06/2011 7:10 AM

On 6/29/2011 6:09 AM, Leon wrote:

> Actually you can buy direct. Lee Valley seems to maybe have a unique
> packaging and or style shim as the manufacturer does not offer the same
> style shims.
>
> http://www.handi-shim.com/purchase.html

And it appears that LV is cheaper ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 2:26 PM

Puckdropper wrote:
> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what
> kind of clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures
> 5"x12 3/4".
>
> Puckdropper

Flush, I presume? 1/16 total for both sides (ends), 1/8 total for top &
bottom. You can use less if you slope the drawer front sides and ends
inward slightly.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico


Sk

Swingman

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 9:28 PM

On 6/27/2011 7:02 PM, Leon wrote:

> On 6/27/2011 1:01 PM, Puckdropper wrote:
>> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what
>> kind of
>> clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>>
>> Puckdropper
>
> Personally I would only allow 1/16 TOTAL in width and height if it is
> floating, any more than that and you end up with a drawer that gets
> pushed to one side and a big gap.

Bingo ... <Or 1 1/2 sixteenths on 'one of those days'. <SEG> >

Until you use these on a job or two, you really don't appreciate just
how big a 1/16" gap really is:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=66917&cat=1,43456

:)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

ZY

Zz Yzx

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 6:19 PM

On 27 Jun 2011 18:01:55 GMT, Puckdropper
<puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:

>I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what kind of
>clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>
>Puckdropper

I think Hoadley has an involved discussion of this kind of wood
shrinkage/expansion.

-Zz

u

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

28/06/2011 2:38 AM

On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:28:58 -0500, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=66917&cat=1,43456

Handy little accessories aren't they? I never realized how irritating
it was lining up drawers until I started using these spacers and
eliminated the irritation.

u

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

29/06/2011 1:44 AM

On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:20:53 -0500, Steve Turner
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I saw those in the latest Lee Valley catalog the other day and I almost made a
>bee-line straight to the computer to put a set on order. 'cept I CAN'T just
>order those and nothing else, and I can't start an order without going
>completely overboard,

I believe they're available at other stores besides Lee Valley. Of
course, maybe you can hold this spacer order in reserve for that time
when you need something to put you over the top when making another
Lee Valley order. <g>

Ll

Leon

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 7:02 PM

On 6/27/2011 1:01 PM, Puckdropper wrote:
> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what kind of
> clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>
> Puckdropper

Personally I would only allow 1/16 TOTAL in width and height if it is
floating, any more than that and you end up with a drawer that gets
pushed to one side and a big gap.

Using slides, go for a perfect fit in width.

ME

Martin Eastburn

in reply to Puckdropper on 27/06/2011 6:01 PM

27/06/2011 7:57 PM

I have an oak desk at the lodge. The drawers just have some room
around the edges. When the moisture increases in the office the drawers
start to stick and jam.

One issue is the bottom of the drawer drags the horizontal bar. Have
bottom runners if you can - inset the bottom.

Also consider having guides. Remember oak weighs plenty!

My old Everlast brand steel desk - WW-II vintage for the main shed
office. I found it in a salvage shop. It has ball bearing guides
and it is fantastic 65 or 70 years old.

Martin

On 6/27/2011 1:01 PM, Puckdropper wrote:
> I'm thinking of building a desk out of oak, and was wondering what kind of
> clearance around the drawer I need. The opening measures 5"x12 3/4".
>
> Puckdropper


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