BB

Brooklin

28/07/2004 1:07 PM

'Floating' drawer bottom necessary?

I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.

Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
regardless of size?

Thanks


This topic has 7 replies

cC

[email protected] (Charlie Self)

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

28/07/2004 7:10 PM

Brooklin asks:

>I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
>square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
>Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
>regardless of size

No, but it is sensible to be safe. Small plywood bottoms might glue in nicely,
but what's the point?


Charlie Self
"Did you know that the White House drug test is multiple choice?" Rush Limbaugh

FH

Father Haskell

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

28/07/2004 5:23 PM

Brooklin wrote:
>
> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
> regardless of size?

Do it if only to avoid scraping glue.

GE

"George E. Cawthon"

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

29/07/2004 1:11 AM

Don't know exact size limit with solid wood, but I think any drawer
under 8 inches in length and width wouldn't need a floating bottom.
Of course if the sides and ends are plywood, you don't need a floating
bottom. All of my drawers with plywood sides and ends have glued
bottoms and these include drawers upto 30 inches wide and 18 inches
deep. Some of those bottoms are plywood, others are 1/4" tempered
masonite. My computer desk has a drawer with a solid wood (oak) front
and the rest is plywood that is glued and is still solid after many
years (was originally made for a Commodore 64 so you figure the age.

Brooklin wrote:
>
> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
> regardless of size?
>
> Thanks

PA

"Preston Andreas"

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

28/07/2004 11:15 PM

That small, shouldn't hurt.

Preston

"Brooklin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
> regardless of size?
>
> Thanks

sS

[email protected] (Scott Lurndal)

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

29/07/2004 11:04 PM

"George E. Cawthon" <[email protected]> writes:
>Don't know exact size limit with solid wood, but I think any drawer
>under 8 inches in length and width wouldn't need a floating bottom.
>Of course if the sides and ends are plywood, you don't need a floating
>bottom. All of my drawers with plywood sides and ends have glued

The only time you need a floating bottom in a drawer is when the
bottom is made from boards. When it is made from plywood or
masonite, don't bother floating it, as they are both dimensionally
stable.

If the bottom is not an entineered product, I'd float it no matter what size it is.

scott

>bottoms and these include drawers upto 30 inches wide and 18 inches
>deep. Some of those bottoms are plywood, others are 1/4" tempered
>masonite. My computer desk has a drawer with a solid wood (oak) front
>and the rest is plywood that is glued and is still solid after many
>years (was originally made for a Commodore 64 so you figure the age.
>
>Brooklin wrote:
>>
>> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
>> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>>
>> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
>> regardless of size?
>>
>> Thanks

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

28/07/2004 11:22 PM


"Brooklin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
> regardless of size?
>
> Thanks

That small, I wouldn't think twice - go ahead and glue it. I've glued full
size drawers made from soft woods and drawers made from hardwoods before I
ever heard that you shouldn't and I've never once had a problem with the
glued drawers. I understand the principle behind not gluing the bottoms,
but like I said, I've done it a lot and never once had a problem.
--

-Mike-
[email protected]

Dd

David

in reply to Brooklin on 28/07/2004 1:07 PM

28/07/2004 10:20 AM

At 4 inches square you COULD ignore the floating bottom rule.

David.

Brooklin wrote:

> I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches
> square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.
>
> Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood
> regardless of size?
>
> Thanks


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