dresser drawer bottom board

I bought a couple 2' x 4' sheets of 1/4" plywood to use for the replacement drawer bottoms. Step 2. The most secure way to repair the drawer is to take it apart and re-glue it. 36 how to fix a saggy dresser drawer!?! Thanks for sharing this neat idea. That could work and would be a pretty simple fix. If you still cant figure out how to do this, then follow the instructions that came with the furniture. Replace the Thin Bottom With a Thicker Plywood, Disassemble the Drawer and Remove the Bottom, Smoothen the Bottom Panel Using Sandpaper, 2. You may need to push the release lever or raise the drawer to remove it with ease. If I take the drawer out and place it front down, I can easily push the bottom back into the groove and press down on the back to make it all fit. Thats why you should snugly wrap the furniture with a moving blanket and tape the padding in place to keep the dresser drawers from falling out while moving. Go step by step, dismantling the joins and putting the drawer apart one piece at a time. You should be left with a nice groove where the new bottom will fit. Put a small amount of glue in each of the grooves on the drawer's sides and back, and then slide the bottom into the grooves. This one will work on the front and back to back up drawer. Make fine adjustments and don't rush or try to take too much material. This drawer bottom had already torn in the corner so I needed to completely replace it. Step 4: Slide your new drawer base in place. Like most flat-pack furniture, it came with 3mm hardboard for the drawer bottoms that fit into a dado groove in each of the drawer sides, face and back. The hardboard eventually pulled out of the groove and needed to be replaced, but I never like to do any repair a second time, so I upgraded to 1/4" plywood. The other one uses a block on the underside of the drawer as a backer for attaching an angle bracket to the back of the drawer. You want to allow for expansion, but if the plywood is just a little tight in the dado it will firm up the drawer a bit and prevent it from racking when it is pulled from one side or the other. Slide the bottom into the grooves and ensure that it fits securely, and then take it out. Buy new material. How To Replace The Bottom Of A Dresser Drawer. by Jenni | Jul 24, 2018 | DIY | 0 comments. Its now ready for use. HomelyVille.Com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Type above and press Enter to search. The drawer that gave out is where I store old batteries. To fix a sagging drawer bottom depends on the materials you have and how badly damaged the drawer bottom is. Scrape dried glue off each joint, using a sharp chisel. Step 6: Repeat as necessary for each drawer! If the drawer slides along a bottom glide, you usually have to tilt it up to free it from the glide. Thanks for sharing this neat idea. Measure. Mix the filler with hardener, according to the instructions on the container, and apply it with a putty knife. This one would make a very solid and permanent repair. You could also probably just put a reinforcing piece of 1/2 x 4 across the middle of the bottom and call it good as well. Step 5. This sandpaper is easy to use and is particularly great for DIY projects, including woodworking, to be ideal for this venture. Many times the drawer bottoms need to be replaced or repaired. 7 years ago Allow the glue to dry overnight. Share it with us! Drawer bottoms are typically cut from thin plywood or hardboard. Do this for the side pieces of the drawer, the back, and the front. At least I know the drawers are working and much more functional than they used to be!! Drill in the brace down into the timber beneath. Be sure to measure the beam of wood as close as possible to ensure that the beam is not visible while viewing the dresser and it will not impede the drawers in any way. Now that all the pieces are ready, you can now reassemble your drawer. I wish I had a set up to implement your fix. After examining the actual condition of the guide, you can decide if you need to tighten the. Luckily, these are not very complex carpentry jobs, so you can do it yourself and restore your drawer to normal function in no time. Lay down the plywood. Replace it with a new plywood or hardboard panel cut to fit. I have seen a few other fixes that would also work and might take fewer tools to complete. Press Esc to cancel. If broken or cracked, you can replace the bottom panel with thicker plywood. Use the knife to mold the filler around corners and edges that have broken away. March 3, 2015 at. You only need to add two other pieces of supporting timber underneath the bottom of the drawer but along the sides. This one will work on the front and back to back up drawer dadoes, but because this dresser's drawer slides have a bit of this built in for the sides, this won't work on the side pieces. If you knock on the plywood bottom, you can feel how more solid your improved drawer is. Using the tape measure, measure the distance between the two sides of the dresser frame and then cut a beam of wood to. on Step 7. what about if the reason the drawerbottom is sagging isn't the material of the bottom, but the backboard bending outwards? Even so, its still not too complex, as you will soon see. One involves attaching half inch by half inch blocks along the bottom edge below the drawer bottom to give it more support. The drawers in higher-quality desks and cabinets often have dovetail joints; these rarely come apart, and when they do, you simply need to fit them back together with fresh glue. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cut a small block of solid wood or plywood to 3/8 inch thick x 2 inches wide x 4 inches long and glue it to the underside of the drawer bottom. If the bottom panel of your drawer is cracked or outrightly broken, then this is your go-to solution since replacing the broken bottom is inevitable. Problems arise, though, if the wood or particle board has split or chipped out -- then you may have to use wood filler. How to Fix Dresser Drawers That Fall Off Track, How to Remove the Drawers From a Frigidaire Pedestal. The first step in this method is separating the flimsy bottom from the drawer. diy fixing naturallyray; Since spacing is important, the best way to determine what replacement you need is to measure the width of the drawer. For this dresser, I can only widen the dado on the upper edge of the groove, I will show you why in the next step.The sides of the drawer and the back have the dado the same distance from the bottom edge. In this article, well give you detailed step-by-step guidelines on how to repair your drawer bottom using four different methods. The bottom typically fits into grooves cut into the sides of the drawer, and when the sides start separating, there's nothing to hold the bottom piece in place. So it needs a little more work than you had hoped, but you buy it anyway, because you can see its going to be worth it. H x 60.55 in. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Scottsdale 6-Drawer White High Gloss Double Dresser 27.60 in. This will require you to disassemble the whole drawer. Thats the story with this piece, so I thought it was a good opportunity to continue our series on furniture repair. W x 16 in. If the drawer has dovetail joints, you may have to tap the joints together with a rubber mallet. Step 3. Here is the link for the second methodhttp://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/skill-builder/0,,464853,00.html. Fasten the wood moldings in place by nailing them through to the sides. This method is going to reinforce the drawer bottom and reduce any chances of it coming off from the grooves of the drawer. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Depending on your model, you should have one of these two. Assemble the sides and bottom of the drawer without glue to ensure that everything fits. You go to pull a drawer only to find that it doesnt budge. Apply glue to the front end of each side piece, and assemble the front of the drawer. Attaching the spacers for drawer for every drawer opening, you will place 13 boards inside gradually. But as soon as I let go the back piece bends and the bottom slips out again. This one will work on the front and back to back up drawer dadoes, but because the drawer slides have a bit of this built in for the sides, this won't work on the side pieces. They are a little thicker than the original 3mm hardboard, but the store I went to doesn't sell plywood thinner than 1/4" in these small sheets and I don't think I would want it if they did. Reply Related: How to Fix a Drawer That Falls Out. Between her own clothes and the endless stream of hand-me-downs she inherits, it was more than the cheap drawer bottoms could take. We have two dressers with this same problem. Widening the dadoes should be done very carefully and patiently to ensure you dont take too much material from the grooves. You can make it your next DIY project and work on all the faulty drawers in your home. This first method of fixing a sagging drawer bottom is probably the hardest of the three. All Rights Reserved. Because the dado only needs to be widened less than the width of a standard saw blade (no dado blades used), once the first board is ready, you can run the other drawer side and back of the drawer through the saw and they should be just like the first one.Depending on the drawer you are working with, the drawer front may be more or less like the other 3 sides. On a piece as old as this one it took a little wiggling to get it in there just right. Participated in the DIY University Contest, Participated in the Teach It! The other simpler solutions involve reinforcing the bottom with braces or using square wood moldings. D), Portland 6-Drawer Double Dresser in White 26.89 in. D, Juliette 6-Drawer Dresser White 29.25 in. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. Make sure to go slow and only take a little material with each pass. How to fix drawer bottoms? Why Do I Fall Asleep When Reading or Watching TV? Go for plywood thats thicker than the original. My daughter's dresser drawers are always getting overstuffed with clothes. You can also choose this method if you want a more sturdy bottom that will last longer and withstand the heavier drawer contents. I was going to try taking it all apart and putting some RTV Silicone in the groove, then reassemble. Be sure to measure the beam of wood as close as possible to ensure that the beam is not visible while viewing the dresser and it will not impede the drawers in any way. 7 months ago. Thanks for sharing. I was about to buy this cabinet, to put all the kitchen dishes and so, and now I know i should buy a reinforcing piece!!! You can purchase a new bottom panel from the local hardware. To replace a drawer bottom, remove one end of the drawer and slide the bottom panel out. If you dont want to replace the bottom of the drawer, you can use an alternative solution to fix sagging drawers. I will also mention that you have to take everything off of the drawer. You can use spring clamps to hold it in place while you trace the outline. 7 years ago. I fit the dado over the saw blade and set the fence so there was a small gap at the edge of the board. Take it apart and re-glue it. Using the wood glue, glue every piece of square wood molding underneath the drawer. This was actually the prototype project for this process, but I didn't take enough pictures to document it. We have the same series dresser, with the same problem. To replace a drawer bottom, remove one end of the drawer and slide the bottom panel out. Repair split wood or chipped-out particle board, using epoxy wood filler. Start small and expect that you will make a few passes with the first board until you fine tune the cut to something that will fit the new drawer bottom. Need Help? This is another reason I think this is a huge improvement over the hardboard. You can ignore it until the problem eventually destroys the furniture, or you can repair it before it ruins the drawer frame and ensure that the furniture will last. This method can also be used if the drawer has sagged from the sides. on Introduction, Reply How to replace a drawer bottom. How to fix drawer bottoms? I think you could probably use some pieces of quarter round molding or shoe molding as long as it isn't wider than the distance between the bottom of the drawer and the outer edge of the frame. Measure the width of the drawer. This step is pretty self explanatory, just disassemble the drawer the same way you put it together originally. Sometimes these little zipper bags of old batteries get pretty heavy.I also store new batteries, and game controllers, and DVDs in this drawer, so the flimsy hardboard bottom never stood a chance. W x 15 in D, Emery6-Drawer Black Dresser (36 in. You can use a table saw to do this. Now you can get to the fun part of painting the piece!! This one looks simple enough and you could probably do it with a hand saw and a drill. Leave them overnight to set. Drawers warp and fail when the MIDDLE sags enough to pull the hardboard out of its channels in the drawer walls. Now you no longer have to pass up that beautiful piece because of the wonky drawers. The flange is a nice feature, because it will usually make the hardboard stay in the dado, but the hardboard is still just too thin.When reassembling the drawer, the drawer bottom might be a little tighter than it was originally. Less expensive drawers made from softwood, plywood or particle board are often screwed together, and these are the ones that most often separate. It can be quite frustrating, especially if left unrepaired for too long, leading to the complete destruction of the drawer. Thanks for sharing it!! If the drawer has held together by screws, replace each of the screws. H x 56.34 in. The faster you fix any broken drawer bottom, the better since it will not worsen and destroy the furniture altogether. Next, cut the plywood to create the replacement bottom. If a drawer bottom falls out, it's usually because the drawer is falling apart. To avoid ending up with splinters in your clothes or whatever contents youll put in the drawer, its advisable to smooth out the plywoods surface using sandpaper. Below are a few other fixes that would also work and might take fewer tools to complete.This one looks simple enough and you could probably do it with a hand saw and a drill. Disassembling them involves removing screws, but it's an unchallenging procedure. Otherwise, secure the drawer with bar clamps to hold it tightly together while the glue sets. Each of the moldings will be positioned on the respective side, front, or back of the drawer. One quick fix on really old dresser drawers is to look at the under the drawer and at the back of the drawer. Step 1. I recommended this one in another comment http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/skill-builder/0, Nice job. Good tip, but extra work. You can still see that the process was the same as for the dresser. 1. Your email address will not be published. It can easily take all the clothes that are crammed into it and the bottom stays firm and in place in the dado. You should be left with a nice groove where the new bottom will fit. Knock each joint apart, using a rubber mallet. Let filler set completely before proceeding. Their low cost and ease of installation can often make them a good choice. One efficient set of braces you can use is the BIG TEDDY Corner Brace. For the front-facing screws, ensure their length matches the width of the front of the drawer to avoid screws popping outside to the front of the drawer. Pebble Shower Floors: Pros and Cons You Should Be Aware Of, If One Room Has Bed Bugs, Do They All? Make sure here your drawers are. This time its all about drawer repair. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Some drawer bottoms are lightly tacked to a piece of molding nailed to the inside edges. To replace a drawer bottom, remove one end of the drawer and slide the bottom panel out. You might want to hit the plywood with a little sandpaper before putting the drawer back together because you might have some splinters otherwise. I laid the dado of the first piece on the blade of the saw and adjusted the blade height so it started to pop the board up, then backed it off slightly. You could find the instructions or just work through the parts and carefully disassemble everything without forcing it. Replace it with a new plywood or hardboard panel cut to fit. Fixing a sagging drawer bottom is not so complex. You can use brads but ensure they are of the correct length to prevent them from piercing through the sides, front, or back of the drawer. 7 years ago The new bottom should fit snugly into the dado grooves. Now you can see why I had to make the dado wider only on the upper edge of the groove. When I put something away in a drawer, I don't want to worry about how heavy it is, but a lot of furniture comes with flimsy hardboard bottoms in the drawers. One of the reasons the bottom of the drawer pops out so easily is because the dado grooves along the sides, front, and back are so tiny. This will keep the piece of wood from sliding around and gives more support to the drawer overall. As a bonus, if your DIY skills are really poor, you can purchase a quick fix for your faulty drawers. Remove any extra nails, staples, splinters of wood etc. Remove the existing drawer bottom (if there is one). Local store prices may vary from those displayed. I then adjusted the fence so it left a little gap at the edge of the board. Make the dadoes wide enough to fit the new bottom without being too loose. Its thin, lightweight and easy to work with. Before removing the drawer for repair, take everything out of it. The one that you find in an antique store. Make sure here your drawers are square (or as square as possible for an old drawer) as you measure. While doing research, i found that there isnt a single type slide for a dresser drawer. I even take the dowels out of their holes so they don't get lost or damaged while I make my cuts later. Required fields are marked *. Measure from the middle of the grooves. Remove any extra nails, staples, splinters of wood etc. Hmm you wiggle a bit, finally get one of the drawers to come out and find that the bottom of the drawer is duct taped in place. (Bed Bug Infestation), A length of timber (for supporting the bottom). Some drawer bottoms are lightly tacked to a piece of molding nailed to the inside edges of the sides and back, and some drawer bottoms are set on triangular glue blocks. Then she took a putty knife and spread it into a super thin layer completely covering. Once I have enough, I bring them to the store that recycles them. 7 years ago You can get this on Amazon. This process takes a little time and a bit of trail and error to get the fence set just right. Your email address will not be published. Take out everything from the drawer, including the dowels and screws. Its double-wide compared to other braces, so itll provide added reinforcement for your drawer bottom. It would firm up the drawer itself and lock the bottom in the dado groove. If the edges are sagging too much and cannot stay in position, you can use the woodworking clamps for support. Mark the wood (use a square to keep your lines nice and straight) and cut. Using 1 nails simply attach into the back and front. If you spill something inside the drawer and either material gets wet and buckles, you have to replace the drawer bottom or it will probably continue to fall out. This timber should not go beyond the lower part of the drawer; otherwise, you wont be able to fit the drawer back in its place. W x 19.69 in. Feel accomplished. // Leaf Group. Attaching the spacers for drawer for every drawer opening, you will place 13 boards inside gradually. This drawer is nice and solid now and it can be the heavy duty drawer of the dresser. To make things easier, we will talk about the. Measure the length and width of the drawer and cut pieces of the square wood molding according to these lengths. I replaced this about 7 months ago and have not had a problem with it since. You can now put in your clothes and other contents. You can also glue the timber in place, as this will also help reinforce it. Place your drawer back into its place. You can easily purchase this online, for example, the 3M General Purpose Sandpaper Sheets. 2000-2022 Home Depot. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Im not quite finished making this piece beautiful yet, so youll have to stay tuned to see what I did with it. Now you can confidently store things in the drawer without worrying about it falling apart. Can i replace the bottom of a drawer? Use masking tape for a temporary hold. If you are the one who put together the furniture after purchasing it, then disassembling it simply involves reversing that process. It would firm up the drawer itself and lock the bottom in the dado groove. Before you take a drawer apart, it's good to know what to expect when reassembling it. I laid out the original on top of a good corner of the plywood and traced it onto the plywood. Cut out a similar length of the piece of timber and position it underneath the drawer bottom. The Fix a Drawer kit is a great solution that is reasonably priced and easy to install, so you dont have to spend hours fixing furniture. If you are working alone, youll have to secure the supporting timber in place as you move to the next step. Did you make this project? Now I'm tempted to replace all of the bottoms this way because it is such a drastic improvement over the original design. Use Braces to Hold the Bottom in Place, Measure and Cut the Piece of Support Timber, Drill the Braces on the Inside of the Drawer, Glue the Square Moldings Underneath the Drawer, 9 Effective Ways to Remove Scratches From Glass Tables, How to Adjust Soft-Close Hinge Speed: A Simple 6-Step Guide, 8 Most Comfortable Chairs for Watching TV in 2022, Soft-Close Hinge Stopped Working: Causes and Repair. Measure from the middle of the grooves. So, what is the solution to this furniture problem? The bottom of old drawers can easily break under a lot of weight. If you see screws, remove them using an appropriate screwdriver. Once the bottom is replaced, the drawers feel much more solid. I used a circular saw, you could use a table saw if you have one (or if you are sure of your measurements, have the hardware store cut it for you). Wow this looks like a great technique and what a money saver. H x 50 in. Especially since I ran these pieces through my table saw, you really don't want any loose pieces that could cause the saw to jam in any way.

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