Comments on: High-end drawers, part 8: final trimming, stops, finishing

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 01:20:38 +0000

Great, Dave. Good luck with the rest of the project.
Rob

By: David Schneiderman

David Schneiderman — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:52:41 +0000

Thanks for the reply Rob. That makes sense now. I made my drawer backs the same height as the sides so that is why I was confused. After having to trim the back heights a little bit in some places so they would not rub against the front and rear dividers, I can see why keeping the back a little bit lower than the sides is beneficial.

Dave

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:14:18 +0000

Thanks for reading David, and I hope it’s helped you with your project.

The top corners of the sides, at the rear, are higher than the top edge of the back piece, and so are somewhat vulnerable to damage from being bumped when you insert the drawer in its opening. Likewise, the top edge of the case opening can be bumped/damaged by those corners. So, to ease the entry of the drawer into its opening, knock off those harsh corners by making substantial chamfers. I think it also looks nicer when those corners are toned down so they visually blend to the back piece. (Though don’t make the chamfer physically go all the way down to the top of the back piece.)

Rob

By: David Schneiderman

David Schneiderman — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Hi Rob,
Found this blog doing a search for how to do drawer stops. I have really enjoyed all the entries. I am finishing up a chest of drawers and will do my drawer stops as you indicated. You made a statement right before describing how to make the drawer stops. It was, “cut a substantial chamfer on the top of the entering edges of the sides.” Can you elaborate on this? Why do you do this? Thank you very much.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:16 +0000

Thanks, Beth. And it’s not easy to keep sight of all those details as the work progresses, so I hope these articles help.

Rob

By: Beth Perry

Beth Perry — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:00:57 +0000

Excellent and well defined series on drawer making. There are so many small details that spell the difference between “high end” and “pedestrian” and your approach to drawer making magnificently highlights the details that make the difference. Thank you for sharing. I enjoy your blog very much.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:16:57 +0000

Ike,

The case is made of curly big leaf maple. In the drawer series of posts it is shown unfinished except for the interior of the case in post #8 where it has an extremely light coat of thin wiping varnish – barely enough to seal the pores of the wood. For the exterior of the case I used two coats of wiping varnish but that is not photographed in these posts. For this wood, I like Bartley’s satin clear gel varnish for the exterior surfaces, usually preceded by a coat of Minwax wipe on poly which penetrates a bit more to pop the figure.

Rob

By: ike

ike — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:42:55 +0000

Well i just wanted to know what finish was used on the case that your making, it looks like tiger or quilted maple, but the finished used brings out the grain very well i wanted to get the process used to finish the wood bring out the grain the way u did cuz i have some figured maple and would like to finish it the same way to bring out the figure the way u did? this is my second time here on your site but i will be back very soon u have very interesting and informative articles its alot of reading but for some reason i like the info u post on your site so i will have to try to stay updated its hard being part of somany sites though but i think one more isn’t gonna kill me:)

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:54:16 +0000

Jeff and Steve,

Thanks for the comments. Good luck with the drawers, Steve.

Rob

By: Steve H.

Steve H. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:25:20 +0000

Hi Rob-

Thanks for a great series. I’m trying some of your techniques and will let you know if I can get your type of results.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated as is your sharing.

–Steve.