Details of drawers  (flush drawer)

• a.    drawer front with lapped dovetails - 19 to 22 mm thick for flush front to accommodate any moulding or carvings.
• b.    drawer back,    6 - 8 mm thick.   Note:  top may be lowered 6 - 12 mm's and rounded over.
• c.    drawer sides - usually thinner than fronts perhaps 8 - 12 mm thick.
• d.    moulded runner slip - glued and pinned to compensate for the thin sides.  A quadrant slip is usually used but an alternative is a 'flush' slip.   
• e.    drawer bottom, ~  grain runs parallel to the front to reduce movement effects of natural  wood and is secured by screws through to back rail in an elongated countersunk holes. 

Note:  When using plywood the same rule is not paramount but 'looks' right.  The thickness should be  4 to 6 mm thick stuff  - although this would need to be increased for larger drawers taking heavier weights.  Should the drawer be wide then a 'muntin' is inserted to share the weight.  The muntin is grooved both sides to take the bottom, tongued at the front to fit into the groove and dovetailed and screwed into the bottom of the drawer back.

all rights reserved ~ G.E. Malthouse

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Last uploaded 1st November 2003