Drawer opening guidelines

Re: Drawer opening guidelines

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

CJ, all my drawers - I only build traditional types - can extend pretty much 80%.

In addition to being tightly fitted on the sides, I ensure that the depth of the drawer is deeper than the width. (A reason why I am building three drawers on my current built - to get the proportions correct).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Empirical data

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I don't know how to make this sound kind, but this question sounds like it comes from someone that never used a drawer. Are you over thinking this decision? Try out your questions on a drawer and the answers will be apparent.

How far you can pull a drawer out without alarming drooping will depend on how well it is fit and that is all. It will be a well fit 14" drawer to not droop a lot at 12". I would never pull a 14" drawer out that far in my use of it, but I suppose others might.

1. There is no engineering concern. Have you ever broken a drawer pulling it out, or know of anyone that did?

2. For decades kitchen cabinet drawer runners were made 3/4 length, meaning they would open to 3/4 their length. For these decades users successfully got stuff in and out. (now days there are 100% runners and people order them, I think needlessly, because they can.

Re: Empirical data

CJ in MPLS

Thanks for the informative response.

Re: Empirical data

Sgian Dubh

"I would never pull a 14" drawer out that far in my use of it, but I suppose others might."

There are plenty of idiots out there, Bill. I've experienced gallery and show visitors pull drawers out of my exhibition furniture so far that they are caught by surprise when the drawer came right out of its opening, and they'd then drop the drawer on to the floor, even while I'm standing next to them. They always ran away as fast as they could after that and never offered to compensate me for the damage they caused to corners, the front face, etc. Having said that, some looked a bit sheepish, and others blamed me for not mounting the drawers on slides. I've never had a drawer smashed through their stupidity, but there's almost always been work required to repair the dings and dents.

As to the original question, like you, I think finding the answer only needs a bit of drawer opening and closing of existing examples to get a good idea of how much a traditionally made drawer can be extended. That applies to both a well made example of drawer and its opening, and a poorly made sloppy version. In general, I'd say a well made drawer in a well made carcase can be opened fairly safely up to roughly 75 - 80% of it's total depth, e.g., a 20" deep drawer can usually be opened something like 15" - 16". However, just because roughly 20% - 25% of the drawer remains within the carcase, there usually remains pretty good access the back of the drawer box, and things like place mats that pretty much fill the whole box don't need the drawer fully opened to put them in or take them out. Slainte.

stops

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

If I build a shallow drawer I fashion some sort of a stop to prevent dumping the drawer. On the corner cupboard the drawer was only about 14". It ended abruptly even when I knew it was short. Even experienced drawer openers may not anticipate a short drawer coming out too far.

But, as you point out, when building for the public anticipate everything possible.

speakng of stops.....

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

...does anyone have preferred drawer stops (stop from opening too far) they can recommend?

Re: Drawer opening guidelines

JL

Commercial slides have stops.

I have always put stops on the back of most of the drawers that I have made - I figure if they do it - why shouldn't I?

Of course if your carcass isn't amenable to having a stop on the back of the drawer, you may have to be "inventive".