Thread: Drawer Bottoms

Roy, you lucky buggah to have Cedar of Lebanon ... where did you get this?!

100mm wide is not an issue since it is the length of the strips that will determine its usability. The grain needs to run across the width of the drawer as expansion takes place from front to back. Therefore you can simply joint and glue strips together to get the depth you need.

The far side (in Jarrah) is the drawer front. The grain of the drawer bottom runs across the width. The bottom rests in slips ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

G'day Derek

Thank you for your reply.Funnily enough the tree was cut down from a suburban street and landed with a friend who managed to obtain a lucas mill and I was lucky enough to be given some for helping out with the milling.It leaves a beautiful aroma while drying out and I have built a few drawers with it already.There is a lovely grain as well an absolutely beautiful timber to work with. I just wish that I had picked up some more.

I have read your post on drawers a while ago and have decided to make mine with the slips and muntons if the drawer is to wide.For me it seems a nicer way to construct a drawer and a lot of the drawers that I have seen in exhibitions and talked to builders about have used this method.But that's my personal choice.

What I am interested in is other types of timber for the bottoms just need a few ideas and see what I can source.Celery top pine comes to mind but I haven't used it yet.Hopefully I will get a few suggestions.

cheers....Roy

Originally Posted by royflatmate

What I am interested in is other types of timber for the bottoms just need a few ideas and see what I can source.Celery top pine comes to mind but I haven't used it yet.Hopefully I will get a few suggestions.

What about Camphor Laurel?

Originally Posted by cava

What about Camphor Laurel?

Hi Cava not sure of camphor I know that it has a strong aroma but am a bit unsure if it would be to overpowering.Especially on piston fit drawers ( that's if I could get that tight a fit ) I have just had a look at some jacaranda that I have had drying for awhile . Looks like it could be an option if it's stable enough.

cheers....Roy

One of my common choices is Tassie Oak. Generally all that is sold is quartersawn. This is very stable. Ideal for drawer sides.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by royflatmate

Just wondering what type of timbers people are using for drawer bottoms.I have a limited supply of cedar of lebanon but it's only about 100mm wide. And I need to glue a few pieces up for a deeper drawer.I will be using drawer slips and muntons. Something that can be resawn to thinner stock and not give me to much grief with cupping cheers in advance..........Roy

Coachwood. Largely because it’s easy to get in recycled form and I love the smell.

Celery top pine is fine. One of the nicest I've used is quarter sawn larch, with beautiful straight, close grain.

Originally Posted by AlexS

Celery top pine is fine. One of the nicest I've used is quarter sawn larch, with beautiful straight, close grain.

Where on earth are you buying Larch in Sydney? I had no idea we had it available over here, but I'd love to get my hands on some!

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Where on earth are you buying Larch in Sydney? I had no idea we had it available over here, but I'd love to get my hands on some!

When I was at Sturt in 2002, Tom acquired some that I believe came from Russia. It was probably some commissar's superannuation that was freed up by perestroika.
Tom and a few of us students used it, I managed to get enough for a couple of drawer sides and bottoms, for which it was excellent. It was so stable. In almost 20 years it hasn't moved a bit.
IMG_1496.jpg

Very nice Alex and very Sturt looking drawers I resawed a few bits of jacaranda yesterday and at the very least they look they will be making some nice drawer sides.I will check them out today to see if they have moved at all.

cheers....roy