Thread: Spacing Drawer Fronts

Hey Stinky,

You might want to check your calcs again... some of those dimensions are out.

Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

I had set the spacing between the drawers at 16mm as I thought it would be easier for installation of the drawers. Is it the case however that I need to vary the spacing between drawers to ensure I can get even fronts?

Your actual drawer heights are rather large. Most drawer heights are usually much shorter compared to drawer fronts.
If you are planning on constructing the drawers in the way you drawn them, the drawer sides for the top 2 drawers only need to be 84mm (for example).
The only drawer front that should sit lower than the rest is the bottom drawer front i.e. to cover the bottom panel. Normally you shouldn't need to vary the spacing for the rest of the drawers, but if you are set on making your drawers to the heights you have stipulated, then you will have to.

Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

Also is 2mm about right between the drawer fronts and also to the sides?

Yes, aim for 2mm as the overall gaps.

What finish are you using for the the fronts? Melamine, ply, 2 pac, hand painted?
- If melamine, think about what thickness of edging you plan on using
- If hand painted, allow for gaps of 2.5mm while the drawer fronts are in their raw form

Thanks Junkie .... sorry for the slow reply. I was all systems go there for a while, progressing well until I was hit with the weekends of Christmas parties etc which has slowed things down again.

Originally Posted by Junkie

You might want to check your calcs again... some of those dimensions are out.

It might be a little hard to tell from the small image as I haven't dimensioned the gaps and some of the other dimensions were just checking clearances off other items. It will all work out.

Originally Posted by Junkie

Your actual drawer heights are rather large. Most drawer heights are usually much shorter compared to drawer fronts.
If you are planning on constructing the drawers in the way you drawn them, the drawer sides for the top 2 drawers only need to be 84mm (for example).

This is for clothes storage in a WIR so the higher drawer sides will help keep the clothes in. I have checked the other chest of drawers, tall boy etc around the house and the heights seem to be about right. I would agree in a kitchen or study the sides wouldn't need to be as high.

Originally Posted by Junkie

Yes, aim for 2mm as the overall gaps.

Thanks. Happy with that.

Originally Posted by Junkie

What finish are you using for the the fronts? Melamine, ply, 2 pac, hand painted?

Drawer fronts are going to be a bit of a combo. I am using some spotted gum engineered floorboards, fixed to a melamine backing and edged with solid spotted gum. I will size the fronts to account for the edging and the red fronts shown in the image will be finished dimensions. One problem I may have is I am using finger pull handles and these would be designed for a 16mm front so I will need to work around that.

Hopefully I will get some time tomorrow to go out and have a play to see what happens.

Dimension wise, your drawer fronts should all be the same height, or graduated with the tallest at the bottom and the shortest at the top.

if the 2nd from the top drawer is not as high as the top drawer it will look odd.