Thread: Wardrobe Fit Out

I think 3mm MDF makes for unpleasantly flimsy drawer bottoms. And I don't see much advantage to going so thin (unless one is aiming for the absolute cheapest of cheap).

Originally Posted by pippin88

I think 3mm MDF makes for unpleasantly flimsy drawer bottoms. And I don't see much advantage to going so thin (unless one is aiming for the absolute cheapest of cheap).

Pippin88,

You may well be correct.

However, it is worthy of note that my first chest of drawers was made in 2001. This cabinet was used by my wife and I for about 3-4 years after which time it was given to my daughter ... it has moved house three times and remains in the service of a 17 year old boy. When I built it (screwed and glued) I was told that this method of construction was inferior to mortice and tenon (or floating tenon) and that 3 mm bottoms were flimsy. I am prepared to concede to both arguments.

Since 2001 I graduated first to biscuits and then to floating tenons. There is no doubt my cabinets have got stronger over the years. However, the draw bottoms have always been 3 mm MDF. I grant that they are a bit flimsy, but every stick of furniture I have built is still in service. Not one 3 mm MDF bottom has failed. This may be due more to good luck than good construction, but until I get a failure I think I'll stick with it, not because its cheap, but because a 3 mm saw blade cuts perfect grooves in the drawer carcass with the speed and grace of a thousand startled gazelles. The 3 mm bottoms are quick, easy and I'm yet to have a failure.

Whatever we might think about MDF, it has one undeniable strong point ... it takes finishes very well.

Here is the el cheapo chest of drawers after finishing with one coat of sanding sealer and two of white lacquer (left over from a job for my daughter). It looks like a bought one ... a lovely finish.

IMG20230206084803.jpg

Reminds me of a conversion i had with my SWMBO after a few years of moving into our place. I made an off the cuff comment that i felt like her belongings was found in every wardrobe of the house, she unequivocally denied all allegations. A few months later i noticed that some of the wardrobes in the spare beds had been cleared out and moved into what we know as her "Craft room". Upon enquiring about the changes i was confirmed to be correct in my allegations. Sadly, even though i won that battle, the war wasn't over. As i was then slapped with the task of refitting our wardrobes to make better use of the space, granted its been a few years since the initial convo but i'm regularly prompted she would like to have it done at some point and has threatened to get quotes from a carpenter friend to get it done.

One day i keep telling her, one day...

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

One day i keep telling her, one day...

Déjà vu ... SWMBO asked me to change the layout in this wardrobe about a year ago. I agreed ... and then promptly forgot.

A week or so ago I asked her if there was anything she needed done before I started on a desk for a grandson. She marched me into the relevant room and outlined what she wanted done to the wardrobe ... again ...

I get there. It might take a while, but I get there.

My experience of thin drawer bottoms may also be clouded by cheap flat pack furniture that use very shallow grooves for the drawer bottoms. Drawer bottom tends to pop out on these over time / when loaded and then the drawer bottom bends and it keeps happening from there.

A deeper groove in side probably prevents this

Originally Posted by pippin88

My experience of thin drawer bottoms may also be clouded by cheap flat pack furniture that use very shallow grooves for the drawer bottoms. Drawer bottom tends to pop out on these over time / when loaded and then the drawer bottom bends and it keeps happening from there.

A deeper groove in side probably prevents this

Pippin88,

I think you are likely right.

In addition, the cheap furniture often has a groove in the carcass that is a bit wider than the thickness of the bottom to aid assembly. Often, the bottom panel literally falls into the groove . Mine need to be tapped (or thumped) into place with a rubber mallet. When oversize, these grooves allow the bottom to rattle and move around sometimes leading to bottoms popping out.

The other thing we need to be careful with is using long enough screws, and enough of them, to fasten the bottom to the back of the drawer. In my youth a couple of drawer bottoms failed. All were a result of the bottom detaching from the back (some were stapled into place) ... then bending ... then popping out. If all four edges of the bottom are held securely, we are likely in pretty good shape.

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

Reminds me of a conversion i had with my SWMBO after a few years of moving into our place. I made an off the cuff comment that i felt like her belongings was found in every wardrobe of the house, she unequivocally denied all allegations. A few months later i noticed that some of the wardrobes in the spare beds had been cleared out and moved into what we know as her "Craft room". Upon enquiring about the changes i was confirmed to be correct in my allegations. Sadly, even though i won that battle, the war wasn't over. As i was then slapped with the task of refitting our wardrobes to make better use of the space, granted its been a few years since the initial convo but i'm regularly prompted she would like to have it done at some point and has threatened to get quotes from a carpenter friend to get it done.

One day i keep telling her, one day...

Ladies, ladies ... if your man says he will do something, he will do it.

... there's no point nagging him every 6mths about it ...

The finished product, in its final resting place.

Brownie points all topped up ... for at least a day or two ...

IMG20230208101423.jpg