How to Solve Stuck Drawers on an Old Wooden Roll Top Desk

Older wood furniture is susceptible to warping and swelling because of humidity or drying. Wood, by its nature, changes with the environment as it ages. Therefore, drawers in an old wooden roll-top desk that may have operated perfectly in the recent past may become stuck. Screws, nails or dovetailing of the drawers may have become loose and the drawers may even look out of square. Some simple methods, however, can determine why the drawers are stuck and what to do about the problem.

Beeswax, soap, candle, silicone or other wood-safe lubricant
Screwdriver
Hammer
Wood plane
Sandpaper
Hardware
Ammonia

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the drawer, its runner and the inside of the roll-top desk to remove any sand or dirt that may be preventing the drawer from working correctly.
- 2
  Rub a thin coat of beeswax, soap or candle wax on the rails of the wooden roll-top desk drawers to reduce friction. Silicone-based or other types of lubricant can also work. Use a lubricant safe for wood.
- 3
  Tighten any loose screws in the construction of the drawer box, using a screwdriver. If the hole is stripped, use a larger screw. Replace any loose nails with screws of a larger diameter.
- 4
  Plane or sand the warped wood on the sides or bottom of a drawer if the warp has caused the drawer to stick in the roll top desk.
- 5
  Replace any missing or broken hardware on the runners inside the roll-top desk. Clean bearings with ammonia and reapply lubricant.
- 6
  Rebuild the drawer itself in extreme cases where the wood has deteriorated and split beyond repair.

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