How to Make Sliding Wood Drawers

Wood drawers are a storage staple in any household, and you can create your own sliding wood drawers for custom use. Plan ahead to make sure your woodcutting and drawer assembly go smoothly. Prepare a work space large enough for your panels and safe for table saws. Head to your local do-it-yourself center to pick up any necessary supplies before you begin building your own wooden drawers.

Measuring tape
Calculator (optional)
Pencil
Paper
1/2-inch plywood
Table saw
Dado groove blade
3/4-inch lumber
1/4-inch plywood
1.5-inch finish nails
Wood glue
1-inch brad nails
Brad nailer
1-inch wood screws
Electric drill
Single-screw drawer knob

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the dresser or cabinet in which the wood drawers will go. Calculate the sizes of your drawers by subtracting at least 1 inch from the width and height of your drawer opening. Write down the dimensions on paper for future reference. Your drawer opening is the open front of your cabinet or dresser where the drawer will slide into place.
- 2
  Use ½-inch plywood to construct your drawer side panels. Use the drawer height measurements you already made to determine the height of the drawers. Measure the depth of your chest unit and subtract 1 inch to determine the length of your side panel. Cut the plywood with a table saw.
- 3
  Cut a dado groove to both sides of the drawer using your table saw. The dado groove is where the drawer slides. Put a dado groove blade into your table saw and set the groove for 1/4-inch grooves. Cut dado grooves along the bottoms of both sides of the drawer.
- 4
  Construct the front and back of the drawer using 3/4-inch lumber. Calculate the length of both sections by using the width of the cabinet or dresser and subtracting 1 inch. Trim the wood to desired size with a table saw.
- 5
  Create the drawer's bottom from 1/4-inch plywood, using your table saw. Use the width and depth measurements of your unit to determine the proper measurements for the bottom.
- 6
  Attach both sides to the front and back sections of your drawer using 1.5-inch finish nails.
- 7
  Spread wood glue on the edges of the bottom drawer to attach the bottom panel to the front, side and back sections of your drawer. Allow the glue to dry completely. Reinforce the glue by nailing 1-inch brads along the bottom of the drawer with a brad nailer.
- 8
  Use your 3/4-inch wood to create the drawer front. Determine the measurements of the drawer front by adding 1.5 inches to the measurements of the front panel. Attach the drawer front to the front panel using 1-inch wood screws.
- 9
  Measure the center of your drawer front and mark with a pencil. Drill a 1/8-inch hole through the marked center with your electric drill.
- 10
  Screw in your single-screw drawer handle.
- 11
  Slide your wood drawer into place in the unit.

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