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Parts of Drawer Cabinets

Cabinets drawers come in flush, lipped and overlay styles. Flush drawers close so the cabinet case and the face of the drawer are in line with each other--a condition known as flush. Lipped drawers have the face of the drawer rest on the outside of the cabinet casing. And finally, the overlay style, which has the face of the door extend past the edges of the drawer to conceal the runners (sliders) and interior of the cabinet. No matter their design type, all parts of a drawer cabinets are the same; they require runners, sides/bottom/rear/face pieces, a handle and a drawer stop.
  1. Runners

    • The runner is the component of the drawer that supports the weight of the drawer while also facilitating sliding. The runner can be manufactured of steel with ball bearings or of wood. Metal runners mount on the sides of the drawer near the base of the side walls and provide a rigid sliding motion. Wood runners rest underneath the drawer and allow the drawer to slide loosely in an out.

    Drawer Sides, Bottom, Rear & Face

    • The sides, bottom, rear and face of the drawer are wood components joined at each end using any number joinery techniques. These components are usually made of the same material, although to save weight and cost, the sides and rear may be made of particle board. The bottom and face should be made of solid wood to support the weight of the drawer and to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, respectively.

    Handle

    • The handle or knob is the piece of hardware that allows you to get a grip on the drawer as you pull it out or push it in. They can be made of metal, wood or simply carved into the face piece.

    Drawer Stops

    • Drawer stops do just that... they stop a drawer from sliding out of its slot (also know as its case). There are two types of stops: the opening and closing stop. An opening stop restricts all styles of drawers (flush, lipped and overlay) from sliding too out of their cases. Closing stops work to stop flush drawers from sliding too far into their cases.