How to Repair Wood Drawers

Over time, wooden drawers become weak or break with normal wear and tear. Preserve the life of your furniture by making repairs to troublesome drawers. Fixing drawers as soon as a problem becomes apparent can make repairs easier and help in prolonging use of the furniture.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood glue
• Small nails
• Hammer
• Clamps
• Cloth
• Hardware replacement parts

1. Tighten dovetail joints by forcing adhesive into the cracks and tapping the joint back together with a hammer.

2. Repair butt joints by putting wood glue on the joints and tapping the joint until it is tight. Clamp the joint until it is dry. Hammer small nails into the joint if glue does not work.

3. Lubricate drawer guides when binding occurs. Use stick lubricant, candle wax , paraffin, or silicone spray. Sand down any binding points. Check the runners and guides if the drawer still binds.

4. Replace old drawer guides with new metal guides. Glue the new drawer guide in place and then secure it with small nails.

5. Plane and rabbet the edge of the damaged runner to make an even mortised edge. Build the drawer to its original height by gluing a thin strip of hardwood under the mortised edge. Secure with countersunk nails.

6. Repair split drawer fronts by replacing drawer guides. Force glue into the crack, and clamp it lightly until it is dry.

7. Remove one end of the drawer and slide the bottom panel out to replace a drawer bottom. Cut a piece of hard or plywood to fit the drawer bottom, and slide it into place. Replace the drawer end.

Tips & Warnings

• Antique furniture should be repaired by a professional.

[akendall]

on 1/20/2009 When I remodel kitches, I keep the old drawers in the attic of my garage so that I can reuse the parts. I do the same with wood windows.

[akendall]

on 1/20/2009 I have been able to buy old drawers at places that sell used hardware. It is easy to cut a long drawer to make a shorter one with a saw. It is hard to change the width of a drawer. You can also lower the height of a drawer with a planer in minutes.