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Mobile Desk Drawers

40K views 18 replies 4 participants last post by  JoeLyddon 
#1 ·
Getting Started

It may be 90 degrees here in the Chicago suburbs, but that is no excuse to stay out of the garage! Today I started work on the mobile drawers to match the two desks I previously built. Each unit will be four drawers, each utilizing 3/4 drawer extensions and lockable casters.

The goal is for me today is to start the side panels. Each will be pine with an MDF core. When completed, it will look much like a cabinet door (for now).

Dado set with the ZCI and sacrificial fence:
Tire Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting


The boards are rabbeted:
Wood Plant Wood stain Table Rectangle


And the pieces are dry fit together:
Rectangle Wood Floor Art Flooring


Wood Table Rectangle Wood stain Composite material


Glue and clamp time, no fasteners will be used.
Table Wood Flooring Rectangle Floor


Wood Automotive tire Bumper Electric blue Automotive wheel system


Wood Floor Flooring Gas Hardwood


Audio equipment Machine Electronic device Desk Tool cabinet


That's it for today… another weekend flew by.
 

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#2 ·
Getting Started

It may be 90 degrees here in the Chicago suburbs, but that is no excuse to stay out of the garage! Today I started work on the mobile drawers to match the two desks I previously built. Each unit will be four drawers, each utilizing 3/4 drawer extensions and lockable casters.

The goal is for me today is to start the side panels. Each will be pine with an MDF core. When completed, it will look much like a cabinet door (for now).

Dado set with the ZCI and sacrificial fence:
Tire Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting


The boards are rabbeted:
Wood Plant Wood stain Table Rectangle


And the pieces are dry fit together:
Rectangle Wood Floor Art Flooring


Wood Table Rectangle Wood stain Composite material


Glue and clamp time, no fasteners will be used.
Table Wood Flooring Rectangle Floor


Wood Automotive tire Bumper Electric blue Automotive wheel system


Wood Floor Flooring Gas Hardwood


Audio equipment Machine Electronic device Desk Tool cabinet


That's it for today… another weekend flew by.
Nice work! Thanks for sharing! (I know the feeling about time!)

Your Friend,

Nate
 

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#3 ·
Getting Started

It may be 90 degrees here in the Chicago suburbs, but that is no excuse to stay out of the garage! Today I started work on the mobile drawers to match the two desks I previously built. Each unit will be four drawers, each utilizing 3/4 drawer extensions and lockable casters.

The goal is for me today is to start the side panels. Each will be pine with an MDF core. When completed, it will look much like a cabinet door (for now).

Dado set with the ZCI and sacrificial fence:
Tire Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting


The boards are rabbeted:
Wood Plant Wood stain Table Rectangle


And the pieces are dry fit together:
Rectangle Wood Floor Art Flooring


Wood Table Rectangle Wood stain Composite material


Glue and clamp time, no fasteners will be used.
Table Wood Flooring Rectangle Floor


Wood Automotive tire Bumper Electric blue Automotive wheel system


Wood Floor Flooring Gas Hardwood


Audio equipment Machine Electronic device Desk Tool cabinet


That's it for today… another weekend flew by.
Thanks Nate! The weekend is just a few days away…
 

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#4 ·
Finishing the side panels

Another really hot day in Chicagoland…

Cut the MDF inserts for the panels. Glued in place, no fasteners used.

Automotive design Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Floor


Rectangle Wood Grey Beige Shade


What's that saying about clamps?
Wood Floor Flooring Table Automotive exterior


Table Wood Desk Engineering Flooring


Next, the stretchers that connect the two side panels are attached with glue and pocket screws.
Furniture Table Wood Floor Flooring


Wood Floor Gas Flooring Hardwood


That's it for today, I'll get back out there when the temp comes down a bit!
 

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#5 ·
Side Assembly

Just a little time available to work… attached two sides together with glue and pocket screws. It's starting to take shape. Using some recycled wood, as you can see. It'll be hidden, so (at least for now), I'm not too worried about that.

Wood Gas Engineering Table Machine


Shelving Wood Composite material Hardwood Plywood


Tiger, the shop cat!

Cat Carnivore Felidae Small to medium-sized cats Whiskers
 

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#6 ·
Drawer Slides and Drawer Blanks

With the cases assembled and glue dried, it's time to mount the drawer slides. I started to manually measure the location for each slide…
Ruler Rectangle Wood Road surface Flooring


But quickly realized that a quicker, more accurate way to lay out the lines would be a mini story pole.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood Plank


Once the center lines were laid out, then it was time to install the slides. I used an awl to create a pilot for the 7/16" drill bit needed for the screws.
Table Wood Tool Flooring Gas


I also used a 3/4" scrap to position the slides.
Wood Tire Tool Wheel Flooring


Wood Rectangle Gas Shelving Technology


Next, I cut out all the drawer blanks, ready for tomorrow's rabbeting operation. Then install the drawer bottoms, attach drawer fronts and pulls and finish it off with some semi-gloss poly. Busy day tomorrow!
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Plank
 

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#7 ·
Not so productive today...

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I cut all the drawer blanks in preparation for today's work. Unfortunately, most of the wood cupped overnight. So I had to scrap about 75% of the pine pieces. So, there is a lesson about the free wood. I guess you get what you pay for!

I was able to salvage four of the drawer assembles, I put those together with glue, brads and clamps. I got to use two of my new Jorgensen Cabinet Master clamps, and will be writing a review later (spoiler: they are fantastic).

The bottom and largest drawers.
Wood Flooring Engineering Gas Hardwood


The top and smallest drawers.
Wood Rectangle Tap Floor Hardwood


So, that's it for today, kind of disappointing as I thought I would be finishing the project. But that will have to wait until next weekend when I can buy some pine and Masonite (for the drawer bottoms). Off to do some yard work.
 

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#8 ·
Not so productive today...

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I cut all the drawer blanks in preparation for today's work. Unfortunately, most of the wood cupped overnight. So I had to scrap about 75% of the pine pieces. So, there is a lesson about the free wood. I guess you get what you pay for!

I was able to salvage four of the drawer assembles, I put those together with glue, brads and clamps. I got to use two of my new Jorgensen Cabinet Master clamps, and will be writing a review later (spoiler: they are fantastic).

The bottom and largest drawers.
Wood Flooring Engineering Gas Hardwood


The top and smallest drawers.
Wood Rectangle Tap Floor Hardwood


So, that's it for today, kind of disappointing as I thought I would be finishing the project. But that will have to wait until next weekend when I can buy some pine and Masonite (for the drawer bottoms). Off to do some yard work.
Hi:
Not to be berry of bad news, I think what you should have done is to put the cut parts in a plastic bag and that may have cut your loss.
I have been in the same boat, but I had not cut the wood to the final length. What I ended up doing was to planing some off both sides, and I was back in business. Please leave the pieces a little long so you can fix mess ups.
Have Fun
 

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#10 ·
Fitting the drawers

Some time on my hands tonight, so I mounted some of the drawers.

Using an awl, I created pilot holes for the drill bit.
Table Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain


A bit of tape on the bit so I don't poke through to the other side.
Wood Machine tool Table Gas Tool


Attached the drawer slides and put them in the cabinet.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Shelving Hardwood


Wood Building Fixture Shade Composite material


And that's it for tonight…
 

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#11 ·
Drawers, Top and Casters

Another scorcher… just did some work in the morning until it go too hot to work in the garage.

Made a couple drawers, the last two for this mobile drawer cabinet (I'm building two simultaneously).
Wood Gas Composite material Engineering Machine


Then I cut the MDF top, and trimmed it with pine.
Table Wood Computer desk Desk Floor


Using my Nobex saw, I mitered the four corners.
Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Wood Stairs Automotive tire


Wood Vehicle Flooring Floor Gas


Installed the four casters…
Output device Wood Audio equipment Office supplies Gadget


Table Wood Gas Hardwood Metal


Just sat the two new drawers in the cabinet, just to make sure the width was ok.
Wood Gas Engineering Hardwood Machine


Will finish the project this coming weekend. I hope.
 

Attachments

#12 ·
Drawers, Top and Casters

Another scorcher… just did some work in the morning until it go too hot to work in the garage.

Made a couple drawers, the last two for this mobile drawer cabinet (I'm building two simultaneously).
Wood Gas Composite material Engineering Machine


Then I cut the MDF top, and trimmed it with pine.
Table Wood Computer desk Desk Floor


Using my Nobex saw, I mitered the four corners.
Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Wood Stairs Automotive tire


Wood Vehicle Flooring Floor Gas


Installed the four casters…
Output device Wood Audio equipment Office supplies Gadget


Table Wood Gas Hardwood Metal


Just sat the two new drawers in the cabinet, just to make sure the width was ok.
Wood Gas Engineering Hardwood Machine


Will finish the project this coming weekend. I hope.
COOL project!

Nice work!

Thank you.
 

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#16 ·
Drawer pulls, adjustment and final sanding.

Saturday was another brutal, muggy day. Until about 5:00p and then the temp dropped about 15 degrees. Finally, I can work in the garage without risking a heat stroke!

Mounted the drawer pulls, one set of stainless and one set painted black.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Natural material Rectangle


Since the drawer fronts are double thick, I had to counter sink with a forstner bit so the screw could reach the drawer pull.
Wood Material property Asphalt Beige Road surface


Next step is several coats of poly and then another project is done!

Cabinetry Table Drawer Desk Computer desk


Cabinetry Furniture Dresser Drawer Wood
 

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#17 ·
Drawer pulls, adjustment and final sanding.

Saturday was another brutal, muggy day. Until about 5:00p and then the temp dropped about 15 degrees. Finally, I can work in the garage without risking a heat stroke!

Mounted the drawer pulls, one set of stainless and one set painted black.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Natural material Rectangle


Since the drawer fronts are double thick, I had to counter sink with a forstner bit so the screw could reach the drawer pull.
Wood Material property Asphalt Beige Road surface


Next step is several coats of poly and then another project is done!

Cabinetry Table Drawer Desk Computer desk


Cabinetry Furniture Dresser Drawer Wood
Looking really VERY GOOD!

Your 2nd picture sure makes those holes look bigger! (I thought 3/4"!) Man, those pulls must be pretty BIG! LOL
... of course it was just a close-up… LOL

You're going to be happy with those!

Thank you!
 

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