Finhishing wooden drawer guides

[Jeff Lord]

I am making a coffee table, and i'm using wooden rails for the drawers. It is an Oak table. Drawers are poplar with oak rails.

Question #1 - should I finish the drawers

Question #2 - If I do finish the drawers should I tape off the drawer slides and rails be for I spray. I think that the finish would not be good for moving parts. I was going to wax the slides and rails if I did not finish them.

Thanks for everyone advice

[Leon]

Finishing is personal preference. I always wax my drawer slide parts regardless if I finish them or not.

[Swingman]

I use the same finish (generally one of either oil/varnish mixture, sprayed shellac, or wipe on varnish) on all parts that I do on the piece itself, including waxing the drawer runners. AAMOF, my wooden drawers seem to slide better with finish on them than they do raw wood on wood.

[Phisherman]

I have used a spit coat of shellac for drawer interiors, other times no finish at all. Do not finish the slides and no wax should be needed if you made the drawer properly.

[Young]

I like finished drawers personally.

As for the slides, my dad gave me a can of Alley Wax (bowling lanes) that I still use. I don't know what is in it, but it is the best stuff I have ever used. The can has lost all the exterior markings sitting in my shop over the years, but it still makes things slick.

Scott Young

[Jeff Lord]

Thanks for everyones help.