'Floating' drawer bottom necessary?

Question

I'm making a jewellry cabinet with small drawers about 4 inches square. I think I'll be using rabbet joints on the sides.

Do drawers always need 'floating' bottoms for movement of wood regardless of size?

Thanks

David · Accepted Answer

At 4 inches square you COULD ignore the floating bottom rule.David.Brookl

Charlie Self · Answer

Brooklin asks:No, but it is sensible to be safe. Small plywood bottoms might glue in nicely,but what's the point?Charlie Self"Did you know that the White House drug test is multiple choice?" Rush Limbaugh

Preston Andreas · Answer

That small, shouldn't hurt.Preston

Mike Marlow · Answer

That small, I wouldn't think twice - go ahead and glue it. I've glued full size drawers made from soft woods and drawers made from hardwoods before I ever heard that you shouldn't and I've never once had a problem with the glued drawers. I understand the principle behind not gluing the bottoms, but like I said, I've done it a lot and never once had a problem.

Father Haskell · Answer

Do it if only to avoid scraping glue.

George E. Cawthon · Answer

Don't know exact size limit with solid wood, but I think any drawerunder 8 inches in length and width wouldn't need a floating bottom. Of course if the sides and ends are plywood, you don't need a floatingbottom.  All of my drawers with plywood sides and ends have gluedbottoms and these include drawers upto 30 inches wide and 18 inchesdeep.  Some of those bottoms are plywood, others are 1/4" temperedmasonite.  My computer desk has a drawer with a solid wood (oak) frontand the rest is plywood that is glued and is still solid after manyyears (was originally made for a Commodore 64 so you figure the age.Brookl

Scott Lurndal · Answer

The only time you need a floating bottom in a drawer is when the bottom is made from boards. When it is made from plywood or masonite, don't bother floating it, as they are both dimensionally stable.

If the bottom is not an entineered product, I'd float it no matter what size it is.

scott

'Floating' drawer bottom necessary?

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