How to install drawer fronts to drawers?

[mare]

I'm workin on a built-in entertainment center and made a couple (12) of drawers without fronts. Now I'm contemplating what the *best* way is to attach the fronts. The drawers are overlay, and there are 8 different sizes. I use Accuride full extension slides.

1) Make fronts oversized, glue them on and later trim them to the right size.

2) Make the front the right size on the table saw and mount them with screws from the inside of the drawer. Make the holes in the drawers oversized and use washers, so I can position them.

How would you do it? Maybe with be a totally different technique.

[Gene T]

I would make them the right size, then use doble stick tape to get tham all ositioned correctly first, then fasten them with screws. Just my two cents... Gene "mare" wrote in message news:1gt9w8z.1gnc9lx6gc72aN%mare*Remove*All*0f*This*I*Hate*Spammers*@mac.invalid.com...

[Mike Myers]

This is also how I do it.

Mike

news:1gt9w8z.1gnc9lx6gc72aN%mare*Remove*All*0f*This*I*Hate*Spammers*@mac.invalid.com...

[David]

I have a box of 1,000 special screws--drawer front screws--that hide the oversized hole. THAT'S how I deal with positioning a drawer front. I think I've got a lifetime supply...

Dave

mare wrote:

[bridger]

[loutent]

Here's what I do.

Make all fronts the exact size you want.

Make your holes a little oversize, like you said.

Spread a little glue on the (inside) fronts.

Use a spacer (like say 3/4 inch) between all horizontals & verticals (fronts).

You have 30 minutes or so.

Once spaced the way you like them, shoot 2 pins/brads to fix the fronts (I shoot toward the lower half).

If you have not attached the top, then you can reach inside and shoot a few brads from the inside, which is preferable.

Open each drawer & tighten the screws.

Lou

[Mike Marlow]

I do 2 - sorta. I don't use oversized holes though. Just clamp the face in place, drill the pilot holes and screw the face on.

[Alan Bierbaum]

For kitchens with knobs/handles; I drill the drawer front, place it where it belongs, and run screws thru the predrilled handle holes into the box front. Then install with screws from the back and drill the box front for handle holes and install the handles with screws all the way though the box and dress front. Note: drill holes in drawer box for the screws used to hold on the dress front. I use dry wall type screws (2-6) plus the screws that hold on the handle/knob.

[mare]

Thanks for all the good tips! I'd planned using double sided tape for method 2, but forgot to mention it.

[Max]

That's my method too.

Max

[dadiOH]

My drawer fronts are part of the drawers, no attached fronts. Overlay fronts are attached to the sides via sliding dovetails.

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dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at

[mare]

Making dovetails in MDF drawer fronts seems a bit of overkill to me. besides, the client won't pay me fot that. And because all these drawers are different sized, and they have to be exactly the right size, I figured even making dados in the drawer front was too much work.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I've done that. if you put one screw and hold it in place as you say, they once properly positioned, put a couple of more screws in to hold it. In some cases you can removed the drawers above it, clamp the front and just screw from the inside.

If you are going to mount hardware you may also need longer bolts since the front is thicker than just using a single panel. Mark the location and drill a large recess in the front of the inside piece.

A fast alternative is to hold the front in place then just drive a 10d nail through it.

[Frank J. Vitale]

McFeely square drive screws makes some self-tapping screws that are just the right length for attaching faces to drawer fronts.

[mare]

I'm in Canada, so I almost ALWAYS use square drive screws. There is even a book about those screws. Nice Xmas presents for woodworker.

[mp]

I normally use a block on the back of the drawer to set the drawer about

1/16th proud of the face, shim the drawer front to correct position, use double-sided tape to hold in position, then screw from the back. The over-sized hole is probably a good idea. You can also get drawer-adjust buttons - little round adjusters with concentric cams that let you make small adjustments.

[Rick Samuel]

Just curious, but what does Canada and square drive have to do with each other?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Robertson, the inventor, is from Canada. They have been around for many years, but many people in the US have never heard of them. Including me until a few years ago.

[Upscale]

Common knowledge for many of us up here. Gotta say that robertson screws are one of the more useful woodworking accessories to use. Now, if only I could find the fool that invented Torx screws and then everything would be complete.

[mare]

And they are the most common screw around here. I'd never heard about them either before I came to Canada. I have screwed in about 30000 PoziDriv screws (I used to built rock climbing walls) a year or so and wish they had Robertson's heads. It holds the screw so much better, you do a very long time with a bit and the screws are almost glued to your bit...

He was a Norwegian guy name Tor but he kept his last name secret in case you'd try to track him down.