3 Ways To Build EASY DIY Drawers | Good, Better, Best
3 Ways To Build EASY DIY Drawers | Good, Better, Best
I’ll show you three different ways to make drawers for your next woodworking project. I’ll show you the easiest drawers to make followed by a better drawer. Finally I will show you how to make a strong and beautiful drawer. I’ll also show you how to install drawer slides and the false drawer fronts. Finally, I’ll show you a woodworking trick to install a drawer pull in the center every time. This is a great guide for a beginner woodworker to make drawers. Amazon and other affiliate links are used in this description and they help support this channel.
*Videos To Watch Next*
How to Cut Straight with a Circular Saw: https://youtu.be/KszoEbvCzNs
Jointing Boards Without a Jointer: https://youtu.be/UFfj8qGVxZ0
Free Drawer Build Plans: https://www.731woodworks.com/store/drawer-plans
*Tools and Supplies In Video*
Drawer Slides I Like: https://amzn.to/3fbrEaz
Miter Saw I Use: https://amzn.to/2UYPwaV
CA Glue Starter Kit: https://starbond.com/collections/save-more/products/starbond-2-oz-thin-medium-thick-ca-and-6oz-accelerator-bundle?rfsn=5912699.60e0cd&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=5912699.60e0cd
MicroJig Push Block: https://lddy.no/z1t8 Use Code 731MICROJIG10
Massca M2 Pocket Hole Jig: https://masscaproducts.com/collections/frontpage/products/massca-m2-pro?aff=3
50 Tooth Table Saw Blade I Use: https://lddy.no/z1te
40 Tooth Table Saw Blade: https://lddy.no/z1tc
Miter Saw Blade I Use: https://lddy.no/z1ts
Dado Stack: https://amzn.to/3zXag1d
Digital Caliper: https://amzn.to/2UYJMxR
Kreg Drawer Slide Jig: https://amzn.to/3iedSpV
Ambrosia Maple and Plywood from: https://www.wtghardwoods.com
Glu-Bot: https://amzn.to/3fdlLK6
Titebond II Wood Glue: https://amzn.to/3icHLqo
Bessey Parallel Clamps: https://amzn.to/3fca6LO
Bessey Quick Clamps: https://amzn.to/37evHPf
Air Compressor / Nailer Combo: https://amzn.to/3rKVt73
Straight Edge: https://amzn.to/3ffTLWi
Doing Whatever Channel: https://youtu.be/-YZkb5nK-os
Support us and our channel by shopping our affiliate partners for tools and supplies:
Taylor Tools: https://lddy.no/yoeb
Katz Moses Woodworking: https://lddy.no/yr2f
Katz-Moses Stop Block: https://lddy.no/z1th
Katz-Moses Apron: https://lddy.no/z1tp
Bits & Bits: https://bitsbits.com/ref/6215/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cCWbgl
Join this channels membership to get access to exclusive member only livestreams, discounts, and other awesome perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSLClJLzdUMRMe0E4SPfc-w/join
You can support us on Patreon as well https://www.patreon.com/731woodworks
0:00 Three Ways To Make Wood Drawers
0:23 How to Make Good Drawers
2:20 How to Make Shop Drawers
3:13 How to Make Pocket Hole Drawers
4:44 How to Make 1/4 1/4 1/4 Drawers
6:30 How to Install Drawer Slides
8:46 How To Install False Drawer Fronts
10:21 How To Install Drawer Pulls In the Middle of the Drawer
K matt ,, that s all good a fine an dandy from scratch ,, what if you have a stand already exist , ya wanna add a drawer to it ,, please help and ideas on this would help.tremendously
You didn’t show what height to mount the drawer glides on the side of the drawers.
hey man. just wanted to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I have always wondered what I wanted to be when I grew up. I am 47 now….still working in Remodeling and just wondering. You helped me come to the realization that I want to craft wood furniture. I have slowly started looking into small designs and tools needed (that I don’t already have for the small remodeling company I own/operate). I have been AROUND wood workers/ artists all this time….never saw it for what it is. Thank you man. God bless.
This is how you joint boards WITHOUT a jointer: https://youtu.be/UFfj8qGVxZ0
Just a little tip for the drawer bottom’s. I wouldn’t glue those in place. I always just slide them in the groove and put two screws underneath, up into the back piece. That way if the bottom gets damaged or starts to sag over time…you can just cut a new one real quick and slide it in..instead of making an entire drawer again
great how you make a whole lot of work quickly in speeding up this video and sparing me all the unnecessary chatter
I know 13/12-24
If you install your drawer bottom flush with or to the bottom of the drawer sides, make sure you have enough clearance underneath to account for some sag. I made some drawers with 1/2" birch ply bottoms, and they sagged in the middle an rubbed the frame/drawer faces underneath. That was with just clothes in them.
I had to shave 1/4" or so off of the drawer face heights and re-postioned all the drawers to allow for the sag. It was a pain. Had bigger gaps than I wanted (about 3/8" instead of the original 1/8"), but that’s my fault for how I designed them and didn’t account for sag. I originally thought there’s no way 1/2" plywood in a 20×20 drawer would sag with just clothes. It sagged within a month or so.
I had built it as an in-closet dresser with the most optimized internal space possible. Drawer cabinets/furniture tend to have a lot of dead space within them. You can design a better system, but don’t think your drawer bottoms won’t sag.
thank you so much for sharing your time and wisdom. Love the third option. I am making my first drawer with dovetails…it may be some time before I have an actual drawer but I’ll be using your method for some of the others
Hey Matt. I like the 1/4 , 1/4 version when making a drawer. My question is the dimensioning length of the front and back pieces when fitting into the opening. Is there a quick and dirty way of figuring that dimension? You have to figure in the joint dimensions. I think Im just over complicationg this. Thank you. Just dicovered you on youtube and i really like your approach to wood working. Staring your router table/cabinet build tomorrow.
Thanks for the post love your channel drawer are my biggest problem at the moment
Really helpful! Building a tack trunk for the barn and want to add some drawers (which is atypical), so had to do some research since no existing plans include them. I think I can manage it now! ❤
Second method is the best , I’m using it 20+ years and never ever had any complaints from my clients.. if you put the wood glue on the joints it will be stronger then wood by itself , and it is the fastest way .. why complicate our life if all methods works but the second one is the fastest and easiest;)
Another good video Sir.
Dovetails aren’t difficult, the jig (a good one) is a bit pricey though. The process doesn’t take much more time either once you have your setup done.
Note: Woodworker to Woodworker…Don’t glue your bottom panels to drawers which are set inside the Dado’s. Those should free float inside the grooves. Reason being, expansion and contraction of the panel. Because the panel is thin (1/4" +/-), it is going to expand with different temperatures quicker than thicker materials. As well, the panel itself should be slightly smaller in size than the dimensions of the groove’s to allow for that expansion.
Over time, if not allowed to expand and contract, it can pop out the sides of your drawer sides causing the drawer to become tight against the slides making the drawer difficult to open and close.
Go into your kitchen and pull out a drawer (assuming you have standard kitchen cabinets). You’ll notice that those drawer panels are "wiggly" / free floating. Also your cabinet doors themselves (assuming they are panel doors, not solid wood). Place your hand against the panel and move up and down. Might not be much, but you’ll notice a bit of wiggle.
Hope that makes sense 🙂.
Keep the videos coming.
What is that drawer front wood? I like it, too. Where does it grow?
Lots of good drawer tutorials without and "In God We Trust" slogan. Sure it is your shirt not our public space or currency. However, the "we" is meant to refer to all. Speak for yourself when it comes to trust in a magical sky daddy. Onward to better tutorial choices.
Thank you! I picked up a few new tips from this video, so it is much appreciated. Will look out some of your other videos. The wood on your drawer fronts was really nice! 🙂
Awesome video!! Just what I was looking for
Glue on drawer bottom. I too don’t see any problem with this.
For a tiny apartment I built a staircase of drawers once.
you should do wooden drawer slides. old fashion way
I use a Stanley Center Read tape measure in cases like this, along with a template to locate the screw holes. Very fast and accurate,
I may have missed it, but what kind of plywood are you using in this video. Awesome video too !! Thanks !
Who makes the best Router bits?
Hey Matt how about slowing down a little.
Butt joints or pocket screws?
Rabetts are so easy, or bix joints, why would you cheap out like this?
Not how I make them.
Whatever dude.
why would you put 1/4" bottoms for shop drawers? im gonna go larger i think
Huh….good video. I guess i usually(read…never) glue my drawer bottoms in. Praise the lord! 💪
I have a pocket hole jig and a circular saw. This video cut a dado in my confidence 😅
Just in case someone hasn’t said this already…. If you have several drawer fronts to mount:
1. Lay out the hardware holes on the bench, much easier
2. Make a jig from plywood that hooks over the top and side, make it symmetrical so you can use it left and right (if putting in two sets of hardware to left and right sides or like on cabinet doors). Put it in place and use the holes in the drawer front to make holes in the jig. Now you can drill every drawer front or cabinet door without measuring.
3. Shim the front like you did, playing cards make great shims (from Bourbon moth)
4. Using truss head screws fasten the drawer front using the hardware holes
5. Open the drawer and fasten the drawer front from the back.
6. Remove the truss head screws, drill through the drawer slide and install your hardware.
Once you make the jig subsequent drawer fronts are installed in 1-2 minutes each. Much faster than laying out the hardware holes for each one individually. Kudos to Bourbon Moth + my high school shop teacher!
Are the pocket hole on the front and back of the drawer or the sides?
You always seem to show what I need to see. Thanks -Vince
Awesome video. studying to make some drawers myself and I like the different options you showed.
y SO HIGH SPEED/
I missed the attachment of the slides to the sides of the cabinet
Nice drawer building video but that has to be the hardest method of installing pulls that I have ever seen.
Make a simple wooden jig!!
Good, Better and Best would have to include dovetails. Otherwise it’s just Good and Better.
Get a Porter Cable dovetail jig and a router. You’ll never make a drawer any other way.
Hello fine sir. Thanks for the great video. Question , at 3:21 in video, you say it was at this time that I realized, and didn’t finish your sentence. So what was it that you realized? Only thing I can think of is that you cut your plywood on the wrong length?
Another great video, but you never showed how to install the drawer glide into the cabinet…..Please can you do that? Other wise great great video. I just need to know how to put the glide in the cabinet. Thanks Jon. I’m doing my table saw with your cross cut sled!!!! Thanks again!!! Jon
Well done, I learned a lot from you.
Definitely liked the third drawer best, less likely to come apart.
Great video, try the Kreg handle hardware jig, much faster. Really enjoy your videos and ideas.
How do you measure the drawers themselves? I have a heck of a time making the drawers the right size for the opening I have. I end up with (on a 4 drawer cabinet) four drawers all different sizes. I am definitely over thinking it, but every time I have to make drawers, I just dread it. It would be nice to see some video showing how to calculate drawer sizes and the gap between them and everything.
I think you are the only one on youtube that does the cut not vertical, the safe way to do it using a spacer, which is a huge game changer in the execution of this drawer, heck, you could make a video just on that.. so many ask how to do this without doing it vertical..
Great video Matt! I’m about to build some nightstands so wanted to make sure I remembered how to build proper drawers.
The dado is 1/4in the same as the size on a 10in tablesaw blade?
I just discovered your channel and I’m loving it so far. Fist bump👊
Where did you ‘splain figuring the width of the drawers?
Looking forward to having a workshop like that one day 🤝
The 4th way involves a sewing machine, elastic or buttons and cloth.