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About Project
A beach cottage style dresser featuring four drawers and a narrower profile. Built by Patrick, you can read the brag post here.
Dimensions
Materials and Tools
4 - sets of 12" drawer slides
8 - knobs or handles
2 - 2x2 @ 8 feet long
1 - 1x12 @ 10 feet long
1 - 1/4" plywood @ full sheet
3 - 1x3 @ 8 feet long
3 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
3 - 1x6 @ 8 feet long
1 - 1x8 @ 12 feet long
Cut List
2 - 1x12 @ 35 1/2"
2 - 1x3 @ 11 1/2" (Cut to width of your 1x12 boards)
2 - 1x2 @ 11 1/2" (Cut to width of your 1x12 boards)
4 - 2x2 @ 39"
4 - 1x3 @ 31"
4 - 1x2 @ 31"
1 - 1/4" Plywood @ 35 1/2" x 34"
1 - 1x2 @ 36"
1 - 1x12 @ 36"
1 - 1x3 @ 36"
Drawers
8 - 1x6 @ 28 1/2"
8 - 1x6 @ 12 1/2"
4 - 1/4" Plywood @ 30" x 12 1/2"
4 - 1x8 @ 30 3/4"
General Instructions
Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!
Step 1
Use 1 1/4" finish nails and glue to attach the trim to the sides. The 1x3 goes on the bottom, 1x2 on the top. Build two of these.
Step 2
The the sides, attach legs. Use either 3" screws countersunk or Kreg Jig as shown above (set for 3/4" stock, using 1 1/4" pocket hole screws). Do this on both sides.
Step 3
Once the sides are built, attach 1x3s as shown above. All are flush to the outsides. Cut out a decorative pattern from the bottom front 1x3 (shown with arch shape) using jigsaw.
Step 4
Now attach 1x2 stiles - be very careful here. You must leave 7 1/2" between the stiles so your drawer faces will fit just right.
Step 5
Back. Adjust your project for square and tack the back on with 1" finish nails and glue.
Step 6
Top. If you have a Kreg Jig, build your top as shown above using pocket holes, and then attach to the top of the dresser. If you do not have a Kreg Jig, attach supports as shown in this diagram and then use 1 1/4" finish nails and glue to attach top pieces. Overhang on front and sides is 1".
Step 7
Build drawer boxes as shown above. Tack plywood to bottom. Once drawer boxes are built, use drawer slides to install drawers in the dresser. Remember, the drawer faces sits inset, so you will need to install the drawers 3/4" in from the face of the dresser (see below).
Step 8
Will all drawers installed, lay dresser on it's back. Place drawer faces on drawer boxes, centering so an even gap of approximately 1/8" is on all sides of the drawer faces. Attach with a few 1 1/4" finish nails and glue. Be considerate of your hardware location when you nail.
Once drawer faces are on, pull the drawers out and attach from insides with 1 1/4" fasteners. Add hardware.
Finishing Instructions
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Very Greatful!
I can't say thank you enough for posting this! We just found out that my teenage stepson will be moving in with us in about 2 weeks and his room desperately needed a dresser and this one is perfect. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
This Turned Out Great
Ana this looks awesome. Do you use google sketch up? I need to learn that program.
Yay!!! This goes to the top
Yay!!! This goes to the top of the list. I'm going to make this to go with my Farmhouse bed. Antiqued Red, green, gray???
Thank you!
sliders
The entire thing is great,but maybe I am missing it how does the draws work?? did you have side sliders or a center slide?? I am just guessing it is center slides.Keep up your great work,I will be back to see more of your things.Thank you Nick
Nick, The inside walls of the
Nick,
The inside walls of the dresser need to be flat as possible in order to install your drawer slides. I used full extention slides but like Ana said, if your'e tacking the drawer bottoms on underneath, then you need to get the economy drawer slides because they will hold the bottoms on better. Also once your drawer boxes are in place, a good trick to getting the drawer fronts even on all 4 sides is to use shims in between the gaps. This instructional video is how I installed the drawer boxes. http://youtu.be/vI3jgkhxxPE
can you put slides on tight drawers?
Patrick how would you install slides on this dresser? (its the before pic but also the best pic I have for how close the drawers are...) http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/223263_10150186653387141_...
its tight to its sides but has a recess past the face.
it currently is using this kind of "slide" but it breaks easily and is hard for my son to open.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/228064_10150190383987141_...
Sliding on wood
Aria,
Most drawer guides need 1/2" on each side of the drawer, making them unsuitable for this kind of dresser unless you do an undermount. That requires about 1/2 inch under the drawer bottom. I've used this brand before, and there's good technical info to help you make your decision here: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17281
If that doesn't work, consider building in wooden rail under the drawer for it to slide on. Wood with a nice coat of wax tends to make for an easy to slide drawer.
If it isn't clear what I'm talking about, look at the plans for Patrick's dresser. He puts the thin rails on the front to fill the gaps between the drawers. In my scheme, you would put matching rails running from the front to the back at the same level. The drawer box would slide on those. That's a very traditional construction method, and I have a china cabinet that's older than I am with drawers built this way. They slide effortlessly, even better than my accurides in my bathroom vanity.
catching on wood
the dresser is currently made to "slide" on the wood, and I have yet to ever have it slide evenly no matter how much wax I've put on the "slide" (this dresser is about 40 yrs old or older). Thats what the picture was about its current "sliding" mechanism, and why I was wanting to replace it with a more "modern" alternative.
I like the bottom metal slides you linked to. I wonder if they have them at orange or blue too.
Can you use drawer slide tape?
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=214&filter=teflon%20tape
This stuff?
Aria, Remember that the
Aria,
Remember that the drawer box and the drawer face are 2 separate pieces. When you see the front of the dresser, you are looking at the drawer face and that is the part that is tight like you said. Behind that is the drawer box which is an inch shorter in length to leave that 1/2 inch on either side like clay mentioned.
Drawer glides at Orange & Blue
They definitely carry the accuride glides. They also charge considerably more than Rockler does. You'll more than make up your shipping costs by ordering from Rockler.
You can probably make those drawers slide more smoothly by removing that plastic guide. I've dealt with the hateful things myself, and don't like them.
not the right amount...
I started this dresser yesterday, I cut it up and realized the 3- 1x6 @ 8' should be 4 boards
slides
Euro mount slides are available at Harbor Freight stores really cheap
love this!
I am adding to my to do list! My boys share a room now, but separating them this summer and will need another dresser... think this one will be perfect, thanks for sharing the plans!
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