The Technique of FURNITURE MAKING

Drawer rails, runners, kickers and guides

A typical carcass framing for a chest is shown in 243:1, with (A) the top bearer rails dovetailed into the sides, (B) the lower drawer rail twin stub tenoned in, (C) the central division, (D) drawer runners, and (E) kickers, whose function it is to prevent the drawer sides kicking up as the drawer is withdrawn. In solid work the drawer runners (3D) are stub tenoned and glued into grooves in the front rail and housed to the sides, but the housing/dadoes must not be glued, and the runners are secured by open slot screwing at the back. Plywood or laminboard sides have the runners housed and glued with a small pin (4A) driven in at an angle to hold the runner flush with the front rail. The centre division (c) has a front upright tenoned and wedged to top and bottom rails, and a long - grain division tongued in with a wide double runner (D) screwed up. An alternative method of forming the centre division is shown in 243:5,

and is supported by a dovetailed hanger at the back (6F). Figure 243:9 shows another method suitable for flush-top carcasses, with the division dowelled or dovetail housed to the top, housed and screwed to the front rail, and the drawer runner stub tenoned to the front rail. Fillets for side-hung drawers are shown in 243:7, while in 243:8, where a framed carcass construction (243:10) is used, drawer guides (G) glued to the runners are required.

TRAYS

Sideboards and wardrobes (244:1, 2) often include interior trays for storage. These can have shaped fronts in which the contents are visible, or flat fronts, which are suitable for cutlery, etc. Construction can be lap dovetails (244:3), through dovetails (244:4) or box lock joint (244:5), and in all cases the plywood bottoms are grooved in as shown in 244:5. The trays can run on the usual type of drawer rail (244:3A), side hung on guides screwed to the carcass sides (244 :4B), or sliding on screwed guides under the trays (244:4C); the latter is useful for trays which have neither shaped fronts nor handle grips as sufficient space is left between each tray for finger-grip. In all cases the trays are a fairly slack fit and slide easily. Where the carcass doors are inset, as in 244:6, and hung on standard butts, a false side (E) must be fitted which allows the tray to clear the door as it is withdrawn. Figure 244:5 can also be used as a filing-tray for office purposes, and sizes range from 21/2 in (63 mm) to 3 in (76 mm) deep by 14 in (355 mm) to 15 in (381 mm) long and 1O1/2 in (266 mm) to 12 in (304 mm) wide, with the back, sides and front of equal thickness and about 5/16 in (8 mm) or 3/8 in (9.5 mm) thick. The plywood bottoms need only be about 1/8 in (3 mm) thick.