How Do You Fix A Sticky Drawer?
When building a fine piece of furniture such as a dresser or chest of drawers, the stock should be completely acclimated to the local climate before beginning the woodworking. In addition to other benefits, this will help keep the drawers from sticking due to expansion of the wood after the unit is completed. In this case, we’re not talking about the use of mechanical drawer slides, but when the drawer mechanism is nothing more than one piece of wood sliding on another. When the wood expands, the drawers can begin to bind, resulting in sticky drawers. This wood movement is a topic that we discuss fully in Allowing for Expansion and Shrinking. The question is, if the unit is moved to a different, more humid climate and the wood begins to expand, what can be done to loosen the sticky drawers? One of my favorite solutions is to use a candle, preferably one made from natural beeswax. Simply rub the candle’s w
Fixing a sticky drawer is usually not difficult, although there can be a number of reasons for drawers to become sticky. Consequently, there are a number of solutions needed to ensure success. This article covers three of the most commonly found drawer and drawer-receptacle designs. There are others, but these tips and advice should be applicable to most. Below, we’ll analyze the three common styles, and offer some possible solutions to eliminate the “sticky-situation”. Step 1 Simplest drawer design: Drawer is of the simple box designed to slide inside another box, with no slide hardware. Solutions: Ensure wood has not become swollen; if so, sanding or planing may be required. Ensure contact surfaces are smooth; lubricate with paraffin or butcher’s wax or plain bar soap. Step 2 With one style of standard slide hardware: Drawer is equipped with mechanical roller-track type slide hardware, which slides into mating hardware inside the drawer receptacle area. Solutions: Ensure all mechanic
There are simple solutions to the problem of how to fix a sticky drawer. Drawers become stuck for three typical reasons: mechanical, structural, and obstructional. Check the easiest solution first by pulling out the entire drawer and look to see if there is any object in the way that might hamper the drawer’s movement. Look both inside the drawer, above and below it, and check the sliders or tracks that the drawer rolls on to make sure there are no obstructions. If there is dirt or other tiny debris, dampen a cloth with water and wipe clean. Make sure all the drawer mechanisms are tightly in place. Screws can become loose over time. Rollers and slides can break. If the drawer was forced to bear too much weight, the center can become bowed. Check both the drawer mechanisms and all the parts where the drawer is housed. Replace any screws (slightly larger ones will do), tighten anchors, add new nails, staples, or brads if needed, or replace any broken parts. Drawer guides and slides are a
