Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Wood Dresser Drawer

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Expert: - 7/30/2009


Question
Hi,
I just bought a wood dresser drawer at a tag sale.  It is cherry. All the drawer glides are wood and some are difficult to easily open and close.  Also, it seems as if the dresser was in a damp place because the drawers won't fit in completely - they seem to have expanded with humid/damp conditions.  Any suggestions to repair this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lori

Answer
Hi Lori, the first thing to do is to put it in a dry location and put a fan near(not on it, just keep the air moving around it) it or better yet, a dehumidifier, for a couple of days. Then it may need to be planed (or careful use of a power sander), to allow the drawers to run smoothly. Sometimes it's actually shrinkage, not swelling, or even a combination of the both that can cause drawers to bind or not go in all the way. Careful examination of the rub points and sticking points should help you figure it out....there are also stop blocks sometimes that keep the drawers in line,and badly worn runners can also bind. If the drawers are actually hitting the back of the piece then it's shrinkage, and that's not possible to fix easily...post back if need be- regards- Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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