Making Drawers Useful
![1.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1M/7ALY/JD4UIFWY/F1M7ALYJD4UIFWY.jpg&filename=1.JPG)
![2.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0W/UYUT/JD4UIFXA/F0WUYUTJD4UIFXA.jpg&filename=2.JPG)
You may recall from my last Instructable (https://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Lathe-Bench/) or not, I ended by saying that I had obtained this homemade bedside chest free at a yard sale and incorporated it into my lathe bench but I didn't like that the drawers were so deep. I finally did something about it. Since the original used simple wood frame sliders I planned to simply cut each drawer in half (more or less), make new frames and get twice the drawers at a usable depth.
A Few Words About Tools, Materials and SAFETY
![3.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDW/HUL0/JD4UIFXS/FDWHUL0JD4UIFXS.jpg&filename=3.JPG)
This is a picture of the original frame.
For TOOLS, I used:
- Table Saw - you could use a circular but it would be harder to control
- Drill Press again, you could just use an electric drill
- Tape Measure
- Countersink Bit, Drill Bit
- 12" Steel Ruler for a spacer
For MATERIALS I used:
- A few pine offcuts cut into 1/2" X 3/4" strips
- A couple of pieces of 1/4 plywood for drawer bottoms
- A little glue
- A few 1 1/4" and 1 5/8" screws
- 3/4" brads
For SAFETY I used:
- Safety Glasses
- Ear Protection
- Best Practices - no loose clothing, wait until all motion ceases, THINK before you do anything!
The Process
![4.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDS/46R2/JD4UIFXT/FDS46R2JD4UIFXT.jpg&filename=4.JPG)
![5.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F98/KO78/JD4UIFYK/F98KO78JD4UIFYK.jpg&filename=5.JPG)
![8.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4D/705T/JD4UIFZT/F4D705TJD4UIFZT.jpg&filename=8.JPG)
![9.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2M/7NZL/JD4UIG07/F2M7NZLJD4UIG07.jpg&filename=9.JPG)
![10.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FAS/LSFV/JD4UIG17/FASLSFVJD4UIG17.jpg&filename=10.JPG)
![11.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZ7/H7I5/JD4UIG1H/FZ7H7I5JD4UIG1H.jpg&filename=11.JPG)
![14.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRK/B5L7/JD4UIG1W/FRKB5L7JD4UIG1W.jpg&filename=14.JPG)
First I cut the drawers in approximately half, minus 1/2" for the new frame and 1/4" for the new bottom. Next I countersunk and drilled (for clearance) the strips for the new frame. I laid the metal ruler on top of the bottom half of the drawer to act as a spacer then screwed the new frame pieces in place. It was a fairly simple procedure - just kept moving the spacer around.
Finally, I cut the 1/4" plywood bottoms and fastened them to the top halves with brads and glue.
A Better Mousetrap (or Chest of Drawers)
![15.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3L/YKJC/JD4UIG2A/F3LYKJCJD4UIG2A.jpg&filename=15.JPG)
![12.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FB2/27ZD/JD4UIG1R/FB227ZDJD4UIG1R.jpg&filename=12.JPG)
![13.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9N/Q6LM/JD4UIG1T/F9NQ6LMJD4UIG1T.jpg&filename=13.JPG)
![16.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7Y/M9BH/JD4UIG2N/F7YM9BHJD4UIG2N.jpg&filename=16.JPG)
Luckily (or because I planned well) all the drawers fit and slide easily. I now have four drawers that I can use to put one layer of stuff into and easily find it when needed. I left the bottom drawer deep for some bigger stuff.
Maybe some day I'll make the finishes match......but probably not. I prefer function over form.