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Thread: Skirt for a dresser?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Rockland, ME
    Posts
    205

    Skirt for a dresser?

    Hello,

    I've been working on the dresser below for quite some time now, and would love any and all advice. As you can see, there are 2 joined cases that have been glued together. The miters have been joined with dominos. The back is made of solid wood planks that have been tongue and grooved. Drawers are all 3/4" solid wood. It's one heavy dresser!

    Anyways, I was wondering if you feel like some kind of support structure is required on the bottom. I'd rather forgo a skirt or platform or any undergirding and simply attach feet(6 of them) to the bottom of the piece as long as I wouldn't be in danger of compromising the existing joinery. I'd really hate for one of the miters to give.

    What do you think? Support or no?

    Thanks for your help!

    PS You'll notice in the photos that it is currently sitting on a base. This base is not attached and is simply there to keep the case off the floor and to help stabilize it on my incredibly wavy uneven floors.

    IMG_1624.jpg IMG_1625.jpg IMG_1626-2.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,582
    I would say yes, purely because I think it would be good to get the drawers up off the carpet / floor a bit. I don't think it needs anything for appearance sake alone

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    1,356
    Nice work!

    Probably, your glue joint is fine.

    I would be equally ambivalent. If the floor it will be on is uneven, then a solid base will make that unevenness more apparent.

    A middle foot should span the joint, of course. Plus you can put those adjustable height feet on it.
    David
    Confidence: That feeling you get before fully understanding a situation (Anonymous)

  4. #4
    Well if they were just miter joints with end grain joined to end grain I would be worried about the joints - but in that case the existing base under them would be enough to potentially cause a problem. But the dominos give you long grain to long grain connection and it should be fine. The highest stress is at the bottom miters where the sides are bearing the weight of the drawers and top and could want to slide off the miters on the bottom. But that stress is there now and it is together. With a tight fitting miter joint it would probably be fine and with the dominos almost certainly so. I think you can base your treatment of the base on asthetics, not strength.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Rockland, ME
    Posts
    205
    Thanks for the advice everyone. So it sounds like I might not need to attach any sort of undergirding to the dresser bottom. That's good news as I'd rather not have to add this as it wasn't something I wanted aesthetically.

    I I still can't help but being a little bit worried, though. I have about five mitered dominos at each joint. I was wondering if I should consider adding a couple of locking dominos to the bottom 4 miters. In other words, sinking a domino from the bottom of the dresser up through the sides.

    What at do you think? Necessary or overkill? Or should I just not worry about the strength of these joints at all?

    thanks again!

  6. #6
    I took your reference to Dominos to be across the miter which would be best. I don't think adding them up from the bottom will add nearly as much strength because there wouldn't be much material outside of the joint on the bottom. I think you are good.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Stark County Ohio
    Posts
    137
    I like the levelers on the legs idea. You can take any stress off the joints that way I think. Is that a recumbent bike?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    I personally would build a base to provide better support, including taking stress of the join between the two units that were originally separate, but "ease" the profile to provide contact with the floor that resembles feet. I wouldn't just go with feet unless there were some in the center to support that joint.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    9,647
    To use separate feet, I would add some screws or bolts through the center panels where they are joined together. That will handle any extra stress the cabinet gets when it's moved or if it happens to sit on an uneven floor. It would be best to have all the feet supporting the sides directly, but I don't think that's an absolute requirement. Domino reinforced beveled joints should be plenty strong.

    John

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