Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Frame and Panel Drawer Front - Attachment?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Gambrills, MD - Near Annapolis
    Posts
    556

    Frame and Panel Drawer Front - Attachment?

    Hi All

    Some of the drawers in my kitchen project are pretty tall (some as tall as 13 inches), so I will either need to do a glue-up or frame and panel. I am leaning towards F&P because these are inset drawers and I need to keep movement to a minimum, plus I think they will probably look a bit nicer. That being said, I've seen dressers with tall drawer fronts like that and there seem to be no problems an they look good. I'm open to suggestions here.

    All the top drawers are 5" and those are all just solid fronts. All the doors are F&P. Frame members are all 2" wide.

    I'm building the fronts myself, but I contracted out the drawer box construction. All the drawers have applied fronts with 3/4" frames with 5/8" panels (flush on the back 1/8" in on the visible side). The box itself is 5/8" material. The slides are blum undermounts. The boxes are soft maple. The fronts and cabinet face frames are ambrosia tiger maple.

    Anyway, if I go with frame and panel drawer fronts, how do I attach the handle and the front? Normally on a solid frawer front, I'd screw directly into the back of the applied panel from inside the drawer, on the horizontal centerline.

    Options I see:

    1. Attach the drawer fronts through the panel like I would if it were solid material and attach the handle on the horizontal center line. I'm concerned here that the frame might move around unevenly, though, and go cockeyed in the space. I have spaceballs in there and they work well in the doors, but you can't guarantee equal wood movement (not a problem in doors, as the frame is what is attached to the hinges). In this case, I could also try and sneak a screw or pin through the very inside corner of the box into the solid frame members

    2. Only attach the frame members to the drawer front and let the panel float. Attach the handle to the top frame member. I don't like how this looks, though, and the handle screws are unlikely to go through the actual drawer box in any way to provide real support against the pulling action.

    3. Scrap this idea and go with solid fronts. Not sure about binding in the space there, though.

    4. Others?

    Thanks!

    Pete

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Splendora, TX
    Posts
    703
    Pete, I've built several sets of cabinets with the drawers being frame/panel construction but all of these have been over-laid instead of inset so I can't really speak to the concerns about movement because it's not going to be as noticeable. I attached the fronts as you stated in #1 (the same as solid fronts) I didn't try and attach to both frame and panel the movement between the two will be different. I haven't had any problems at all attaching them this way.
    David

  3. #3
    You can safely attach the panels to the frame, putting a single pin in the middle, top and bottom OR one in the middle of each side. This keeps the panel centered and thus the pull or knob also centered. Dont pin all four sides though just the two ends or the top and bottom. Somtimes when I glue up larger frame and panel doors I will put a dab or glue in the groove top and bottom to fix the panel but still allow for movement.
    If at first you don't succeed, look in the trash for the instructions.





  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Gambrills, MD - Near Annapolis
    Posts
    556
    Thanks guys. Sounds like attaching through the panel with a pin to keep the frame in position will be the way to go. Now I just need to make sure the panel is absolutely flush with the frame back

    Pete

Similar Threads

  1. frame & flat 1/4" panel cabinet doors. Tips and router bit recommendations please!
    By Matt Johnson in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 08-13-2007, 8:56 PM
  2. Frame and Panel Doors
    By ed cessna in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-04-2007, 4:16 PM
  3. Solid or frame and panel?
    By Joe Unni in forum Design Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-22-2006, 8:20 AM
  4. Frame and Panel beginner
    By Michael Dodd in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-31-2005, 9:48 AM
  5. Frame & panel drawer fronts?
    By Nathan Hoffman in forum Design Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-11-2005, 9:02 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •