Drawer Bottom Expansion Allowance

[Mike Goetzke]

I'm making several drawers of ash with true 1/4" Baltic ply bottoms. I cut the grooves 1/4" deep and slightly over 1/4" wide. I was thinking of making the bottoms 1/8" less in length and width for expansion and ease of assembly. Is this on target?

Thanks,

Mike

[johnny means]

I do the same thing. Does make assembly easier. Expansion is a none issue.

[Steve Griffin]

1/16 smaller in length and width should be plenty tolerance for assembly. Unless you are cutting them with really primitive tooling such as a hatchet.:D

[John Morrison60]

two years ago, I made 20+ drawers using Ash for sides and 1/4 B.B. bottoms.

I made the bottoms 1/16 shorter and narrower than the distance to the bottom of the slots.
I have had no issues with any of the drawers. Movement is not an issue.

John

[Jeff Duncan]

Yup, as the others have mentioned wood movement is minimal. Figure if you have 2 sides at 3/4" there is no way that wood is going to move a full 16th of an inch. The plywood bottom is not going to move any discernible amount. So leave yourself 1/16th in both direction and your good.

good luck,
JeffD