Posts: 925
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
I think you'll be fine with 3/8" drawer sides, as long as the drawers aren't large or carrying a lot of weight. Rather than putting the drawer bottoms in grooves in the sides, consider using drawer slips. They were standard in european drawers that traditionally had thinner sides than American drawers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YIgHboZFlA
Posts: 706
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2011
I think you will be fine but be sure your undermount slides accommodate that particular thickness. Some of them have specific requirements for side thickness.
Posts: 6,442
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2006
Thanks all. I guess I was just looking for reassurance that this wouldn't some huge mistake.
I went ahead and milled them down to 3/8" to get them flat. I think they look fine and I kinda like the "lightness" to it in fact. Will be plenty strong I'm sure especially given the full undermount support. The slides will allow for this thickness. I will glue the plywood into the dados and dovetail the sides, so it should be fine.
I do agree that 1/2" plywood bottoms is overkill. This came to materials availability.. When I was sourcing everything, 1/2" maple ply was what was available. 1/4" was "orderable" but it was literally $1 less per sheet, so I just went with what I could get. Couldn't find 3/8" baltic birch either.
Posts: 181
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2018
One other note. Make sure the drawer screw sides don't poke through when you screw the slides on.
I think they are normally 1/2" long, but I am not positive. I know it sounds obvious, but it's a mistake I've made lol
Posts: 6,442
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2006
(03-28-2022, 08:45 AM)paul2004 Wrote: One other note. Make sure the drawer screw sides don't poke through when you screw the slides on.
I think they are normally 1/2" long, but I am not positive. I know it sounds obvious, but it's a mistake I've made lol
roger that!
Posts: 2,488
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2004
(03-26-2022, 06:11 PM)mound Wrote: Good point. No sense making a problem where there isn't any!
Isn't that what politicians do?
Jim
Jim
Posts: 6,442
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2006
(03-28-2022, 12:32 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Isn't that what politicians do?
Jim
Pretty much all they do!
Posts: 1,687
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
(03-28-2022, 12:32 PM)Halfathumb Wrote: Isn't that what politicians do?
Jim
Only when it's profitable.