Is a dust insert necessary in a chest of drawers?

[lwhughes149]

When I made my nightstand I put a solid bottom underneath the cabinet before attaching the legs. In this larger piece I have attached a frame on all four sides but it isn't solid. Please explain why this may need to be solid. I will take the picture of the underside and put it in the galley in just a few minutes. If someone will move it here for me I would appreciate it. Lorraine

 

[Travis Porter]

Personally, I have done it with and without. I think it is supposed to be "classier" with it. I also believe it helps keep stuff from getting caught in between drawers when you fill them too full like we all do. My preference now a days is to always put them in it. I don't use anything but the 1/4 inch luaun plywood for it, same thing I use for drawer bottoms.

 

[lwhughes149]

What I was thinking about was luan or the brown board I have in the shop. If I use solid wood it will make it even heavier than it will already be.

 

[jglord]

I've heard fine furniture builders would include full dust inserts to prevent drawers from being closed too quickly and damaging the case back. The idea, as I understand it, is to create an air cushion by having the drawer enclosure solid. If the drawer is slammed in, the air pressure will slow down the motion. I also understand some would drill small holes to modify this effect as needed.
In addition, in case work where the drawer and runners are both wood, there is often some wood dust falling off as the drawer is opened and closed over time, the dust insert prevents this from falling on the items in the drawer below.
It also adds some anti-racking strength to a tall case piece.

 

[lwhughes149]

This brings up another issue. I have made two chest with drawers. I didn't use dust inserts on either between the drawers, I did however have a solid bottom. In my second chest, the walnut nightstand, I had a solid pine bottom upon which I build the support for the legs to be attached. Because of the size of this chest I used a frame instead of a solid board. I never considered dust from the sliding of the drawers possibly getting into the drawer. Interesting. Have to give that some thought on my next piece. Learn something new again. My picture thus far on the chest is posted on my gallery. What I plan to do, unless someone tells me different, is to add only to the bottom inside the two openings you will see on the pic. The cabinet is upside down in the pic.

 

[Joe Scharle]

The dust panels are just that. Before central air, homes had operating windows and screens for cooling. Well almost cooling!. The outside breeze carried a lot of dust into the house and the dust panels provided a 'top' to the drawers that held the clean clothes. I noticed in one of your pieces that you have used web frames. The dust panels simply float in a ploughed dado in those frames. Luan would be better than hardboard, but 1/4" birch is my usual choice.
Your work looks very good with or without dust panels.
Joe

 

[Gofor]

With the cabinet made and the web frames existing, another option would be to use fabric attached to the bottom of the webs over the drawers. It will catch the "slide dust" without causing major dimensional problems for clearance. If you use staples for attachment, I would spring for the stainless steel ones to prevent any rust problems during high humidity. The fabric will also eliminate any expansion problems as it will stretch with the wood. I am old enough to have actually done "dope & fabric" repairs on aircraft, and know it can be quite durable, altho I don't think doping the fabric would be necessary for furniture unless you're worried about dust mites, too!!

Just a thought:lol:

 

[lwhughes149]

Just finished putting the legs on the cabinet and turning it up to look at it and study what is to be done next. I will post pics next week. I closed the bottom in with plywood. What do you think about poly on the runners. That would seal the wood and prevent rubbing and causing wood dust to get on the contents of the drawer. I am happy now with just closing in the bottom. If anyone remembers, two of my top drawers aren't square because I made a mistake, they are my next step on the chest.

 

[DaveO]

What do you think about poly on the runners. That would seal the wood and prevent rubbing and causing wood dust to get on the contents of the drawer.

I would use shellac and/or paste wax on the runners, poly could end up being kind sticky, plus there is always the smell issue :eusa_doh:
Dave

 

[Dutchman]

I think most medium and all high end furniture has dust bottoms. You should always have at least have one at the bottom and the panel you are using is better. I believe you are using side guides on your project, so that eliminates the need to use drawer bearers or drawer tilts for your sides to run on. With some high end furniture, the drawer sides slide on the drawer bearers and depending on rail thickness use a drawer tilt. The dust bottom gives a more polished look if the drawer is removed. Depending on how close your drawer sides are to the post or end panel, the dust bottom and bearers also keep you from seeing down into the next drawer.

 

[lwhughes149]

Dutchman, I am too far along now to have dust panels but I will do something to my next piece. Everything I look at is empty so I hadn't thought about the fact of looking at the contents in the bottom drawer if one is removed. I think paste wax will go on my runners to keep down the dust that will come from constant movement of the drawer. I learn something better with everything I make. I use Norm's books for my guide and haven't noticed anything about dividing the drawers from each other. Guess it is time to look elsewhere, no, think I will just keep coming here and learning new things. Thanks guys for the help. Lorraine

 

[Travis Porter]

As I have watched Norm over the years he started putting dust panels in as well. Unfortunately, I think he has only done 3 books and don't remember if he used them in any of the pieces in them. I would say Norm has progressed a lot over the years.

Sad to hear he is going off the air.

 

[lwhughes149]

You are correct, he has only three books, I have all three. the one I refer to has a double chest of drawers and there are no dust panels. Didn't know he was going off the air. Reruns would be nice on HGTV. I have so much to learn and hopefully many years to do it in.