I am building a box that will house drawers that need to open from both sides of the box (ie. there is no back to the drawers rather two fronts). I am racking my brain as to how I will incorporate drawer stops that will not impede the slide of the drawer in each direction. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks N.E.T.
Replies
Seems like the stop(s) would need to be near the middle of each drawer, one on either side of the middle (lengthwise). Depending on the design of the drawer, might be possible to have only one stop to cover both directions.
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NET,
The only way that I am aware of is not really pretty
My understanding of your problem is that you have a single drawer that is pulled out from both sides of the carcase.
The only solution to a drawer stop that I've seen work in this instance is that you have a pin on the top of the drawer front that mates into a groove - the depth that the groove extends back into the carcase limits the amount of space that it can be pushed/pulled out from the other side. Likewise, a groove/pin in a different location are mounted for the opposing drawer front when being pushed from the opposite direction.
Pushing for time as I'm writing this - hope that it makes sense.
Cheers,
eddie
You can get mechanical drawer slides for two-ended drawers. Unfortunately, I can't tell what the industry name for them is, so I can't point you to a source. I believe they just have a detente that centers the drawer in the cabinet rather than a positive stop.
Could you set up a mechanical latch like filing cabinet drawers in both drawer pulls? That way the drawer would be locked against random movement but could be easily actuated from either end.
Uncle Dunc is correct...there are drawer slides that offer full extension in both directions. Can't point you in any direction at the moment but have seen them advertised. I personally don't care for partial extension drawers as it's a pain to get stuff in the back. I'd be even more inclined to have a drawer that opens both ways be full extension as I'd hate to have to go to the other side to get what I wanted.
A simple cam that works by gravity mounted above the drawer and a pin or stop block or notch in the drawer side will do what you want for a partial extension drawer. Actually a very simple low tech idea and when you want to remove the drawer completely you just raise the cam with your finger. There's a lot of ways it can be done.
BTW...Woodworkers Supply has the drawer slides...Schock Metal brand in three sizes.
Edited 7/5/2004 8:23 am ET by rick3ddd
Edited 7/5/2004 9:30 am ET by rick3ddd
Magnets. I've seen furniture built exactly this way, and it is slick. Embed those high-strength rare-earth magnets in the drawer and in the casework. Done just right, they'll provide a detent at the stopped position, but let you open the drawer either direction. Of course, you have to build the drawer and slides so that the drawer slides very smoothly.
I have made a lot of coffee tables (cocktail tables if you are so inclined) with drawers that pull from either side of the table.
Bottom line, I have not bothered with a stop - not a problem.
Alternate solution - the bullet catches (a round bump the comes out of the side of a door, to hold a door in a closed position) could be used on either side of the table to define the closed position. But, as I said, based on experience, I haven't bothered.
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Charlie Plesums Austin, Texas
http://www.plesums.com/wood
You put two bullets in the carcus, one above the other, but at opposite ends of the drawer slot. On the drawer, you have two groves, in which the bullets ride. The groves are open at one end and closed at the other. For instance as you look at the side of the drawer, the top grove is open on the left, and closed on the right. The bottom grove is open on the right and closed on the left. The placement of the bullets, protruding into the groves will allow the drawer to slide out one side of the carcus to the point that it hits the closed end of the grove, stopping the drawer from going any further. Slide the drawer out the other side of the carcus, and the other bullet hits the closed end of the other grove, stopping the drawer as well.
Reading this over, I'm not sure I follow my own instructions, so feel free to ask for a clarification.
-Bob
Guess we answered different questions...
My answer was to give a firm stop when the drawer is properly closed - a detent or bump to say "you are there, stop pushing"
Your answer was to keep the drawer from pulling out too far - on either side.
My experience is that neither is a significant issue, but either could be...________________________Charlie Plesums Austin, Texashttp://www.plesums.com/wood
install a dowel or pin in the left or right side of the drawer and install a strip above or on the side of the drawer that has a rabbit or dado cut in it for the dowel to slide in. extend the slot or dado from the center out both directions the drawer opens the length you want to open it. the dowel will stop the drawer wherever the dado stops.
Are you using 3/4 inch thick wood for the sides? And if so cut a grove in the top of the drawer sides not quite the entire length of the side (a stopped dado). Next cut a small peice of wood to fit into the slot with a dowel pin in the middle sticking up. also cut a dado to fit the dowel pin in the under sideof the table top if that is where the drawer is going to be.
If you want to pull the drawer out more than halfway in either direction, you could try this.
A. Cut a groove in the underside of the drawer that is stopped by the drawer fronts.
B. Cut a corresponding groove in the case or drawer support below. It needs to be open on one end so you can insert a ...
C. Floating key that is held in the upper and lowerr grooves.
D. Once the key is in place, put a stop at the open end of the lower groove. A removable stop will enable you to free the lower groove and take the drawer out.
To assemble, insert drawer partially into case.
Insert key in grooves at unstopped end.
Close drawer.
Atttach stop to secure lower groove.
When drawer is pulled open, the key is caught by the opposite inside drawer front and dragged until it stops at the end of the lower groove. Length of key determines travel of drawer.
Edited 7/9/2004 2:06 am ET by TomT
Edited 7/9/2004 2:09 am ET by TomT
Edited 7/9/2004 2:54 am ET by TomT
Tom
Very elegant solution!
There should be a section in the magazine for best solutions to on-line problems! I'd nominate yours!
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