| Kitchen Drawer Inserts |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-401 |
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Q: I'd like to make some inserts for my kitchen drawers. Can you show me how? A: (From Brad Staggs, DIY Home Improvement expert) This project, which requires just a few materials and some basic skills, is fairly simple for the do-it-yourselfer. Materials: lengths of thin wood (e.g., 1/8" thick)
measuring tape
sliding square
pencil
jigsaw or hand saw
speed square (optional)
wood glue or finish nails (optional)
- First measure the length, width and depth of the inside of the drawer--you want the measurements to be precise so the inserts will fit tightly (figure A).
Tip: A good way to do this quickly and easily is to lay the wood on top of the drawer and make small tick marks at the correct measurement. Then use a sliding square to mark the wood at the tick mark so you'll get a perfectly squared end (figure B). - Cut the wood at the measurement marks, using a hand saw or a jigsaw. If you use the latter, you may wish to use a speed square as a guide for the jigsaw blade (figure C).
Safety tip: Always wear eye protection when cutting wood. - Dry-fit the pieces in the drawer to be sure they fit tightly. Leave one of the longer pieces in the drawer so you can use it to measure for the front compartment.
- Decide how wide you want the front section of the insert to be; then lay the horizontal section across the lengthwise one and use a pencil to mark its position. Also make tick marks on the lengthwise piece for placement of the "key" cuts--the slots that fit together to create separate sections.
Tips for cutting keys: Each key should be the exact thickness and half the width of the boards. Measure and mark for the length and width of the cut, and mark around one of the boards to get the proper thickness (figure D). To help avoid confusion later, when you mark the sections to be cut out for the keys, make an X in the area that will be completely cut away (figure E). This way you'll know that it's to be discarded. - Make two straight cuts with the saw along each of the longest marks; then start carefully working the center section out with the saw blade. With any luck, it will pop out fairly easily (figure F), but don't lose patience if it doesn't.
- When all the keys are cut, simply fit the pieces in the drawer, interlocking the keys together (figure G).
- If you wish, hot-glue or nail the insert at the corners (figure H), but this isn't essential, especially as you may want to remove the insert in the future.
More Questions for Brad... Q: How do I avoid breaking thin drill bits? A: Make sure when you're using the drill that you're holding it in line with your forearm and not at an angle, which tends to bend the bits. Also, work the bit in and out of the hole smoothly as you're drilling. This cleans off sawdust and stops heat buildup and friction; doing so helps alleviate unnecessary stress to the metal. Q: My toilet's flushing power is weak. Is there anything I can do? A: This sounds like a mineral-deposit buildup. Clean the toilet bowl first, then look under the rim. You'll see a series of small holes. Use a piece of a wire coat hanger to poke around in these holes; you'll probably see little bits of mineral deposit falling out. You may have to repeat this procedure several times to get all the deposits out, but that's usually the cause of weak flushes. Q: How do I keep paint from dripping down the side of my can? A: A rag on the outside of the can helps, but here's another idea: When you open the can, before you begin painting, use a hammer and a small finishing nail to make a series of holes around the rim, where the lid would sit. Then, when you pour the paint into your paint tray, the excess will run back into the can when it's set upright again.
RESOURCES :
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
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