Subject: drawer finishing advice needed

From: [email-masked] (RWGCUBED)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 05:28:14 GMT

I am just finishing up a chest of drawers, and I need some advice on
finishing the glides of the drawers. 

I recently read an article in one of the woodworking mags that mentioned
paraffin as the only finish on the exterior surface of the drawers (not
the face, of course). What has been your experience or favorite techniques
for finishing the drawers so that they don't gum up, or require
maintenance, etc.

I should mention: all the drawers fit snug, with wood drawer rails on the
top and bottom of each drawer built into the cabinet. There is no middle
track or any other mechanical device aiding in the operation of the
drawers.

Your opinion is appreciated, Thanks in advance...

Bob Gehrman
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (John Paquay)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 16:25:37 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] says...
>for finishing the drawers so that they don't gum up, or require

Definitely, plain paraffin wherever the glides and drawers mate.
You don't need to do the whole exterior of the drawer, but
definitely wax all the mating surfaces.  It isn't maintainance free,
but it does last a good while, and it's without question, in my mind,
the best drawer slide.

I like to sand the mating surfaces to at least #600 before waxing --
with woods like maple or birch, it's tempting to forego the wax
entirely once you've smoothed the wood to that degree.  Adding
the wax practically makes drawers open and close just by thinking
about it...

I just rub a stick of paraffin over the surfaces, then buff hard with
a dry cotton rag.  You can brush on melted paraffin, too, however,
for a slightly deeper waxing.

-- 
John Paquay
Dept. of Physics, Purdue University
[email-masked],  [email-masked]
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~jep/cshop.html
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