Kitchen Drawer Repair

Help Around the House : Episode ARH-311 -- More Projects »
PHOTO
Home repair expert Henry Harrison shows a guest how to fabricate a new runner for a sagging kitchen drawer. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a one.

Tools:

workbench
clamps
carpenter’s square
small light
carpenter’s pencil
circular saw
straight edge
folding ruler
nippers
dust mask
safety glasses
materials:
scrap wood
construction adhesive

PHOTO

Figure A
Steps:

1. In this case, the upper runner that kept the drawer from sagging and rubbing against the top of the counter was missing. The fix involved cutting a piece similar to the lower runner and mounting above the drawer (figure A).

2. Use nippers to remove the nail at the back of the cabinet where the old runner broke away.

3. Measure for the runner inside the cabinet using a folding rule with an extendable tip. Measure the width of one of the existing runners and cut a replacement from a piece of scrap wood.

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Figure B
PHOTO

Figure C
4. Mark the scrap wood with your measurements and clamp it to a workbench along with a metal piece to serve as a straightedge. Put on safety glasses and a dust mask and make the lengthwise rip cut using a circular saw (figure B). Cut the piece to length.

5. Spread some high-performance adhesive on each end of the runner and fit it into place inside the cabinet (figure C).

6. Slide the drawer back in the cabinet and test your handiwork.

Also in this Episode
Help Around the House : Episode ARH-311
•Fabricate Missing Siding Piece
•Storm Door Repair
•Kitchen Drawer Repair
•Toolbox: Step Drill Bit