Shoot pin nails through the new runners to secure them in place using a pin nailer with 1 1/4-inch pin nails. Measure the dado in the side of the runner. You will be able to see where the old ones came out. However, my son’s friend needed a place to store clothes in her family’s apartment, and to really fulfill the mission of creating a girl-empowering dresser, it needed her favorite color: pink. Join our email list today. Find out how to fix a wooden drawer quickly and easily. It’s important to wait for each coat of spray paint to dry before moving to the underside part of the hardware. Use white or clear wax if it will show, and any color if the area will remain hidden. Pry it off with a screwdriver or remove screws if it has them. How to Repair Drawers Binding. Reach into the dresser. Rub with wax any place where drawer and dresser frame move against each other. A tea light, slice of paraffin, new taper or leftover candle is all you need. A loose dresser drawer probably won’t ruin your morning. You can get in touch with her on Twitter for any DIY questions you may have! Left to dry overnight, it was ready to be sanded in the morning. Problems with drawer frames are usually the cause of sticking and binding drawers. Old dressers invariably fail because of wooden runners. I used a low-grit sandpaper to buff it down, and a higher-grit to smooth it out until the filler was imperceivable to the touch. Measure one of the old runners. 2. Sanding takes time and creates a lot of dust, which is why I made sure to work in my backyard and work on a day when Mother Nature was smiling upon me with good weather. We used a thicker piece of wood for that. Remove these fasteners or braces before disassembling the drawer. Before I apply the color stain, I use a pre-stain wood conditioner to open up the grain so it’s ready for an even coat of color stain. How to Repair Sagging Drawers One quick fix on really old dresser drawers is to look at the under the drawer and at the back of the drawer. Habitat® is a service mark of Habitat for Humanity International. While fixing up some old furniture including the dresser for my little one’s room and an armoire we are using as a coat closet, I thought that I would also fix the drawers that not only fall out (here’s my quick DIY drawer stop fix), but also drop down. Always wear safety glasses when working with wood. If you don’t have a powered sander, sandpaper can get the job done. Nail the back on the dresser with the pin nailer. Habitat for Humanity® International is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. I found this dresser about 10 years ago at a thrift store and it was in pretty rough shape. How to Fix Old Dressers 1. She is an author of Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement, DIY Quick Fix and Complete Guide to Shelves & Built-Ins. She is the designer for Food Network’s “Save My Bakery,” and designed for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” She is a licensed contractor, certified color consultant and certified aging-in-place specialist with a focus on Alzheimer’s. Remove the back from the dresser if it has one. A trick is to fold over sandpaper on a stir stick to get even sanding in those areas. So, I did the same steps to transform the hardware. Before it became a bold pink statement, this little dresser was just $15 at the Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties’ ReStore in Pennsylvania. You know when you come across an adorable antique dresser and the drawers close kinda wonky? Grab each one of the runners individually and twist it slightly to free it from the nails. After removing the drawers, they discover the drawer's runner to be missing. Remove the back from the dresser if it has one. Final Steps. We’ll get to that in just a bit. Yuck. Reach in with diagonal pliers and remove any old nails. A little accessory like a tray can add so much, and I’ll show you how to refurbish this old dresser and tray into a matching set. However, this is an easy fix, and all you have to do is to purchase a similar model, make, and length. When it moves smoothly, remove the drawer, and install screws in the remaining holes. Before we tackle the wood veneer, Let’s do a minor drawer repair. But it certainly doesn’t help. Replacing the drawers is pretty straight forward, remove old, install new, and ensure the adjustment is perfect. Typical runners consist of simple 3/4-inch sticks with a dado on one side, and are easy to replicate. Then I lined the inside of the tray with painter’s tape to protect the interior mirror finish. We use a thin plywood for the bottom of the drawer. Your problem could be as simple as a protruding nail or staple, a loose drawer guide, a broken plastic corner guide, or even a piece of clothing stuck in the drawer track. If you’re searching Google for “How to fix a broken drawer slide” you’ve got a drawer that isn’t opening smoothly, is rubbing against the frame, or is just simply stuck. For a more permanent fix, apply nylon drawer slide tape to the parts that come in contact with each other. Wonky Drawers. Measure and mark level the position of the slide that goes on the inside of the … Any ideas would be appreciated! Also, get the tips I learned along the way and a product that will make this job a snap. This opens up the natural wood to receive the new color stain. Who knew! After the silver paint was dry, I added glitter spray paint to give the tray a little sparkle. After cleaning the hardware, I laid out the pieces for paint. First, I cleaned the tray to remove any hints of dust or other bits. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Remove all of the drawers from the dresser and set them aside. Grab each one of the runners individually and twist it slightly to free it from the nails. This article is aimed … Old wooden drawers have the tendency to stick and drag, so I didn’t worry too much about it. Set up the dado blade on the table saw at the measurement. I have an old dresser the drawers no longer close all the way and are very wobbly. First, if using a … Inspect this area to make sure the nails are in place, and add some new nails if they are missing. How To Repair A Broken Drawer On A Wood Dresser. So while I was staining the little dresser in its new pink stain, I started working on updating the tray in a color suited for a little girl who loves the girly vibe. Cut new runners at that length from the sticks using a miter saw. Then, it was time to cut for the back of the drawer. Reach into the dresser. The very first thing I do when checking out these old pieces is to inspect the drawers. If you are interested in doing a project like this, check out other ReStore blogs for more inspiration, and head down to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to get started. Set the fence 5/8 inch from the blade and lock it down. If your dresser is an antique, don't try to refinish it. Smooth any rough spots on the new runners before installing them using a rotary tool with sanding accessories or sand them by hand with sandpaper. I got started by removing the hardware and the drawers. My “I’ll get to that one day” attitude about it didn’t help the problem, and four years later I was growing more annoyed by the day over having to twist and jerk the dresser drawers … Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. I gathered up my DIY mojo and the supplies for this refresh project. Rather than replacing the runners in the cabinet and splicing new wood onto the drawer sides, try this shortcut: Remove the drawer and press a large thumbtack down into the face frame on each side of the drawer opening. All opinions are 100% mine. Install Drawer Slides. Slide the drawer back in so that it now rests on the thumbtacks. Old or worn-out drawer hardware may be the cause of your collapsing drawers. GTC says. In a pinch you can also use candles, bar soap or even dry spray lubricant. No matter which painting … Initially, they work fine, but over the years, simply wear out. What to do with cracks and holes: You’ll come across all sorts of little cracks and holes and it will be … Painting Your Dresser Apply a coat of primer before painting your dresser. I also spied a little mirrored tray for just $5 that fit perfectly both inside the dresser drawer and on top. Loose dresser drawers are almost always caused by damaged or missing parts, often from trying to force open an overfull drawer. Step 1 – Remove Drawer & Old Drawer Slides Take the drawer out of the cabinet by removing all of the screws. Set the depth of the blade at 3/8 inch from the tip of the highest tooth, to the point where the blade emerges from the table saw. Like almost every DIY project I do, I enjoy having multiple parts happening all at once. As the dresser ages, runners split, crack or come off completely, leaving the drawers loose inside the cabinet. Start by taking out the sticking drawer and look to see if there is some kind of an obstruction or if the drawer structure is loose or coming apart. Finally, I am ready to "do the glue" on the major portion of the drawer. As long as the drawer and the roller slides are not damaged, the fix is straightforward. Beyond just the new pink stain for the wood parts of the furniture, I have a plan to update the hardware in a girl-empowering style, too. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Gorilla Glue Company . I applied a protective finish after the two coats of stain dried, just to make sure the little dresser is as durable as it can be. Use one of the old ones for a model, mill some new runners on a table saw and install them exactly like the originals. While the tray was now looking perfect for a little pink dresser, the old hardware on the dresser was a little less fitting. For example, if the dado measures 3/4 inch (typical), then stack six blades on the saw, or set the adjustable dado blade to 3/4 inch. THE ALICE DRESSER REVEAL - fix it tip and favorite tool A blog about re-purposing vintage wood furniture, with many tutorials that include tips and tricks how to achieve the look you want in your décor. If the drawers do not shut tightly, use a hammer to tap the runners up or down in the back. Jan 18, 2018 - Explore Diane Weiss's board "Broken dresser", followed by 304 people on Pinterest. With the parts of the furniture set out on tables, I’m ready to sand and remove the old finish. Like most of the new and gently used furniture at Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the dresser was ready to use today. Slide the drawer in and out of the dresser. Brush away any wood debris caused by the drilling with a brush or rag. Rub paraffin on the meeting parts of drawers to keep them working smoothly. Remove the drawer from the cabinet, then wipe the rollers … You’ll find paraffin with the canning supplies in your local grocery store. Matt marked the dimensions for the bottom of the drawer on the plywood and cut it out with a circular saw. If it’s still wet, it may be sticky and damage the finish. Widen the Dadoes. See more ideas about redo furniture, furniture makeover, diy furniture. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. All rights reserved. It just takes longer. They attach the fresh runner using high-performance construction adhesive, and the … Reply. April 28, 2015 at 8:38 pm. While the tray was now looking perfect for a little pink dresser, the old hardware on the dresser was a little less fitting. Some are more valuable in their natural state if the drawers work properly. I have a 6 drawer dresser and atleast 4 of the drawers are no good. That is usually because it has missing drawer stops. I find that most wood drawers can be saved with a little TLC. How to Fix a Broken Drawer Side with Dovetails Using a Bandsaw. The drawer front will need new and firmer anchoring spaces for when you put the screws back to the box of the drawer. Make sure you buy new slides of the same design and have openings that match the size and position of the screws. So, I did the same steps to transform the hardware. I chose a metallic silver spray paint to quickly dust a few coats on the tray. Eliminating sources of frustration makes the morning go better, so here’s how to fix loose dresser drawers. Step 4 After about two hours of meditative work sanding the wood, the next part is wiping away the dust from the surfaces. Insert all of the drawers to finish. Drawers are built with wood or metal runners and move back and forth on guides or tracks. This next repair is a common one – missing drawer stops. This process takes a little time and a bit of trail and error to get the fence set … Whether it’s pre-stain, stain or sealer, always apply in the direction of the wood grain. 3. Remove all of the drawers from the dresser and set them aside. Is there a way I can still make this into a usable dresser for my 7 year old son? If it sticks, rubs or is hard to move, loosen the screws in the oval-shaped holes, tap them in the direction needed, and test the drawer. Many of these drawers only have small nails holding the drawer bottom to the backside of the drawer. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. Assessing the Cause 1 Make sure that the drawer is sticking due to humidity. Get breaking news, ways to help and our free DIY guide full of helpful tips for homeowners. Most likely, the runners on your cabinet won’t be damaged, which means you will only need to replace the slides on your drawer. This one was in bad shape, but nothing that a little glue won’t fix. How to Install a Laminate Countertop Cutting Board, How to Repair an Old Wood Rocker Runner That's Broken Off, How to Replace the Runners in an Old Dresser, How to Replace the Drawer Rollers on an Old Desk. After the paint was dry, I reattached the glittery hardware to the dresser and added the new glittery silver tray on top. They remove the old nails, measure the length of the space using a folding ruler, and then cut a new runner using a scrap piece of wood. In... Split Drawer Fronts. Truth be told, I could open and close the drawers without pulls, so new ones weren’t even going back on the dresser. © 2021 Habitat for Humanity® International. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. Turn on the saw and run both sticks over the blade. Lift up on the drawer as you pull it out, removing it at an angle. When they come loose, remove them completely. Test the drawer fit and then shoot a few more nails when the fit is good. “Habitat for Humanity®” is a registered service mark owned by Habitat for Humanity International. I think the sparkly accessories make this makeover perfect for a girl who loves a lot of glam. Theresa Clement co-hosts the MyFixitUpLife talk show with her husband Mark, who is her partner at work and at home. After cleaning the hardware, I laid out the pieces for paint. Worn Guides and Runners. Reach in from the back and hold the runners in place. Hello. Drill new holes into the drawer's box frame (not the front piece) just to the side of where old, worn holes were using a 3/16-inch drill bit attached to the drill. I would like to paint this piece but I don’t know how to fix the drawers to work correctly again. Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties’ ReStore, Oscillating tool with sanding attachment and pads, Stir sticks (since stain is stirred, not shaken – sorry, James Bond). Obstructions Blocking the Drawer. Look closely at the top of the dresser – see the arrow pointing to that spot? You should have a dado running down the center of the sticks, 3/4-inch wide, 3/8-inch deep. Even if you have an oscillating tool that helps with the flat surfaces – and some of the rounded edges – it doesn’t quite get into trim details perfectly.