A different way to install an 18th century drawer bottom

[danmart77]

Just last Saturday, a group got together at Phil S shop and worked on drawer fronts(cockbeaded). In the course of discussing the methods of installing a bottom, I mentioned the "bizarre" way bottoms were applied to smaller drawers in the Virginia area in the 18th century.

Here's a brief explanation:

As you walk in the Anthony Haye shop you see it on display.



This cabinet was not "cockbeaded" but was veneered.


Here is the fascinating drawer bottom. It is glued.. yes glued to the bottom of the sides and front. In all my work, I have not seen this on the scale of this piece. Mack Headley assured me it was done that way originally and they - being a museum were obliged to build in the school. If you look carefully, you can see the day light as the bottom is held to the window light. It is extremely thin.

I do not endorse this method but it seems to work in the end. On a large bottom drawer I still think it might be "iffy" with our summers.

[Rick M]

So no rabbet or dado, just glued to the bottom of the drawer?

[danmart77]

So no rabbet or dado, just glued to the bottom of the drawer?

That's it my friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmlHgStL7d4

If you look at this video you will see Kory Loftheim show the drawer construction. Notice the small pins in the drawers. This was common in the shops in the colonies in their attempt to "imitate" the English imported pieces.

[Jeff]

That video link doesn't work. Searching for Kory or Kaare Loftheim Tube videos at Williamsburg doesn't work either.

That's it my friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmlHgStL7d4

If you look at this video you will see Kory Loftheim show the drawer construction. Notice the small pins in the drawers. This was common in the shops in the colonies in their attempt to "imitate" the English imported pieces.

[nn4jw]

Interesting video. I was watching it without sound while on hold so didn't catch if they used that glue technique on the larger drawers or just the upper small ones. They probably didn't load their drawers with as much junk as we do these days either. Thanks for the post.

[Jeff]

I found the video. The cabinet is a chest-on-stand document cabinet but Mr. Loftheim doesn't show any details of the drawer construction. He just kind of breezes through several pieces with no detail about each one. The cabinet begins at about 1.5 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmlHgStL7d4

Notice the small pins in the drawers.

Where? I don't see any in the video.

[danmart77]

Jeff
Look at the video again. To pinpoint the construction with small pins go to 2:21. Best I can do.

[Jeff]

Jeff
Look at the video again. To pinpoint the construction with small pins go to 2:21. Best I can do.

Okay gotcha now. I thought that you were referring to fastening the drawer bottom in the drawer. To pinpoint the construction with small pins = very fine dovetail pins in the drawer.