I am building drawers to hold CDs, DVD,s and casette tapes. The outside
dimensions of the drawers are 18" wide and 15" deep. The Cd and DVD
drawers are 5" high and the casette tape drawers are 2" high. All
drawer sides, fronts and backs are made from 1/2" plywood. I have
routed a 1/4"groove on the lower inside face of all pieces to hold the
drawer bottom.
Question 1: Which would make a stronger bottom; 1/4" plywood or 1/4"
hardboard?

I also plan to use accuride drawer slides on these. In some pictures I
he slides mounted in the middle of the drawer side and in others the
slides are mounted near the bottom of the side.
Question 2: Where is the best place to mount the drawer slide?

Thanks for any and all help.

Mike
Most shops generally set drawer slides at the bottom and I believe this is
done strictely because it is easier to align them.

I find that they track better just above the center of the drawer,
I have been using accuride's for a good number of years and they are the
standard that alot of other companies try to copy.

As for your drawer bottom either would be fine but I would choose the ply
over the hardboard

Good luck,
George

"mike" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am building drawers to hold CDs, DVD,s and casette tapes. The outside
dimensions of the drawers are 18" wide and 15" deep. The Cd and DVD
drawers are 5" high and the casette tape drawers are 2" high. All
drawer sides, fronts and backs are made from 1/2" plywood. I have
routed a 1/4"groove on the lower inside face of all pieces to hold the
drawer bottom.
Question 1: Which would make a stronger bottom; 1/4" plywood or 1/4"
hardboard?

I also plan to use accuride drawer slides on these. In some pictures I
he slides mounted in the middle of the drawer side and in others the
slides are mounted near the bottom of the side.
Question 2: Where is the best place to mount the drawer slide?

Thanks for any and all help.

"mike" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am building drawers to hold CDs, DVD,s and casette tapes. The outside
dimensions of the drawers are 18" wide and 15" deep. The Cd and DVD
drawers are 5" high and the casette tape drawers are 2" high. All
drawer sides, fronts and backs are made from 1/2" plywood. I have
routed a 1/4"groove on the lower inside face of all pieces to hold the
drawer bottom.
Question 1: Which would make a stronger bottom; 1/4" plywood or 1/4"
hardboard?

I also plan to use accuride drawer slides on these. In some pictures I
he slides mounted in the middle of the drawer side and in others the
slides are mounted near the bottom of the side.
Question 2: Where is the best place to mount the drawer slide?

Sounds like some big span for the load. Had you considered 3/8 or 1/2 ply
for those bottoms? Ply is, of course more resistant to deformation under
pressure than hardboard. If you can stand losing a quarter inch in depth,
you could probably rabbet/rebate the plywood edges and use the same grooves
if you needed to. Else, glue your dividers to the bottom to give it a
hand.

Dumb answer, but I favor the glides at the same height as the handle. Seems
to give better control.

'round here (Upstate NY) the local lumber yard carries a 4x5 1/4" (the whole
..25 inches) 5-ply plywood product, intended for underlayment use. It's
actually much stronger than the ubiquitous "quarter inch" 3-ply luan. It's
pretty darned flat too.

IMO this would provide more than enough beef, without adding too much
weight.

-Steve



"mike" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am building drawers to hold CDs, DVD,s and casette tapes. The outside
dimensions of the drawers are 18" wide and 15" deep. The Cd and DVD
drawers are 5" high and the casette tape drawers are 2" high. All
drawer sides, fronts and backs are made from 1/2" plywood. I have
routed a 1/4"groove on the lower inside face of all pieces to hold the
drawer bottom.
Question 1: Which would make a stronger bottom; 1/4" plywood or 1/4"
hardboard?

I also plan to use accuride drawer slides on these. In some pictures I
he slides mounted in the middle of the drawer side and in others the
slides are mounted near the bottom of the side.
Question 2: Where is the best place to mount the drawer slide?

Thanks for any and all help.

"mike" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am building drawers to hold CDs, DVD,s and casette tapes. The outside
dimensions of the drawers are 18" wide and 15" deep. The Cd and DVD
drawers are 5" high and the casette tape drawers are 2" high. All
drawer sides, fronts and backs are made from 1/2" plywood. I have
routed a 1/4"groove on the lower inside face of all pieces to hold the
drawer bottom.
Question 1: Which would make a stronger bottom; 1/4" plywood or 1/4"
hardboard?

Mike I built a similar drawer but it is about 21" deep and 32" wide. I
used 1/4" hard board and it is holding up just fine fully loaded 11 years
later. I would however suggest Plywood over hard board.


I also plan to use accuride drawer slides on these. In some pictures I
he slides mounted in the middle of the drawer side and in others the
slides are mounted near the bottom of the side.
Question 2: Where is the best place to mount the drawer slide?

It does not matter where you mount the slides however I alsways mount them
at the bottom of the drawer for ease of placement when attaching the drawer
side. Additionally you can normally attach the cabinet side on the bottom
of the face frame or drawer opening providing you allow enough clearance for
the drawer to fit.

This method requires no measuring to install the slides on both the drawer
and cabinet.