I got so many helpful replies about a corner tv cabinet measurement, I'm
hoping there might be help to this question as well.

My plan is to build furniture for my living room, the tv cabinet was one
piece. Another is a large bookcase with a drawer for hanging files on the
bottom. There will be two of these on either side of a desk with hutch
unit. My question is about the file drawer. I would like to make a drawer
that is 11" high x 13 3/4" deep x 38 1/2" wide. This part I have already
worked out. I will have a shelf mounted directly above this drawer, that
will also slide out, for a printer and scanner to sit upon. For aesthetics,
I'd like to make the drawer face to cover both the front of the drawer, and
the slide shelf, which would make that drawer face very large - 29 1/2" high
x 40" wide. I don't think the drawer operation will be a problem, there
won't be a lot of weight and I'll get heavy duty glides. My concern is the
drawer face. Is that just too large to be practical? Any thoughts? The
drawer would likely be opened only once a day at most if that makes any
difference. On my hand sketched drawing it looks okay, but I don't want to
just rely on the drawing.
--
Melissa

"Melissa" wrote in message m...
I got so many helpful replies about a corner tv cabinet measurement, I'm
hoping there might be help to this question as well.

My plan is to build furniture for my living room, the tv cabinet was one
piece. Another is a large bookcase with a drawer for hanging files on the
bottom. There will be two of these on either side of a desk with hutch
unit. My question is about the file drawer. I would like to make a drawer
that is 11" high x 13 3/4" deep x 38 1/2" wide. This part I have already
worked out. I will have a shelf mounted directly above this drawer, that
will also slide out, for a printer and scanner to sit upon. For aesthetics,
I'd like to make the drawer face to cover both the front of the drawer, and
the slide shelf, which would make that drawer face very large - 29 1/2" high
x 40" wide. I don't think the drawer operation will be a problem, there
won't be a lot of weight and I'll get heavy duty glides. My concern is the
drawer face. Is that just too large to be practical? Any thoughts? The
drawer would likely be opened only once a day at most if that makes any
difference. On my hand sketched drawing it looks okay, but I don't want to
just rely on the drawing.

29x38 seems a bit large for a drawer front. Why not have the 11-inch
high drawer and a pair of swinging doors for the printer/scanner?
Even better (in my opinion) would be a set of pocket doors.

One humble opinion.

-Phil Crow

Whew, IMO, that seems a little big. If aesthetics is what your after, what
else is going to be that big to match? Can't you do it in 2 pieces maybe?

--
"Cartoons don't have any deep meaning.
They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh."
Homer Simpson
Jerry© The Phoneman®
"Melissa" wrote in message
...
I got so many helpful replies about a corner tv cabinet measurement, I'm
hoping there might be help to this question as well.

My plan is to build furniture for my living room, the tv cabinet was one
piece. Another is a large bookcase with a drawer for hanging files on the
bottom. There will be two of these on either side of a desk with hutch
unit. My question is about the file drawer. I would like to make a
drawer
that is 11" high x 13 3/4" deep x 38 1/2" wide. This part I have already
worked out. I will have a shelf mounted directly above this drawer, that
will also slide out, for a printer and scanner to sit upon. For
aesthetics,
I'd like to make the drawer face to cover both the front of the drawer,
and
the slide shelf, which would make that drawer face very large - 29 1/2"
high
x 40" wide. I don't think the drawer operation will be a problem, there
won't be a lot of weight and I'll get heavy duty glides. My concern is
the
drawer face. Is that just too large to be practical? Any thoughts? The
drawer would likely be opened only once a day at most if that makes any
difference. On my hand sketched drawing it looks okay, but I don't want
to
just rely on the drawing.
--
Melissa

That's a pretty large face. But more importantly, if I understand you
correctly, in order to pull out the printer shelf you would also have to
pull out the file drawer first? Won't the whole thing tip over on you?

--
Bill Pounds
http://www.bill.pounds.net/woodshop


"Melissa" wrote in message
...
I got so many helpful replies about a corner tv cabinet measurement, I'm
hoping there might be help to this question as well.

My plan is to build furniture for my living room, the tv cabinet was one
piece. Another is a large bookcase with a drawer for hanging files on the
bottom. There will be two of these on either side of a desk with hutch
unit. My question is about the file drawer. I would like to make a
drawer
that is 11" high x 13 3/4" deep x 38 1/2" wide. This part I have already
worked out. I will have a shelf mounted directly above this drawer, that
will also slide out, for a printer and scanner to sit upon. For
aesthetics,
I'd like to make the drawer face to cover both the front of the drawer,
and
the slide shelf, which would make that drawer face very large - 29 1/2"
high
x 40" wide. I don't think the drawer operation will be a problem, there
won't be a lot of weight and I'll get heavy duty glides. My concern is
the
drawer face. Is that just too large to be practical? Any thoughts? The
drawer would likely be opened only once a day at most if that makes any
difference. On my hand sketched drawing it looks okay, but I don't want
to
just rely on the drawing.
--
Melissa

Melissa,

While the size of the door you propose is big (add center mullion) but
not excessive I frankly have doubts about the design. For one thing
the file drawer is not a standard legal or letter size. Secondly the
large face will get in the way when accessing the files. Especially if
you plan to attach the printer shelf to it. Plus you will have to open
the file drawer to use the printer.

Divide them up. Make a correctly sized file drawer and use hanging
files. For the printer shelf check out the tilt down hardware like
that used for cutting boards. Another concern is the width of this
shelf. I would add a piece of finished wood to the front and back to
add more ridgidity and also to the sides in order to mount the bigger
full extension+ slides required to get the printer and scanner out
from under the top.

If the full height door look is absolutely critical for visual reasons
I would go with two separate doors that you open to access the
interior like rollouts in a kitchen. If you must get them out of the
way use pocketing hardware.

my 2 cents
Mike



"Melissa" wrote in message m...
I got so many helpful replies about a corner tv cabinet measurement, I'm
hoping there might be help to this question as well.

My plan is to build furniture for my living room, the tv cabinet was one
piece. Another is a large bookcase with a drawer for hanging files on the
bottom. There will be two of these on either side of a desk with hutch
unit. My question is about the file drawer. I would like to make a drawer
that is 11" high x 13 3/4" deep x 38 1/2" wide. This part I have already
worked out. I will have a shelf mounted directly above this drawer, that
will also slide out, for a printer and scanner to sit upon. For aesthetics,
I'd like to make the drawer face to cover both the front of the drawer, and
the slide shelf, which would make that drawer face very large - 29 1/2" high
x 40" wide. I don't think the drawer operation will be a problem, there
won't be a lot of weight and I'll get heavy duty glides. My concern is the
drawer face. Is that just too large to be practical? Any thoughts? The
drawer would likely be opened only once a day at most if that makes any
difference. On my hand sketched drawing it looks okay, but I don't want to
just rely on the drawing.

"Mike" wrote in message snipped
If the full height door look is absolutely critical for visual reasons
I would go with two separate doors that you open to access the
interior like rollouts in a kitchen. If you must get them out of the
way use pocketing hardware.

my 2 cents
Mike


Thanks for all the suggestions guys, this is just what I needed to hear. It
seemed large to me as well, but also seemed more workable than it apparently
would be. I think I'm going to try the suggestion above, but have decided
that instead of having the large drawer on the bottom, that I will just put
two large pull out shelves (with the reinforcement you described) with file
crates placed upon one and the other still for the printer/scanner. I think
this will give more flexibility in the future. In case anyone was curious,
I wanted a drawer front as I would be accessing the files from the side,
rather than the front, and thought that would be easier, but the
pocket/sliding door should accomplish the same thing. And I just thought
the one solid piece would look nicer, but the desk hutch next to it would
have doors anyway, so.... Thanks so much for helping me think this planning
stage through. Per Bill's concern about tipping, we have young children, so
already planned on attatching to the wall with brackets, but a good reminder
nonetheless. Thanks!

--

Melissa