Drawers Product Guide

Product Guide Contents

1. Dovetail Drawers Overview
2. Drawer Wood Types
3. Drawer Box Construction
4. Side Thickness Options
5. Drawer Dimensions
6. Drawer Bottoms
7. Notch and Bore Options (Undermount Slides)
8. Ears and Lips
9. Finished (Exposed) Fronts
10. Front Scoop
11. Logo Engraving
12. Custom Drawer Inserts
13. Specialty Drawers
14. Drawer Slides and Hardware
15. Assembly and Finish Options
16. Measuring for Drawers
17. Drawer Size Specifications and Tolerances
18. Effects of Moisture in Wood

Dovetail Drawers Overview

Every Eagle Woodworking drawer is a dovetail drawer box first. From that foundation, a customer may add a custom insert built into the box, or configure the box into a specialty drawer such as a double, file, U-shaped, corner, shaped-sides, bread, or trash drawer. Inserts and most specialty features are modifications of a base drawer, not separate products.

Customers may select options on our online order form to build a drawer to exact specifications. A printable PDF order form is also available, and a measuring calculator is provided on the site.

If a customer has a custom request outside the scope of the options provided in this product guide, the customer can make that request by adding 'Notes' to an online order or emailing info@eaglewoodworking.com outlining the request.

Drawer Wood Types

Our dovetail drawer boxes are crafted using clear stock selected for the visible surfaces of the drawer. Eagle Woodworking keeps the following standard wood types in stock:

• Maple (most popular)
• White Oak (1/2" in stock)
• Walnut (1/2" in stock)

Requests for wood types not listed above are available but may require longer than standard lead times. Other wood types include:

• Baltic Birch Plywood
• Hard Maple
• Cherry
• Red Oak

The species list is not exhaustive — any species can be special-ordered, with longer than standard lead times.

Drawer Box Construction

Eagle Woodworking builds every drawer box to the same construction standard:

• Joinery is half-blind (English) dovetail only. Half-blind dovetails hide the joint behind the drawer front for a clean exterior. Eagle Woodworking does not make through or sliding dovetail.
• Joinery is CNC-cut, then hand-assembled and hand-sanded to a flush top edge.
• Clear stock — free of blemishes or defects — is used on the sides, and on the front when a finished/exposed front is ordered. The front and back, normally hidden, may use non-clear pieces.
• Pieces under 6" are a single solid board. Pieces over 6" use edge-glued boards (glue-ups) for strength and stability, with each glued piece a minimum of 2" wide.
• Standard finish state is finished sides with an unfinished front and back, because a cabinet drawer front normally attaches to the front and the back stays hidden.

Side Thickness Options

Eagle Woodworking offers the following standard side thicknesses:

• 1/2" (default)
• 5/8"

Requests for thicknesses not listed above may be accommodated but may require longer than standard lead times. Other thicknesses include:

• 3/4" (any species, by special order)

Drawer Dimensions

Drawers are built to order in 1/16" increments within the following ranges:

Common drawer depths that match available slide lengths:

• Undermount: 9", 12", 15", 18", 21", 24", 27", 30"
• Sidemount: 10", 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24", 26", 28", 30"

Non-standard depths are also built.

Drawer Bottoms

Drawer bottoms are cabinet-grade plywood, and the plywood veneer matches the side wood species. Thickness ranges between 1/4" and 3/8" depending on species:

• White oak bottoms are available in 3/8" only.
• The standard bottom sits recessed 1/2" up from the bottom edge of the drawer sides (the standard "Bottom Recess"), which leaves room for an undermount slide.
• An overlay bottom — where the bottom panel is glued or stapled directly onto the underside of the sides, front, and back — is available as an alternative. Like a reduced recess, an overlay bottom leaves no room for an undermount slide.

Notch and Bore Options (Undermount Slides)

Notch and bore is a modification cut into the back of the drawer to accept an undermount slide. The required notch width depends on the slide model. This reference applies both to slides supplied by Eagle Woodworking and to slides a customer provides.

A standard 1/2" bottom recess leaves room for the undermount slide. A 3/8", flush, or overlay bottom leaves no room for an undermount slide, so those boxes cannot be notched and bored. Ordering a Movento slide applies the wider notch automatically.

Ears and Lips

Ears and lips are front extensions used to hide drawer slides.

Finished (Exposed) Fronts

A finished, or "exposed," front means Eagle Woodworking finishes the drawer front as well as the sides. It is used when no cabinet drawer front will be attached — for example, a pull-out.

• On the order form, this is the "Exposed Front" option (Finish Front = Yes).
• A finished/exposed front is not a drawer front. A drawer front is a separate product ordered on the doors order form.
• Any drawer with a scoop is automatically given a finished/exposed front, because a scoop makes the drawer a pull-out.

Front Scoop

A front scoop is a radius cut into the front of the drawer, typically used for pull-out drawers.

• The standard scoop is 4" wide x 1" deep.
• Any custom scoop design can be accommodated with a reference image.
• A scoop automatically adds a finished/exposed front.
• Scoop is its own option on the order form, so it can be combined with a drawer option on the same line.

Logo Engraving

Logo engraving is laser engraving of a logo or text, sized and placed to specification.

• Placement options: outside right (default), outside left, inside right, inside left. Note any non-default placement in the order Notes.
• The customer supplies the logo file as a black-and-white PDF or JPEG. Eagle Woodworking does not create logos.
• Logo engraving is its own option on the order form, so it can be combined with a drawer option on the same line.

Custom Drawer Inserts

Custom inserts are organizers built directly into the drawer box as one unit — a drawer with an insert built into it, not two products. The following shared facts apply to all inserts unless noted:

• Available in the standard wood species (maple, white oak, walnut; others on request with longer lead times).
• Standard divider thickness is 3/8".
• Dividers are fixed by default; removable dividers are available on request via the order Notes.
• Insert height sits approximately 1/2" to 1" below the drawer height, and inserts are typically installed in a 4"-high drawer.
• To combine inserts in one drawer, select Custom Dividers and describe the layout in the Notes; a drawing may be required.

Eagle Woodworking offers the following standard inserts:

Specialty Drawers

Specialty drawers are configured or modified boxes, made to the customer's specification. Custom shapes and designs are accommodated with a reference image.

Double Drawer — Two stacked drawers in one opening, a smaller top drawer over a bottom drawer. Eagle Woodworking adds the second drawer at the appropriate size when creating the quote or order.

File Drawer — A complete unit configured for letter- or legal-width files, with file bars oriented either front-to-back or side-to-side.

U-Shaped Drawer — A notched box that clears plumbing so the cabinet space stays usable. U-shaped drawers are always custom and require a drawing. We recommend at least 2" of clearance between piping and the drawer sides.

Corner Drawer — Built for deep corner cabinet spaces. The standard corner drawer length is 31-1/8", designed for a 27" undermount slide. Custom requests require a picture or drawing before production.

Shaped Sides — Shaped drawer sides for a more elegant pull-out. The front and back heights are always custom and must be specified by the customer. The side uses a standard shape cut by default; non-standard or tapered shapes can be requested with a reference image.

Bread Drawer — A standard drawer box with a removable sliding lid for bread, rolls, or pantry storage. There are no standard dimensions; a bread drawer is sized like any other drawer.

Trash Can Drawers — A family of drawers built so a large front or door can attach, with a removable lid that is not secured. Variants cover single or double bin, plain or with a bag compartment, and a standard or flush top.

Standard trash drawers come with no bin cutout; the customer cuts to their bin. A cutout is provided when bins are ordered or on request. All trash drawers are undermount- and sidemount-compatible.

Drawer Slides and Hardware

Drawer slides and related hardware are available as an add-on to a drawer order. Slides are not required, and Eagle Woodworking size-matches them to the drawer.

• Eagle drawers are compatible with undermount slides (notched) and ball-bearing sidemount slides (not notched).
• Push-to-open is available via Blum Movento TIP-ON slides on any drawer that meets the slide's size requirements (uses the 5" notch).
• Slide sizing is matched by Eagle Woodworking: the customer selects the slide type, and Eagle Woodworking assigns the specific slide and quantity based on the drawer depth — the largest available length that does not exceed the depth.

Ex: A 21" drawer takes a 21" slide. A 21-1/2" drawer still takes a 21" slide, because the next length up would be too long to fit.

Available slide lengths by type:

Eagle Woodworking builds a sidemount drawer at any size, and supplies sidemount slides within the catalog range of 14" to 28". For a sidemount drawer outside that range, Eagle Woodworking builds the box and the customer provides the slide. Locking devices and a rear mounting bracket are also available as add-ons with a drawer order.

Assembly and Finish Options

• Drawers ship fully assembled by default. Any drawer can be ordered unassembled on request, with no change to lead time.
• Sanding is a three-step process: sides through a side-sanding belt, two rounds of hand top-sanding to a flush top, and a final edge break after finishing.

Eagle Woodworking offers the following finish options for drawers:

• Two coats of hand-applied clear pre-catalyzed lacquer (ML Campbell) — default
• Unfinished — on request

Measuring for Drawers

Order the actual drawer-box size, not the cabinet opening. Enter dimensions in inches to the nearest 1/16", as decimals. To convert a cabinet opening to a box size, deduct for the slide as follows:

When reusing existing slides, measure the outside of the existing drawer box. Full step-by-step guidance is on our Drawer Measuring Instructions page.

Drawer Size Specifications and Tolerances

• Eagle Woodworking manufactures all wood products to the nearest 1/16" or 1.6mm, allowing for a tolerance of +/-1/32" or +/-0.8mm.
  
  
• Drawer boxes are built to the following dimensional ranges, in 1/16" increments: height 2" to 12" (surcharge over 12"), width 4" to 72", and depth 4" to 72".
  
  
• Standard side thicknesses are 1/2" and 5/8"; 3/4" is available by special order.
  
  
• Drawer bottoms range from 1/4" to 3/8" depending on species (white oak is 3/8" only), and the standard bottom recess is 1/2" up from the bottom edge.
  
  
• Joinery is half-blind (English) dovetail only. Pieces under 6" are solid; pieces over 6" use edge-glued boards with each piece a minimum of 2" wide.
  
  
• Clear stock, free of blemishes or defects, is used on the visible drawer sides and on a finished/exposed front.
  
  
• Unlike cabinet doors, dovetail drawers do not have a separate bow, warp, or twist tolerance schedule. For a drawer, being built within published specifications means the build tolerance, clear-stock selection, and glue-up construction standard above.
  
  
• Natural variation in wood grain, color, and texture is not considered a defect.
  
  
• When notch and bore is applied, the back bottom corner dovetails are not warrantied. Cutting the notch reduces the structure of that corner and increases the chance of a dovetail piece coming loose in transit. If one does come loose, it can be reattached with standard wood glue. The back bottom corner dovetail is typically not visible once the drawer is installed with standard slide hardware.

Effects of Moisture in Wood

• Solid wood products are prone to expansion and contraction as moisture and climate conditions fluctuate over time. Stable moisture levels are crucial for maintaining tight joints.
  
  
• Moisture changes can lead to effects such as panel expansion, panel contraction, joint expansion or opening (especially in miter doors), bowing of stiles, stile and rail expansion, and visible stave-to-stave lines in panels. Contraction in finished panels may also cause a "white line" effect, where a narrow strip of unfinished wood appears where the panel meets the framing.
  
  
• Wood products in humid climates are particularly vulnerable to expansion due to moisture. Eagle Woodworking does not warranty against product failure resulting from excessively humid conditions, including in waterfront properties and coastal regions.
  
  
• Environments such as indoor pools or marine applications, including nautical vessels, are considered high-humidity areas regardless of any climate control systems present.
  
  
• In contrast, wood products in dry climates are more susceptible to contraction due to low moisture levels in the air. Eagle Woodworking will not warranty against product failure caused by excessively dry conditions, such as those found in desert and mountain regions.
  
  
• Installing cabinetry in new construction before climate control is activated can cause the wood to absorb moisture from other building materials like paint, drywall compound, concrete, stucco, and wood framing with high moisture content. These materials release significant amounts of moisture during the drying/curing process.
  
  
• Wood products installed in non-air-conditioned homes, regardless of location, are highly prone to moisture-induced expansion and will not be warrantied. Stable moisture conditions are essential for all wood products to keep joints tight.
  
  
• To reduce moisture-related expansion, secondary and vacation homes should maintain some form of climate control, even during the off-season. Eagle Woodworking does not warranty products installed in environments lacking climate control.