Drawers difficult to slide on and out on antique dressers: solution?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I have had this set almost all my life, so it has great sentimental value. It’s walnut on the outside, but the drawers seem to be oak sides. It was old when my parents bought it for me as a child.

The antique set has very deep drawers, with a wooden “glide” on the base. They are both hard to pull out, and even harder to push back in. If I don’t get them absolutely perfectly lined up, they stick and I end up having to pull them out and try again. Half the times I still don’t get it and the drawer ends up being left sticking slightly out. Which is a great disincentive to use them.

I find I actually go to a more modern set (now 30 years old, LOL) in my now disused son’s room for clothes, because those drawers go in and out easier, even though they have the same, single wooden glide in the base. They might work better because they are newer: but also I think because the drawers are shallow and hold less, therefore weigh much less.

When I first brought it to this house 30 years ago from my parents’, I used blocks of canning wax rubbed on the runners. I believe I’ve done it a couple of times since.

There might be some better solution that I don’t know about.

Part 2 of my question: I will probably re-post this in the Organizing forums, but maybe those of you with antique sets have solved this already.

The drawers are very deep. How can I make them more user-friendly? No matter how I fold my clothes, they are soon messed up when I have to delve down to the bottom to look for something. I tried rolling the clothes and standing them up, but even that way they get messed up when I dig too. You can find drawer organizers, but all the ones I’d seen are shallow too, plus made with small compartments for things like individual sock pairs. Not where I’m at.

Featured Answer

lindac92

6 years ago

I'd love to see a picture....I suspect it's an Empire style dresser from about 1830 to 1850...
The chest that I have that my great great grandfather made has a similar problem....and sometime someons put brass headed thumb tacks on the drawer sides where it slid on the body of the chest.
Also, mine is so worn sown on the slider part that the 1/16 inch of the thumb tack helps it fit. Closed there is a 1/3 inch gap at the top of the drawer.
Also, the thing in the center of the drawer that is supposed to glide between to pieces of wood on the chest itself....perhaps they are out of alignment.
And the old solution was either parrafin, candlewax or soap.
As how to combat the jumble....hmmm...mine now holds family pictures, but growing up it was the hat, scarf, mittens and a shawl to wrap up in while watching TV....
But how about purses/ Sweat shirts....or even extra linens....and use your linen closet for folded sweaters.

Comments (9)

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
6 years ago
I have no pics, unfortunately. And my creaky old computer now will not recognize my camera. I don't think it's nearly that old, though. Someone had a matching piece on this forum once and it was IDd to early 20th century, as I recall.

I probably need to rub the wax on the glides more often. Of course, that means I need to unload those deep drawers, which is why it doesn't get done very often.

Which is better? A candle stub, the canning wax, or soap?

My linen closet is terrible: I need to re-do that too: very deep, very hard to get anything without a pile falling out. Even though I have put plastic tubs on each shelf. I desperately need ANOTHER linen closet, actually.

I maybe could put blankets or afghans in the worst dresser for the summer. But that still leaves pajamas, etc., homeless.
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As to a number, I would say a dresser like this in my area would go for about $120-150 on craigslist, perhaps double that in a store, but of course if you consign it in a store you only get half that anyway. You could always try asking a little higher to start with. It is unusual with respect to size and format, but ironically that doesn't necessarily increase its value; rather, it reduces the size of the pool of potential buyers. So an antique or vintage consignment store might not be that eager to take it because it might sit for a while before selling. But just asking such a store if they would take it will often tell you all you need to know. I do think it's quite cool, but not to the extent that I would pay more for it than for any dresser that I like - especially given that I would feel it necessary to correct that drawer sag problem to use it. KarinL
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Waxing the slides is a good solution, you will have to repeat it periodically. I have fixed wooden drawer slides (if the wood slides or drawer sides are in good enough shape) by using a pvc strip to create a semi-permanent sliding surface. A good source is "V-flex" type window and door weatherization gasket strips. These are flat pvc strips that are sold to weatherize doors and windows. One half of the strip has an aggressive adhesive; you fold the strips in half to create a weatherproof seal. I cut the non-adhesive backed side off and use the remaining side with the adhesive on either the drawer bottom or dresser slide. You will need to clean the wood surface of any dust and wax before applying the strip. Either maintaining a wax or pvc slide will also eliminate the erosion of both wood drawer bottom and slide that happens to old drawers over time. Eventually the wear will cause the drawer to tilt backwards when closed and can even wear away clear to the drawer bottom panel.
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sheilajoyce_gw
6 years ago
The drawers will slide along better if the tracks are lubricated. You can rub a dry bar of bath soap over the tracks and the part of the drawer that slides into the tracks, or you can use an old candle stub. My father always fixed our drawers with a bar of soap.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked sheilajoyce_gw
jemdandy
6 years ago
I believe that canning wax is actually paraffin. Try a lubricant for auto door latches. Its available in stick form held inside a metal sleeve. Look for it in auto parts supply and hardware stores.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked jemdandy
lindac92
6 years ago
And you don't have to undo the drawers....pull it out almost all the way and wax up the bottom.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
Old candles or beeswax works better than soap, IMPE.

Canning wax is basically the same thing as candle wax - unless it's a soy candle, I guess.

Maybe you could use some shallow plastic or wood boxes/trays to compartmentalize stuff? Try looking @ crafting storage...
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
6 years ago
Canning wax is pure paraffin: at least that's what it says on the box. I find it much harder than candles. For this use, I don't know if hard wax or soft wax are better.
voila
6 years ago
There is a product that I have not personally used, but seems to get very good reviews for lubricating wooden drawer guides. It is named Slideez, made by Behlen, which is a part of Mohawk it appears. I did not attach a link because the page included a wide variety of lubricants (personal lubricants). 8-)
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked voila
lindac92
6 years ago
Hard waxes will last longer and be "slippery-ier"
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked lindac92

Drawers difficult to slide on and out on antique dressers: solution?

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Drawers difficult to slide on and out on antique dressers: solution?

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