joemichaels70 wrote:NewBox.gif
now, if i could just figure out some way to keep the drawers from sliding out when i'm hauling it around...
how about you guys? what do you use?
My Grandfather made my Father a chest with multiple drawers and a lid hinged top. I seem to recall open the top and inserting small metal rods into these holes that somehow secured all the drawers from opening...
Looking at the new box I see several options for securing the drawers.
1) The bungie cord method already mentioned. The problem with that is if you let go off the cord ends you could injure yourself or scratch the box itself.
2) Rubber bands mentioned already. They could break or even worse could break and cause you to lose the entire drawer.
3) A bracket. If you are willing too, I would suggest finding a piece of bendable metal and making a piece to secure all the drawers. Using your dremel, I would cut a notch someplace near the middle under the bottom drawer. One end of the bar would be bent to fit in that notch and then could go up the front and be secured by the overhead lid (think a crowbar caught under the bottom drawer and secured at the top).
4) Pivot catches. Using small but strong pieces of metal I would drill a hole into the sides of the box itself. Then screw the pieces of metal into the hole. When you want to secure the drawers you simply turn the pieces (like advancing the hands of a clock from the 12 to the 3 and 9 positions). I don't think the wood is thick enough for this method though.
5) Thumbtacks. Not the flat head ones but the pushpin ones. Simply place the tacks into the sides parallel to the drawers and push in. I don't think the sides stick out past the drawers to do this.
My only other idea would be to carefully take out the bottom drawer and glue thin fabric straps on both sides of middle. Then put the drawer back in. Figure out where the point of the fabric strap when pulled taunt will fit over the edge where the top lid comes down. Make a knot or some other type of mechanism to keep the strap from getting loose (like a snap button right inside the box). When the bottom drawer shuts then pull the straps tight and place in the lid. Since you are securing the lid with the locking features the straps would keep the drawers from sliding out, depending on how taunt it was.
I suppose the straps could be secured on the bottom of the box itself to prevent the tightness of the straps from pulling the drawers up and breaking their runners...
...or use velcro straps in some way to do this...
...or even small straps around the sides and fastening on the front...
