I used wood drawer runners to install the 28 tiny drawers I built to hold all the tiny little craft embellishments I have accumulated over the years. I know what you’re thinking, “CRAFTS?”. Right? Yeah, I used to make a bunch of crafty projects like; handmade cards, party invitations, and lots of Halloween projects. Since we moved to TN I haven’t had a space to get crafty and all my supplies are in boxes and bins. So I’m building a space for crafting in this house. 
I find crafting small projects to be very therapeutic so I’ll be extremely happy to have a space to create. I’m also having fun creating the space in which I will create! Mostly. Building drawers and drawers and then even more drawers had me feeling coo coo crazy a few times but I’m still here!
Cutting Dado for Wood Drawer Runners
I wanted to use wood drawer runners because it is a very economical solution when you need 28 pairs of drawer glides for 28 tiny drawers. Also, I want to be able to easily pull these drawers right out of the cabinet. Then I can set the drawer full of colored buttons next to me as I create some buttony craft.
I want to take my time selecting just the right size and color of the embellishment of my choice.
In order to mount the drawers on the wood drawer runners, I cut a dado into the sides of all my drawers. One could simply slide the drawers into place on top of wood runners. However, dados make sure the drawer is properly aligned each time it is closed. This will be especially important when I install my drawer fronts. 
The dado is 1/2″ wide and about 3/16″ deep, cut right in the center of my drawer sides. I used a 1/2″ dado stack on my table saw to cut these dados. It’s definitely easiest to cut these before assembling the drawer.
I used the GRRRRRRRRR-RRRRRRRRipper pushblocks to safely apply downward pressure while pushing the material through the cut. 
These dados (obviously) go on the outside of the drawer sides. The inside is where the drawer bottom groove is cut.
I sanded each groove smooth with a sanding block I made out of a scrap of 1/2″ plywood, spray adhesive and sandpaper. Here’s a little video of that (that I shared) on Instagram.
I assembled these drawers with a locking rabbet drawer joint that I shared with you in my last post. These drawers are only 2 1/4″ tall and this method ended up being the fasted method of building so many drawers. It was a lot of repetitious cutting and sanding but with that many drawers, repetition can’t be avoided.
Wood Drawer Runners
The wood drawer runners are made out of a couple 8′ pieces of 1×4 poplar. I first planed them down to slightly less than 1/2″. Then I ripped them into -1/2″ wide strips. I want the runners to be ever so slightly smaller than the dado to make sure they glide freely.
I took the 8′ long strips up to the studio and four pairs of runners for each drawer size I had built.
These drawers are for the angled cabinets so every drawer is a different depth. I used a laser level to make sure I installed the top runner in all four cabinets on the same plane.
Use a spacer between runners to ensure they are all installed the same distance apart. The wood drawer runners are set back 3/4″ from the front of the cabinet so the drawer front will be inset. I used wood glue and 18 ga nails to secure the runners to the cabinet. 
I lightly sanded the wood drawer runners, wiped them with paste wax and then slid the drawers into place!
I added a little was to the dado on the drawers as well. Just because. They slid freely without any wax on either part but I thought, “why not” and went ahead and wax them both anyway. The runners are slightly smaller than the dado so there is a tiny bit of wiggle room so they shouldn’t get hung up.
After the first row of wood drawer runners were up the rest went really fast. I went cabinet by cabinet and installed the rest.
I’m working on the drawer fronts now.
They will be white. Of course! My goal is to have this room be a neutral background for the creativity that will happen IN IT. So I don’t want too much going on. I already have my faux brick wall, reclaimed wood picture ledge, and my chippy painted barn door. The rest of the room is going to be very monochromatic. For the most part. I think. It’s not set in stone.
I decide things as the room comes together because every phase that gets finished changes how the whole room looks and feels so it’s best not to try to plan out every detail from the beginning. Because that’s just asking to get teased about how often you change your mind. If you wait until later, you’re not changing your mind. You’re simply making decisions!
This looks GREAT!! Wow!! You have really put a lot of thought into this and have created the perfect room for crafts or whatever you want! Very impressive!
Will you be putting a stop at the back of the runner or will stop naturally at the wall and line up perfectly? (I suspect it’s the latter but I thought I would ask. Your setup is beautiful! As a quilter/crocheter/crafter, I am practically salivating while I look at your new room. Excellent job!
The drawer fronts will rest against the wood runners which will stop them at exactly the right spot. That’s why I installed the runners 3/4″ setback from the front of the cabinet faceframes.
Great drawers, that is a LOT of work!
LOL Yes but will be worth it.
Beautiful job! I SO want this creative space!
This is fabulous! I’m both envious and inspired! Obviously a ton of work and well done!
Much work but all worth it. Can’t wait to finish! 🙂
You are amazing!
I love reading and watching your vlogs about the progress of your many many projects, and love how you aren’t afraid to wait to make a desision on how to proceed sometimes even after ripping it back out a few times 😉 I have been dieing to get my projects going in this 1892 Victorian for well since 2009′ and 50K $$$ later, have decided to buy a property with 1.5 acres, and it’s only 2bd 1 bh small house but has 4 out buildings, the best part is the 40 x 54 metal building, that will be the woodworking shop and stained glass studio, Thank you for doing all the hard work, so I can learn from your experiences!! Oh and about 95% of the 50k $$$. Will be going with me since I am not renovating the Victorian, she is to far gone;(
You are a blessing and inspiration to many, I’m glad to be one of them!
Well thank you so much! So you were going to remodel the Victorian but decided to invest your time and money on a different property on land? I like this house we’re living in now but we really want more land. Have fun on your new adventure!
WOW! I’m a professional builder (http://www.loftconversionsnottingham – maybe look us up) of 12 years (approx) and I just found this blog when searching for something else. I just had to stop by and leave a comment to say – I am seriously impressed as this is not only professional work but seriously top notch professional work. You are very, very talented. Kudos. Take care.
Thank you Mark. I don’t do work for anyone but myself so don’t call myself a “Pro” in terms of “this is what I do for a living”. But…well I guess this IS what I do for a living. I build and share my projects along with tips, tricks and tutorials to help others to the same. Thank you for the nice compliment!
On the bigger drawers on the bottom, did you also use wood runners? If not what type? By the way great job, I will also be utilizing similar wood runners for my projects, thanks for inspiration.
Yes they are all on wood runners.
The fronts act as stops inward, but won’t prevent the shelves from being pulled out. I’m trying to figure out how I want to handle that bit in a mahogany humidor cabinet with 22 drawers and wooden slides. Poking around for idea on something simple.