Stop droopy drawers

Overfilling drawers can cause their bottoms to sag or even pop loose, as shown right, especially when the panel is a thin material, such as ¹⁄₄ " plywood. Fortunately, you don't need to rebuild the drawer —just make a quick fix. Here's how.

Begin by popping the bottom panel back into its grooves. Then add a clamp or two to hold it securely. Measure the distance from the back of the drawer front to the back of the drawer, and cut scrapwood strips to length and 2-3" wide -- one for each end and two or three in the middle, spaced no more than 6" apart, as shown at below. Thickness-plane them to fit flush with the drawer sides and front so they won't catch. Glue and fasten the strips to the bottom panel, along the sides, and to the front and back with brads or screws.

If the bottom won't stay in the grooves, or if they're broken away and you need added strength and rigidity, reinforce the bottom panel with a plywood panel cut to fit perfectly between the drawer front, sides, and back, as shown below. Use the thickest plywood you can that won't protrude below the drawer's sides. With the original panel back in its grooves, glue the new panel to it and secure it on all four sides with screws.