I need drawers for the various work benches I've made. I figured I'd add one to my router table.

Step 1:

Welcome to my little shop build of a drawer for my router table. I'm an old-timer. What I build is not necessarily pretty, but it is functional. I gathered material for this project by dumpster diving and coming home with a beat-up pallet which I dismantled. I even glued together one of the split boards.

Step 2: HOW BIG?

I measured half the width of the front and the full depth of the area where the drawer would go. Why half the width? I'm going to build a deeper drawer later for the other half to fit my router and other larger items.

Step 3: THE DRAWER GUIDES

Being frugal, I didn't buy drawer guides. I made them. I measured between the fork lift slots and cut pieces to act as drawer guides from front to back of the router table. I trimmed them to the same size.

Step 4: DRAWER GUIDES

I ripped down some thinner pieces and glued and screwed them to the bottom of each board to create the letter L to act as the guides.

Step 5: I INSTALLED THEM

I installed them making sure they were square to the front of the work bench. One I screwed right to the side frame; the other I used pocket screws.

Step 6: TILT STOPPER

Without attached tracks this drawer will tilt down when opened fully. I installed a tilt stopper. Once the drawer goes in I will add a spacer on the very top back of the drawer to close any tilt gap.

Step 7: DRAWER PIECES

I cut fronts and sides for the drawer and tested their fit. I labeled them in chalk to keep track. Being an old-timer I don't trust things to memory.

Step 8: THE DRAWER

I assembled the drawer, found a piece of 1/4" in my lumber cart, routed a rabbet in the bottom of the drawer and installed the bottom with glue and screws. Notice, instead of squaring off the corners of the rabbet I simplified the fit by 45ing the corners of the bottom.

Step 9: DRAWER FACE

I selected a wider piece to act as the drawer face. Cut it to fit and glued and screwed it in place. Now I had a place for my router bits and small parts.