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Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Supplier to finish the entire drawer?

6/23/22       
Joseph P Werle Member

I have always made and finished my cabinet drawers in house. By finished I mean the entire box.
I decided recently to try ordering my boxes. Fully assembled and fully finished.
But to my surprise, the company I ordered from, not only did not spray the bottom of the boxes they left the bottom edges of the front, back, and sides rough cut, un-sanded and unfinished. Thus the edges still have a sharp edge. Looks and feels terrible.
I spoke with their customer service and was told that is their normal procedure. I must say I was very surprised.
Am I expecting too much? Is this normal for drawer orders?

6/23/22       #2: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Bruce H

That is why I don't outsource anything. Manufacturing mentality is "good enough" If you buy it they will continue to make it. That said, I wouldn't finish the bottom of the drawer but would sand the exposed edges enough to break the sharp.

6/23/22       #3: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
RichC

They don't have a product description on the order blank? Or on the website? I wouldn't assume anything when placing an order.

6/23/22       #4: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
RichC

They don't have a product description on the order blank? Or on the website? I wouldn't assume anything when placing an order. Did you order from them because of the price point? If they are making contractor grade, then what you got is normal.

6/23/22       #5: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Joseph P Werle Member

Your right. I should of known better. I just assumed when the local rep said they would be completely finished and ready for install, that this meant finished my way, since he inspected my drawers..
In all my years of cabinet making I have never run across cabinets where solid wood drawers were not finished on the bottom. Sad thing is they were 2 months late providing them. Promised in 18 business days. I guess that means 18 + two months. Claimed supply problems.
Live and learn. Back to making and spraying them in house.

6/23/22       #6: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Mark B Member

Why would you spray finish, denib/scuff and second coat the BOTTOM of a drawer? If your that anal and your customers are truly paying you and value that service, you would never consider outsourcing in the first place because NO ONE will satisfy you other than you?

Who in their right mind finishes the bottom of a.drawer box? Bespoke one of kitchens that cost $1000/ft that the customer.never touches only their staff?

Get a grip. If your finishing your bottoms your doing it for yourself at a loss.

6/25/22       #7: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Tom Gardiner

Mark B
Ouch! I spray the bottoms and yes, it is for myself. No customer has ever mentioned the drawers let alone the finishing of the bottoms. But then again I charge about $1000 a foot installed.

6/26/22       #8: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Adam

Joseph,

I had a similar experience many years ago when we started outsourcing drawers. One of the suppliers sent us a drawer that had obviously been run thru the wide belt and sprayed. They hadn't even broken the bottom edge. It was very sharp.

They had figured out that they could make a significant profit by not finishing the bottoms. Some customers complained and others didn't care. When you did the math they were putting the money in their pocket. The lower price wasn't much lower if at all.

We had one company that would put such a light coat of finish on that it soaked into the end grain of the dovetails. They offered an upcharge to put "extra" finish on. I remember laughing at the guy.

It's definitely worth shopping drawer companies until you find one that fits your needs. Cost of the drawers, timeliness, quality, and the shipping cost is all over the place.

Mark B,

Our Archs, Builders & Designers wouldn't send us work if they saw unfinished bottoms of drawers. It's not about being anal. It's what one's market demands. These people are not looking for the least expensive product. Quality, timeliness, cost in that order.

6/28/22       #9: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Adam

I build all my dovetail boxes in house, Solid maple, they are sprayed on the inside, 2 side walls and all top edges, I break the side walls and the top edges. I see no point in spraying any other surfaces

7/7/22       #10: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Joseph P Werle Member

Thank You to all who responded.

I have truly been educated on what is happening in the cabinet business outside of my little corner. I have been making and spraying my own drawers for well over 20 years now and it never occurred to me that leaving the bottoms unfinished was acceptable. I suppose it's because I would never accept that for myself. Before I agree to take on a job, I show my clients samples of every part to include finishes. Prevents confusion on their part.
Now that I am considering slowing down some, I hoped to be able to relax a little bit more by having the Drawers and Doors made for me. But the delays alone would never work. This company was very late and refused to talk to me about the delays once their promised date was passed.

So I'll go back to the way that works for me. Thanks again for the input.

7/7/22       #12: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Mark B Member

Finishing the bottom of a drawer box or finishing the bottoms of your cabinets or the undersides of counter tops etc is all perfectly fine if your being paid for it. I think thats great. But if your doing it just because its what you insist on doing for cabinets coming out of your shop that are being shopped against other shops that arent providing the same your just throwing money away.

I dont mean to beat it to death but my guess is if there were a line item adder on your bid for finished undersides on drawers I would almost guarantee you no one will check that box.

Its something the cabinet maker does for their own satisfaction.

7/21/22       #13: Am I wrong to expect a Drawer Suppl ...
Mr Fee Member

Not normal for me or either of our drawer suppliers


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