Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
Bill Kraetz
Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
the top.
I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
or point me to the article?
Thanks, Bill
Richard Grimlund
In addition to a variety of bizzare examples, the Taunton Press book
Designing Furniture ... by Seth Stem has a rather extensive treatment of
using the golden rule for chests, etc. Richard Grimlund
Eric Phillips
Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> wrote:
>Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
>designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
>to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
>the top.
>
>I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
>need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
>or point me to the article?
>
>Thanks, Bill
Please post here! I haven't seen "the Rule", but would like to.
thx...Eric
god...@perfom.enet.dec.com
Pick the size of the top drawer. Each drawer afterward is height of previous
drawer + the thickness of the drawer blade.
Mitch Favreau
In article <32414A...@datacard.com> Bill Kraetz,
bill_...@datacard.com writes:
>I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
>need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
>or point me to the article?
>
I think it was in Home Furniture within the last year
Mitch
Dan Schkolnik
Whassa drawer blade?
Filipovic
Bill Kraetz wrote:
>
> Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
> designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
> to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
> the top.
>
> need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
> or point me to the article?
>
Bill,
Fine Woodworking's "Home Furniture" magazine, summer 1996 issue #7. has
the info you are looking for.
The article is on pages 14 and 15, title: "The Drawing Board: Using the
Fibonacci Series to Proportion Furniture.
The article also refers to HF #3, p.10 and HF #5, p.14.
Their phone number is 800-283-7252.
Hope this helps.
Omar Filipovic
Sherman Paskett
In article <j.newman.2...@info.curtin.edu.au> j.ne...@info.curtin.edu.au (John Newman) writes:
>From: j.ne...@info.curtin.edu.au (John Newman)
>Subject: Re: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
>Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 02:20:34 GMT
>Keywords: fibonacci
>In article <32414A...@datacard.com> Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> writes:
>>From: Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com>
>>Subject: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
>>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 08:26:36 -0500
>>Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
>>designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
>>to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
>>the top.
>>I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
>>need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
>>or point me to the article?
>One rule often used is the fibonacci series.
>Drawer depth top to bottom:
>1
>2
>3
>5
>8
>13
>etc
<snip>
For the non-mathematically inclined, any number is the sum of the previous 2.
But I retain the belief that dresser drawers were made before the Fibonacci
series.
I follow Weger's Rule (college drafting teacher): "If it looks right, it must
be right." In woodworking, at least, it hasn't failed me.
My opinions, of course.
---------------------------
| Sherman Paskett |
| Working with wood a lot |
| less than I like, in |
| Scottsdale, Arizona |
---------------------------
hau...@mbi.org
In article <32414A...@datacard.com> Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> writes:
>From: Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com>
>Subject: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 08:26:36 -0500
>Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
>designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
>to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
>the top.
It's funny how people are sometimes so uncomfortable designing things that
they look for plans and 'rules'. I once built a chest with random-width
drawers, including some taller drawers above shorter ones. I love the
looke of it.
The last chest I made I used the gradually-increasing-as-you-go-down drawers,
but I did NOT use a constant increase. The point is, use what you like. If
it's well made and designed, the exact drawer heights won't make a difference.
And, perfectly proportioned drawers won't help the look of an otherwise
crappy design.
Rich
Just say the last thing I want my furniture to look like is furniture-store
crap, anyway.
John Newman
In article <32414A...@datacard.com> Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> writes:
>From: Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com>
>Subject: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 08:26:36 -0500
>Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
>designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
>to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
>the top.
>I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
>need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
>or point me to the article?
One rule often used is the fibonacci series.
Drawer depth top to bottom:
1
2
3
5
8
13
etc
If you want to know more, Alta Vista turned up 9687 references!
Intrigued? Have a look at:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibpuzzles.html
John
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\ John Newman J.Ne...@info.curtin.edu.au /
/ Computing Centre, "There is less to this \
\ Curtin University, than meets the eye." /
/ Perth, Western Australia - Tallulah Bankhead. \
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Michael John Hide
Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> wrote:
;Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
;designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to
technique
;to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
;the top.
;I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
;need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the
rule
;or point me to the article?
;Thanks, Bill
Some time ago i looked for some kind of geometric progression ,some
formula to graduate drawers . Looking at 18 th century furniture the
drawer graduation allways looked so good .Needless to say I did not
have any luck .
Again thinking about it most cabinetmakers of the day did not have
highly technical educations ,so ,i reasoned it must be some thing
fairly simple .Talking to a friend who makes good stuff he suggested
the following ,and it seems to work
the second drawer depth is the depth of the first plus the drawer
divider ,usually an inch .The third is the second plus the divider
,and so on .
So using 1 inch as the divider and lets say you are making a 4 drawer
chest and lets say the drawer opening is 29 inches deep
let the top drawer=A
#2 =A+1
#3 =A+2
#4 =A+3
This =4A+6
now add the drawer dividers [3] =3
=4A+9=cavity opening =29 [specified]
therefore 4A=29-9=20
A=5 inches
It follows that drawer #2=A+1 =6 inches etc
hope this helps mjh
Kevin Miller
In article <51s2ka$3...@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, god...@perfom.enet.dec.com says...
;
;Pick the size of the top drawer. Each drawer afterward is height of previous
;drawer + the thickness of the drawer blade.
;
;In article <32414A...@datacard.com>, Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> writes:
;|> designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
;|> to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
;|> the top.
;|>
;|> I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
;|> need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
;|> or point me to the article?
;|>
;|> Thanks, Bill
The article was in Home Furniture, either the spring or summer edition. It
was a good article - compared the close results you get w/the golden section
and the Fibonacci Series...
...Kevin
Richard Moore
I am planning to build a display cabinet that I would like to have
glass shelves in. Does anyone know where I might find some guidelines
regarding glass thickness versus shelf size and support needed?
Any help will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Rich
Steve knight
rdmo...@ix.netcom.com(Richard Moore) wrote:
>I am planning to build a display cabinet that I would like to have
>glass shelves in. Does anyone know where I might find some guidelines
>regarding glass thickness versus shelf size and support needed?
Run to the nearest glass store and ask/buy what you need.
"Tools are made to be used and great tools are made to be used by great craftsmen"
Larry Jaques
god...@perfom.enet.dec.com () wrote:
>Pick the size of the top drawer. Each drawer afterward is height of previous
>drawer + the thickness of the drawer blade.
Ok, now what the hell is a "drawer blade"???
================================================
Save the Endangered Boullions from being cubed!
http://www.diversify.com/~ljaques/index.html
===============================================
Michael John Hide
lja...@diversify.com (Larry Jaques) wrote:
;god...@perfom.enet.dec.com () wrote:
how about drawer divider ,the piece between the drawers
Bob Kane
In article <shermanp.7...@terrestrial.com>, sher...@terrestrial.com (Sherman Paskett) writes:
|> In article <j.newman.2...@info.curtin.edu.au> j.ne...@info.curtin.edu.au (John Newman) writes:
|> >From: j.ne...@info.curtin.edu.au (John Newman)
|> >Subject: Re: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
|> >Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 02:20:34 GMT
|> >Keywords: fibonacci
|>
|> >In article <32414A...@datacard.com> Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com> writes:
|> >>From: Bill Kraetz <bill_...@datacard.com>
|> >>Subject: Golden rule for dresser drawer design?
|> >>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 08:26:36 -0500
|>
|> >>Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
|> >>designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
|> >>to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
|> >>the top.
|>
|> >>I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
|> >>need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
|> >>or point me to the article?
|>
|> >One rule often used is the fibonacci series.
|>
|> >Drawer depth top to bottom:
|> >1
|> >2
|> >3
|> >5
|> >8
|> >13
|> >etc
|>
|> <snip>
|> For the non-mathematically inclined, any number is the sum of the previous 2.
|> But I retain the belief that dresser drawers were made before the Fibonacci
|> series.
|>
|> I follow Weger's Rule (college drafting teacher): "If it looks right, it must
|> be right." In woodworking, at least, it hasn't failed me.
|>
|> My opinions, of course.
|> ---------------------------
|> | Sherman Paskett |
|> | Working with wood a lot |
|> | less than I like, in |
|> | Scottsdale, Arizona |
|> ---------------------------
What looks right to me: the old rule that the height of a drawer is the sum of
the height of the drawer above plus the thickness of the blade. YMMV.
Bill Petree
Bill Kraetz wrote:
>
> Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
> designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to technique
> to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
> the top.
>
> I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
> need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the rule
> or point me to the article?
>
The "Golden Rectangle" is a ratio of 1:1.618.
Bill P.
Alden Miller
I haven't checked in lately so if this has already been posted I am
truly sorry for wasting your time. The article you are looking for I
think is in Home Furniture's Summer 1995 issue in "The Drawing Board"
page 10. The Winter 1995 edition has an article on Hambridge Rectangles
for determining the dimensions of graduated drawers for a chest/bureau.
And the Summer 1996 issue has an article on using The Fibonacci Series
1,2,3,5,8,13,... to proportion furniture very closely to the golden
section or rule.
Mort Tenon
Bill Kraetz wrote:
>
> Some time ago I ran across an article laying out a "golden rule" when
> designing a chest of drawers. There was a geometric layout to
technique
> to size the drawers, graduating from large at the bottom to small on
> the top.
>
> I need to rediscover this rule. I can't seem to find the article and
> need the knowledge to design a bedroom set. Can anyone recall the
rule
> or point me to the article?
>
> Thanks, BillBill,
Visual Handbook", a Rodale book by Jon Arno.
Mort Tenon
Woodshop Notebook
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/8108