Storage Cabinet Drawers

[JimPSr]

Hello all, I'm pretty new to woodworking (by no means do I consider myself a woodworker) and this is my first post in this forum. Please forgive what I'm sure is a very basic question. I'm building a shop storage cabinet with drawers and shelves (no plans except for my own). It's going to be 16 inches deep. How much shorter than 16 inches should I make the drawers? Also, I plan to use full extension slides. What length slides should I use?

Thanks for any answers.

[Coop]

I suggest reconsidering a 16" deep cabinet, unless you're stuck with that deminision. That will give you a 12" or 14" at the most, deep drawer.

[JimPSr]

Thanks! Yes, I've already starting building the cabinet, so I'm stuck with the 16 inches. As far as the 12" or 14" dimension goes, is that because of the availability of slides in those lengths?

[wdwerker]

If you can't get 16" slides(which usually measure 15 3/4" ). You can get 14" slides with overtravel ( which pull out an extra inch). I leave at least a 1/4" gap behind drawers. Make sure to allow for any protrusions inside the cabinet like a  nailer strip , plumbing or wiring.

Is your cabinet 16" deep on the exterior and the interior ? Measure the interior , make sure to allow for the back.

[JimPSr]

Thanks for the reply. The depth of the cabinet is 16" from the inside of the back panel to the front edge.

[Ronn W]

Make the drawers as deep as you can.