Accomplishing simple household tasks-filter
May 3, 2011 12:13 PM Subscribe
I am a helpless baby and I cannot open a simple drawer. Please advise.
The top drawer on a built-in bureau in my apartment has been utterly stuck for the last few months. I can't go behind it, there's nothing to disassemble, and I'm reluctant to start jamming metal things into the available cracks. Removing the drawer beneath it accomplishes nothing other than revealing the plywood bottom of the stuck drawer. (There are no runners or moving parts of any kind -- it's just a big wooden box in a slot.) Normally I would just ask my landlord to handle it but there's stuff in there that he Must Not See. Here is a picture of the stuck drawer. It does not jiggle or move at all.
The top drawer on a built-in bureau in my apartment has been utterly stuck for the last few months. I can't go behind it, there's nothing to disassemble, and I'm reluctant to start jamming metal things into the available cracks. Removing the drawer beneath it accomplishes nothing other than revealing the plywood bottom of the stuck drawer. (There are no runners or moving parts of any kind -- it's just a big wooden box in a slot.) Normally I would just ask my landlord to handle it but there's stuff in there that he Must Not See. Here is a picture of the stuck drawer. It does not jiggle or move at all.
It may be in at a bad angle. Can you not try to move the drawer laterally, either from underneath or by pulling alternate sides from the front? If you can achieve a better alignment between drawer and chest, you might be able to open it then.
posted by cross_impact at 12:20 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by cross_impact at 12:20 PM on May 3, 2011
Response by poster: Yes, I would like to get the drawer unstuck by myself. My "yanking on it really really hard" technique has not worked so far and I'd like to know if anyone has any other ideas.
posted by theodolite at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by theodolite at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
You can see from the picture the telltale signs of previous jammed in metal things used to pry it open. Why not do as your predecessors did?
posted by Obscure Reference at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by Obscure Reference at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
Is the drawer very full? Sometimes, although I've only noticed it with kitchen utensil drawers, something in the drawer can get wedged against the top or front of the bureau and stop it from opening. The trick in that case is to slide something like a long steel ruler along the top of the drawer to dislodge the offending item.
Another possibility is that the drawer is not sitting straight in the bureau. If the gap along the top or bottom isn't uniform, sometimes wedging something underneath on one side can bring the drawer level and get it unstuck.
Also, lifting the bottom or one side of the drawer fromn underneath while someone else pulls may help.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another possibility is that the drawer is not sitting straight in the bureau. If the gap along the top or bottom isn't uniform, sometimes wedging something underneath on one side can bring the drawer level and get it unstuck.
Also, lifting the bottom or one side of the drawer fromn underneath while someone else pulls may help.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
So, I had this exact issue in a kitchen once. The drawer had been painted so many times that it eventually wouldn't open. I had to use a screwdriver to get leverage to unstick the paint to open the drawer, and then sand down and soap up the edges where the paint buildup was.
posted by Zophi at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by Zophi at 12:21 PM on May 3, 2011
This looks like a job for carefully placed butter knives, to me. It looks like the corner in the picture is already messed up from previous tenants' experiments- I'd go for it if I were you.
posted by charmedimsure at 12:22 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by charmedimsure at 12:22 PM on May 3, 2011
What is in the drawer? Just clothing? If there are hard objects in it one could be sticking up in such a way that it's keeping it from being open. Stick something flat (a thin metal ruler) into the top slot and fish around to see if anything catches.
Is there an open back or bottom to the unit that would let you access the drawer from the back?
If it's stuck due to heat expansion I might whack it a few times with a rubber mallet or shoe.
posted by bondcliff at 12:24 PM on May 3, 2011
Is there an open back or bottom to the unit that would let you access the drawer from the back?
If it's stuck due to heat expansion I might whack it a few times with a rubber mallet or shoe.
posted by bondcliff at 12:24 PM on May 3, 2011
A little WD-40 might help. Also, is it very humid in your place? Maybe it's swelled up and stuck from that? Maybe a dehumidifier could help remedy that?
posted by Gator at 12:25 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Gator at 12:25 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Take the other drawers out. Once that's done, place the dresser face down on the floor, and put a little (or a lot of) jiggle pressure on the back of the thing. If that doesn't help, wail on it.
Once the drawer/s are out, rub a bar of paraffin along the slots where the drawer sides go.
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:26 PM on May 3, 2011
Once the drawer/s are out, rub a bar of paraffin along the slots where the drawer sides go.
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:26 PM on May 3, 2011
Air conditioning and tipping the whole thing on either side? Take the other drawers out first.
posted by vitabellosi at 12:33 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by vitabellosi at 12:33 PM on May 3, 2011
Since it seems wedged in and overpainted, whack it with a rubber mallet (or any other heavy object wrapped in a cloth) to try and knock it loose.
posted by Mercaptan at 12:34 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by Mercaptan at 12:34 PM on May 3, 2011
If you take out the drawer below, can you get to the back of the stuck drawer? I know you said you could see the bottom of the drawer--would it be possible to jam something behind the top drawer (crowbar, etc) and lever it out with force from the back?
Otherwise, if you're really stuck and the only important thing is to open the drawer, can you drill through the front, and insert toggle hooks and just really yank that fucker out? It may destroy the drawer, but if you need your [redacted] and you can't ask the landlord for help, it may be worth the cost of getting the drawer fixed rather than get busted for having a whole lot of [redacted]. You may even be able to do the fix yourself.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:35 PM on May 3, 2011
Otherwise, if you're really stuck and the only important thing is to open the drawer, can you drill through the front, and insert toggle hooks and just really yank that fucker out? It may destroy the drawer, but if you need your [redacted] and you can't ask the landlord for help, it may be worth the cost of getting the drawer fixed rather than get busted for having a whole lot of [redacted]. You may even be able to do the fix yourself.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:35 PM on May 3, 2011
Is this a built-in? Sounds like it.
1. Violent rattling. Remove drawer underneath and whack at the underside of this one with a rubber mallet, preferably near the edges.
2. Leverage. Remove drawer underneath and insert pry bar between the back of this drawer and the bureau's back panel. This may cause the back panel to pop out though.
3. Leverage part 2: get a very fine pry bar and insert between the bottom of this drawer and the face frame. Should cause something to come loose.
posted by adamrice at 12:36 PM on May 3, 2011
1. Violent rattling. Remove drawer underneath and whack at the underside of this one with a rubber mallet, preferably near the edges.
2. Leverage. Remove drawer underneath and insert pry bar between the back of this drawer and the bureau's back panel. This may cause the back panel to pop out though.
3. Leverage part 2: get a very fine pry bar and insert between the bottom of this drawer and the face frame. Should cause something to come loose.
posted by adamrice at 12:36 PM on May 3, 2011
You might not even have to drill through the front. If those are screws holding the handles in, you can take off the handle and use the existing screw holes (or possibly poke through with something if something is lodged in the drawer holding it shut).
posted by mikepop at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by mikepop at 12:38 PM on May 3, 2011
If it is the humidity (and not something jamming it closed), placing a high-wattage bulb in the drawer beneath might dry out the wood. I saw this in an old book on housekeeping; the lightbulb was screwed into a kind of flat-bottomed porcelain socket so it had the clearance to sit upright.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:40 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:40 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Adding to the other suggestions.....my first thought upon seeing the old wood and lotsa paint jobs is that humidity may be a factor here. Dehumidify the HECK out of the room and make it as dry and cold as possible and then try again to open it. Good Luck!
posted by labwench at 12:41 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by labwench at 12:41 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
When you do get it out, you might lightly sand the edges and then rub them with the edge of a wax candle in order to help prevent this from happening again. Good luck!
posted by padraigin at 12:41 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by padraigin at 12:41 PM on May 3, 2011
Response by poster: A lot of good ideas here. I particularly like Greg Nog's suggestion since it allows for the possibility of my catapulting a metal fixture directly into my face. Yes, the drawer is completely built into the wall -- there's no way to tip anything over. I don't think humidity is a problem. I believe that the drawer is not sitting straight, since it's absolutely dead flush with the frame on the lower right and the upper left. It looks like some combination of metal-object-jimmying and rubber-mallet-whacking is the way to go. Does anyone have more specific advice along those lines? I envision myself putting the handle of a butter knife in the larger crack at the top left but I don't know where to go from there.
posted by theodolite at 12:49 PM on May 3, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 12:49 PM on May 3, 2011 [2 favorites]
Don't pull it out more, you'll wedge it more. From the look of it, your left side there is pulled out a few millimeters more than the right? Before trying anything else, I would give the left side there a good sharp hit inward with the heel of my hand, and see if it dislodges it.
posted by mhoye at 1:03 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by mhoye at 1:03 PM on May 3, 2011
From the pic, it looks like you've got a smidge of leeway at the top. I would remove the drawer underneath, and with one hand push UP on the stuck drawer, while pulling hard at the handles with my other hand. Start with the handle on the side that's pushed in more. Even if you can only get it to wiggle out a few millimeters, you can work back and forth to get it out.
posted by specialagentwebb at 1:10 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by specialagentwebb at 1:10 PM on May 3, 2011
Step one is definitely to take the other drawers out. After you've done that you can jiggle about with the underside of it to see how it's stuck.
If you must destroy something to get in, you can remove the drawer below, and break in through the bottom of the drawer.
posted by seanyboy at 1:24 PM on May 3, 2011
If you must destroy something to get in, you can remove the drawer below, and break in through the bottom of the drawer.
posted by seanyboy at 1:24 PM on May 3, 2011
Oh Lord, I had a set of built-in drawers like this. And the top one used to get stuck, too. My approach was to shimmy the drawer in its hole, left-right and up-down. It eventually would come loose with some work and a bit of muscle, but watch out for splinters!
posted by LN at 1:49 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by LN at 1:49 PM on May 3, 2011
This may seem like a totally wacky idea but I think you need two directions of gentle force here.
remove the lower drawers and try to reach the back of the stuck drawer. As you move your hand back, press up and see if there's any movement at all. If there is movement - especially on one side, go off to a dollar store or Walmart and get an inflatable pool ring or inner tube . (Or maybe you already have one. You'll need something that a little taller than the lower drawer.
Position the valve so you can get to it and shove the rest of the ring/tube into Drawer 2. Start filling with air until it's mostly full and try the drawer above.
(I'd go with a cheapish ring/tube because you might end up having to pop it)
posted by jaimystery at 1:53 PM on May 3, 2011
remove the lower drawers and try to reach the back of the stuck drawer. As you move your hand back, press up and see if there's any movement at all. If there is movement - especially on one side, go off to a dollar store or Walmart and get an inflatable pool ring or inner tube . (Or maybe you already have one. You'll need something that a little taller than the lower drawer.
Position the valve so you can get to it and shove the rest of the ring/tube into Drawer 2. Start filling with air until it's mostly full and try the drawer above.
(I'd go with a cheapish ring/tube because you might end up having to pop it)
posted by jaimystery at 1:53 PM on May 3, 2011
Since pulling on it has done nothing, it stands to reason that pulling is exacerbating the way the drawer is binding in the cabinet. IMO, step one is to get a rubber mallet and bang on the face to try to get it back into totally flush alignment, at which point you should be able to gently slide it straight out.
If you can take out all the drawers around it you can start pressing on it to see if you can get it to move at all; perhaps these movements will reveal where the two parts are binding.
If it's this tightly bound up, I think the level -in-the-handle idea will only succeed in tearing the handle out of the drawer front.
posted by chazlarson at 1:58 PM on May 3, 2011
If you can take out all the drawers around it you can start pressing on it to see if you can get it to move at all; perhaps these movements will reveal where the two parts are binding.
If it's this tightly bound up, I think the level -in-the-handle idea will only succeed in tearing the handle out of the drawer front.
posted by chazlarson at 1:58 PM on May 3, 2011
Take the lower drawers out, put a crowbar at the back of the drawer and pry it forward.
If this works, you have to tell us what's in the drawer.
posted by desjardins at 2:05 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
If this works, you have to tell us what's in the drawer.
posted by desjardins at 2:05 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would build on dejardins' suggestion and say to use a piece of 2x4 as a fulcrum and brace the crowbar against [i]that[/i] before you pry the drawer from the rear. The longer the 2x4, the more distributed the pressure against the wall or backing material. Assuming that removing the other drawers gives you more vertical space in which to work, you want to use a 24" or larger crowbar.
posted by mosk at 2:28 PM on May 3, 2011
posted by mosk at 2:28 PM on May 3, 2011
I had painted, built-in drawers like these that would get stuck too. What worked for me was not pulling outward, but trying to shift it side to side. Somehow that loosed whatever was sticking.
Once you get the drawer out, it might be worth taking all the drawers out and seeing if they fit better in a different order. A few millimeters can make a big difference.
posted by ambrosia at 2:33 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Once you get the drawer out, it might be worth taking all the drawers out and seeing if they fit better in a different order. A few millimeters can make a big difference.
posted by ambrosia at 2:33 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Metal ruler or butter kmife or other firm thingummy in left side of top drawer. Wiggle side to side relentlessly. Take a breath and swear at struck drawer. Then go to lower right side of top drawer, put thingummy under drawer and wiggle up and down. Blow hair out of face, try drawer. If it works, Voila! Success.
If not repeat the above. At least, that's how I usually end up dealing with this kind of situation.
If worst comes to worst and none of the above works--do you have a cat?
If so, Rub drawer with canned tuna and sternly forbid cat from going anywhere near it. Then leave residence. When you come home, drawer will be mysteriously open and cat, perched innocently in opposite corner of room, will be assiduously cleaning tuna from whiskers. (If you also have a dog, he will show up, too, looking forlorn and with head hanging guiltily, even though he is completely blameless of any wrongdoing.)
posted by misha at 3:42 PM on May 3, 2011 [9 favorites]
If not repeat the above. At least, that's how I usually end up dealing with this kind of situation.
If worst comes to worst and none of the above works--do you have a cat?
If so, Rub drawer with canned tuna and sternly forbid cat from going anywhere near it. Then leave residence. When you come home, drawer will be mysteriously open and cat, perched innocently in opposite corner of room, will be assiduously cleaning tuna from whiskers. (If you also have a dog, he will show up, too, looking forlorn and with head hanging guiltily, even though he is completely blameless of any wrongdoing.)
posted by misha at 3:42 PM on May 3, 2011 [9 favorites]
Butter knife + hammer? Or multiple butter knives + hammer (wedge one in one side and then tap tap on another?)
I'd also probably give mindless sitting there pointing a hair dryer at it with the theory that would soften the paint that is jamming it or leach some humidity from the wood.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:21 PM on May 3, 2011
I'd also probably give mindless sitting there pointing a hair dryer at it with the theory that would soften the paint that is jamming it or leach some humidity from the wood.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:21 PM on May 3, 2011
Oh my lord, misha, that was funny!
posted by puddinghead at 4:54 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by puddinghead at 4:54 PM on May 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since you have a little clearance on the bottom left there, what about taking an exacto knife and drawing it upwards, taking very thin slices off either the drawer or the housing, or both, until it comes free?
posted by timsteil at 6:13 AM on May 4, 2011
posted by timsteil at 6:13 AM on May 4, 2011
If you can't get it open, how about drilling up into the bottom of it, and then putting a skinny saw blade into the drill hole(s) and sawing a hole out to remove your stuff? Not ideal, I know.
posted by Ellemeno at 11:04 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by Ellemeno at 11:04 PM on May 5, 2011
Response by poster: I got it open! After trying many of your excellent suggestions, what eventually worked was:
(a) jamming the skinny end of a butter knife into a space at the bottom left and wedging it in as far as it would go in order to elevate the left site a little bit
(b) yanking on the handles and feeling it give just a teeny tiny bit
(c) giving that knife one last shove
(d) same as (b)
(e) yesssss
Thanks everyone.
posted by theodolite at 12:46 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
(a) jamming the skinny end of a butter knife into a space at the bottom left and wedging it in as far as it would go in order to elevate the left site a little bit
(b) yanking on the handles and feeling it give just a teeny tiny bit
(c) giving that knife one last shove
(d) same as (b)
(e) yesssss
Thanks everyone.
posted by theodolite at 12:46 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by TheBones at 12:16 PM on May 3, 2011