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Options for Unjamming a Drawer

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Date: 11/14/2007 Topics: Readers Request > Repair | Repair > Furniture  
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I have a VERY OLD (over 100yrs) antique mahogany sideboard. something has jammed inside one of the drawers and it won't open. The back of the sideboard is a solid whole wood panel (about 3ft by 4ft)the underside of the drawer where the drawer itself sits, is also a solid wood panel so taking out the drawer underneath is useless. How can I get the drawer to open (it only opens about 1/4") completely to free whatever is jamming inside it without damaging it? Its a very valuable piece of furniture and short of taking it apart (which is not an option) I don't know what to do! Does anyone have any suggestions, PLEASE!

Cettina from Malta, Europe
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By Jannie (Guest Post)
I would try to use a thin, cheap nail file and finding out what is stuck. Then see if you can get it out with the nail file. Good Luck! ;- )

Posted on 11/24/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cett (148) Profile Contact
grandma margie, IT WORKED! we put sideboard lying down on its back on the floor and wat was jamming fell backwards so it was easy to open the drawer and get it out. ( it was an ornament in a box that had turned to an angle and jammed). yes, ur right, how lovely it is that from my little meditteranean island i can reach out to you so far away in America. internet has drawbacks but i personally think it brings people of the same ilk closer together if used wisely. thank you so much for your advice. what a nice person you are.

Posted on 11/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Grandma Margie (175) Contact
Cettina from Malta, Europe
It makes me happy when I'm able to help someone solve a problem. I hope that my suggestion does indeed unstick your sideboard drawer. I'm also looking at the "bigger picture" here. You are in Malta, Europe.............I am in the state of Missouri in the United States of America. Now I don't know about anyone else..........but I think that our ability to communicate and help each other is something to celebrate in itself. We live so far apart yet have so much in common and have a great willingness and eagerness to help each other. I wish you much success in our joint project, My Friend!

Posted on 11/20/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cett (148) Profile Contact
Grandma Margie, your suggestion is BRILLIANT! I didn't like the ideas of poking things in such a small gap and possibly damaging the drawer itself but this is the best idea. Thank you. I'll see how it works (soon as I can prevail on my son in law to help.)

Posted on 11/18/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Grandma Margie (175) Contact
As a last resort...............remove everything from all the drawers you can open. Have someone strong help you move the sideboard away from the wall and gently lay it on its back, possibly even lift up the bottom edge while in this position, and gently shake and move it around. This could possibly cause whatever has jammed the drawer to move and might solve your problem.......or at least allow you to reach in and move what is in the way. This seems like a lot of work, but to me would be preferable to damaging the sideboard by prying on it. Good Luck! Let us know if you manage to get it open!

Posted on 11/16/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cett (148) Profile Contact
im going to keep ALL the suggestions and try them one by one. if i can work it open enuf to put my fingers in, then im home! many thanks.

Posted on 11/16/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By human4us (40) Contact
Hi!
Your best bet is a long and flat piece of curved metal. I suggest an aluminum sheet-rock angle corner, they are cheap and can be cut to length. Flatten it and bend it gentley curved, then insert into the drawer crack, passing it from side to side until you unjam whatever it is that is jamming your drawer. Be gentle. Good luck!
Joseph Raglione

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By EGGZ (19) Profile Contact
I have used a pancake spatula or a long cake decorating smoothing knife (it's not sharp) . Slide in carefully and you can usually press down what is catching the edge.

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By melody_yesterday (637) Profile Blog! Contact
I am wondering if it one of the same things that has jammed mine many times but i don't know what it's called!

In the back of the drawers of my vanity - there are small square cutouts. The top is open & a rectangular piece of wood fits the cut out & the drawer slides onto it.If that has come untacked (as mine did) it will hang down loose enough to hang in the way, jamming the drawer!

If the drawer will open enough to slide in an outstretched hand - use your fingers to push that board up as you use the other hand to open the drawer ! You might actually have to place the long piece back into the cutout space because it may have jumped the track! It takes a little patience but it can be done!

Other than something put into the drawer which worked itself into being a problem -- the things that did it most of the time to mine were extra garment buttons on cards I saved from new clothing.

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By the Oracle (391) Profile Contact
You get the idea of what to do from the other posters. However, I would use a wire clothes hanger, and untwist it until it is a long wire with the hook on one end. Be careful with it, since it can spring about and catch someone in the eye.

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Lily 59 (155) Profile Contact
Bend a cheap fork and weasel it back and forth gently until you manage to move the object to the side.

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Kathy (Guest Post)
Yes, a yardstick or even a long metal file. You have to open the drawer as far as you can and pull out anything you can reach. Then put the long stick in and try to get it up over the top of what is stuck and then push it down. Good luck!!

Posted on 11/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By graham page (1) Profile Contact
Slide a ruler into gap and depress the item that is jamming the drawer! Hope this works.

Graham Page ( Wales, U.K.)

Posted on 11/14/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

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