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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,118
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Need help getting a drawer open

I don't know what to do. I tried to opena small drawer. Something was stuck, so I pushed the item down and closed the drawer. Now I can't open it At All. If I could open it a little, I could get a knife or something in, but it doesn't even open an inch. The bottom is wood and I would hate to have to saw it open, but can't figure out what else to do. Help.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 44,347
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

Can you and DH pick the piece up and shake it to dislodge the inside piece?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,095
Registered: ‎07-26-2014

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

First make sure the drawer is closed all the way.

If you can get under the drawer, shake it a little or a lot.  See if it opens now.  If not.....

 

If the under bottom of the drawer is sitting on metal sliders try pushing the back bottom up towards the roof to tilt the front part down or vice versa.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."


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Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,659
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

@geegerbee Is there another drawer next to it?  Maybe if you remove that drawer, you'll be able to see if the thing you pushed down, popped up again after the drawer was closed.  It might take two people, but if you can go in from the side and push it down again, the other person can pull the drawer open.  Wear gloves just in case what you're pushing down is sharp.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,356
Registered: ‎01-03-2012

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

Take a super thin flat metal ruler are yardstick and shove it in and it will dislodge your item.  

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,325
Registered: ‎03-08-2014

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

Along the line of what @GSPgirl said, try a very thin metal spatula (like you would use to frost a cake) and slide that in the crack at the top of the drawer.

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Honored Contributor
Posts: 27,365
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

Worst case scenario is to drill a hole in through the back of the item behind the drawer, that's just about at the top of the drawer. You may then be able to slide in something like a knitting needle or other stiff rod to depress whatever's preventing the drawer from opening. That hole in the back can then be patched without a lot of trouble.

 

I've heard stories of people who used those vacuum packed storage bags in a dresser drawer and then had the seal fail and have the bags inflate in the drawer and seal it shut. In some cases they've had to make a fairly large access hole in the back of the dresser to get out enough of the items so they can open the drawer again. 

 

Creating a back door (for lack of a better word)  is a viable option that's typically not readily visible and is easy to accomplish. It's not ideal, but it preserves the outward appearance of the furniture and can be repaired fairly easily. Modern tools like the oscillating saws can let you make very precise cuts that are pretty easy to patch afterwards. If you make the cuts at an angle (say 45 degrees to the surface you're cutting) when you go to replace the cut out piece, it should just slide back into place. A bit of wood glue to hold it in place and you're back in business. Done right, the whole thing is largely unnoticeable.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 40,932
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

The stuck drawer...this has happened to me on numerous occasions. The one drawer that this happens to is just too full of stuff . I should re-organize it and make it less cluttered...but nooOOO, it just keeps getting stuck!rolling eyes.gif

 

Solution for my procrastination...A COAT HANGER!

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,659
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

I wonder if @geegerbee was ever able to get her drawer opened?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,832
Registered: ‎09-01-2010

Re: Need help getting a drawer open

Before we remodeled our kitchen last year, the small top drawer of the cabinet near the stove was always getting jammed with a utensil.   Sometimes we could access it by opening the cabinet door underneath, but sometimes we could not.   The last time it jammed, once we finally got the drawer out, I removed the wall screws, so all I had to do was lift the entire countertop off (it was only 12 inches wide).   

 

With our new custom built cabinets, I had that one made with 3 deep drawers, so nothing sticks up high enough to cause a jam.