by Steven D. Johnson
Racine, Wisconsin
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The Ultimate Drawer Liner?
In my prior shop space the concrete floor was a stone cold killer. I tried everything to
minimize the impact of impacts between floor and feet and floor and tools. One attempt was with
some rubbery interlocking two-foot square floor tiles. They were inexpensive and worked pretty
well.
In my new shop, the floor is wood and raised above the concrete floor with a vapor barrier and
insulation. The rubbery floor tiles are no longer needed and were sitting in a neat stack, just
waiting to be "repurposed" in some way. Cut to size (which also removes the interlocking tabs),
these floor tiles make perfect drawer liners.
Since I had nine same-size drawers, I cut a piece of scrap plywood to size and used it as a
template to cut the drawer liners from the floor tiles. A sharp utility knife did the trick,
although I did have to change the blade four times.
The floor tile material is about a quarter-inch thick. One side is smooth and the other has an
embossed texture, ostensibly for traction. After cutting to size, I installed them in the drawers
with the smooth side up.
These are, by far, the best drawer liners I have ever used. Because they are thick, they do not
slide or bunch up. They offer considerable padding, are easy to clean, and seem to be impervious to
almost everything. When they were on the floor in my old shop I spilled glue, mineral spirits, and
lots of coffee on them, and they clean up easily. If you can afford to give up a quarter-inch of
drawer depth, try these as liners. I think you will like them.
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Steven Johnson is recently retired from an almost 30-year career selling medical equipment and
supplies, and now enjoys improving his shop, his skills, and his designs on a full time basis
(although he says home improvement projects and furniture building have been hobbies for most of his
adult life).
Steven can be reached directly via email at downtoearthwoodworks@me.com.
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