How to Loosen a Sticking Drawer

In the summertime, most climatological zones tend to be more humid than in the winter. As a result, wood will tend to take on more moisture as it naturally attempts to acclimatize with the environment. This could cause the wood to swell, which often leads to sticky drawers and doors. For instance, one of the doors to my shop is a wooden-core door, and with all of the rain we've received lately, the door is next to impossible to close once it's been opened. Fortunately, I have another door that I can use that isn't as susceptible to the fluctuations due to excess humidity.

In fine woodworking projects such as furniture and cabinets, one must plan for such fluctuations, as they are simply a fact of life. I mentioned a number of ideas for dealing with these fluctuations in Allowing for Expansion and Shrinking, but what can one do when the problem is already manifesting itself on a piece?

Check out one of my favorite tips for dealing with this issue in How to Fix a Sticky Drawer. The same idea works well on a sticky door as well.