The drawers are built pretty heavy as they are. I have no doubt they will hold the weight. It's just that they shrank and the previous owner never addressed the issue. The bottom fits in a groove on the sides and front but not the back. They have all slipped out of the groove in the front. I'm going to move them back in and glue them and add a rear that also has a groove. The bottoms are nearly 1/2 thick poplar. I don't want to alter it too much from original either.