Wooden Full Drawer Slide Extension Plans
Drawer Slides Demystified
Slides come in many different types, and determining which to buy can exist confusing. Hither's how to pick the best one for the job.
Like a hovercraft, drawers mounted to today'south metallic slides glide in and out of their openings equally if floating on a cushion of air. But slides come in many different types, and determining which to purchase can be confusing. Here's how to choice the best one for the job.
What makes up a slide
Drawer slides have 2 mating pieces. The drawer contour attaches to the drawer and slides into or rests on the chiffonier profile, which attaches to the chiffonier. Ball bearings or nylon rollers permit the parts to move smoothly past each other.
Slides with ball bearings, top, typically behave heavier loads. Sophisticated construction and heavy-duty materials brand them more than expensive than roller slides, bottom.
To run into or non to run across
One of the get-go considerations when choosing a slide is whether you want it visible when the drawer opens. Some visible slides come in various colors (white, ivory, brown, or black) to assistance them blend better with light or dark drawer boxes.
Hide that slide
To muffle slides otherwise visible from the front, add a false front end to the drawer box, or build a drawer forepart with a lip wider than the box.
Think about drawer access
Drawer slides farther differ by how far they allow a drawer to open up.
Overtravel slides utilise a telescoping design that lets the drawer extend beyond the cabinet. Use them when overhanging countertops get in the style of drawer access. Make certain the cabinet location provides room for opening the drawer fully.
Full-extension slides also telescope, assuasive the total length of the drawer to clear the chiffonier. Choose these when yous need piece of cake admission to the rear of the drawer, as in a file drawer.
7⁄8 -extension slides allow the drawer to extend 7⁄8 of its length—a expert compromise between three⁄four - and full-extension.
3⁄4 -extension slides, equally you might judge, allow the drawer to open up 3⁄4 of its length. Choose this type of slide when unblocked admission to the unabridged drawer matters little, or where space limits how far a drawer tin extend.
Weigh the weight options
Typical light-duty slides take weight ratings up to 75 lbs, medium-duty upwards to 100 lbs, and heavy-duty for more than 100 lbs, below.
Weight ratings employ to a pair of slides (if installation requires a pair), so ii 100-lb slides cannot handle 200 lbs.
Longer slides take more robust construction than shorter ones of the same rating. For instance, an 18" slide rated for 100 lbs volition be stouter than a 16" slide with the aforementioned rating. A shorter slide has leverage to its reward.
With decisions made on type, extension, and weight rating, determine the right size slide for the project.
100-lb slides will support 100 lbs, provided the drawer will, and that you screw the slides to hardwood or plywood per the manufacturer'due south instructions. MDF and other blended materials will not hold screws as well.
Measuring for slides
Taking accurate measurements ensures you buy slides that work in your cabinet. Follow these tips to make certain everything goes smoothly:
Slides come in lengths from 10" to 28". A too-short slide prevents the drawer from opening fully, and one that'south as well long won't fit in the cabinet. To determine the proper length, measure the interior depth of the cabinet (backside the face frame, if there is one) and cull a slide the next size shorter than that measurement.
Considering the thickness of drawer slides and the width of the drawer opening are fixed, all-time practice is to build the drawer box to fit the difference between the ii afterward assembling the cabinet. For example, nigh roller slides and side-mount ball-bearing slides require ane⁄ii " of mounting space on each side. To apply these in a 12"-wide drawer opening, build the drawer xi" wide.
For shallow drawers or a pull-out tray, buy a slide no taller than the drawer or tray.
Installation considerations
For frameless cabinets, merely screw the cabinet profile to the chiffonier side, parallel to the chiffonier bottom. On face up-frame cabinets, the front of the slide attaches to the face up-frame stile, photograph below. To align and secure the rear of the slide, manufacturers provide brackets and standoffs that fasten to either the side or back of the cabinet. Yous can besides create your own standoffs from wood scraps.
Secure the front of the slide to the confront frame. The bracket at the rear slides to reach the dorsum of the cabinet. This requires a stretcher or cabinet back at least 1⁄two" thick.
Utilise the exact type of screw called for or provided past the manufacturer, as screwheads that stand also proud tin can preclude slides from moving smoothly. Many slides come up with multiple holes and slots to permit fine-tuning drawer position and accommodate a multifariousness of mounting options, photo below.
Screw slots let for adjusting drawer position in, out, upwardly, and downward. With the drawer properly positioned, drive screws into the holes to lock the slide in place.
Besides, handed slides must mount on a specific side, photograph below; unhanded slides mount on either side.
Know right from left. Slides that must exist installed on a specific cabinet side (viewed from the front end of the cabinet) accept that designation stamped on them.
At present that you lot know the options, simply consider all installation requirements and selection a slide that all-time suits the project.
Some fancy functions
Manufacturers provide several options to add a touch of luxury to a drawer slide'southward operation.
Soft-shut slides deadening the drawer as information technology closes, ensuring that it doesn't slam.
Cocky-closing slides take the concept further and pull the drawer closed with just a gentle press on the drawer front end.
Touch on-release slides do the opposite—with a affect, the drawer pops open; useful for sleek cabinets without pulls.
Progressive movement slides provide a smooth glide because all segments move simultaneously, instead of having 1 segment achieve the end of its travel before it begins pulling the side by side forth.
Detent and locking slides hold in a set up position until pushed, preventing unintended motility—platonic for small apparatus stands or cutting boards.
Source: https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-how-to/doors-drawers/drawer-slides-demystified
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