How Long Drawer Slides Do I Need
Drawer Slides Demystified
Slides come in many different types, and determining which to buy can be confusing. Here's how to pick the best one for the job.
Like a hovercraft, drawers mounted to today's metal slides glide in and out of their openings as if floating on a cushion of air. But slides come in many different types, and determining which to buy can be confusing. Here's how to pick the best one for the job.
What makes up a slide
Drawer slides have two mating pieces. The drawer profile attaches to the drawer and slides into or rests on the cabinet profile, which attaches to the cabinet. Ball bearings or nylon rollers allow the parts to move smoothly past each other.
Slides with ball bearings, top, typically carry heavier loads. Sophisticated construction and heavy-duty materials make them more expensive than roller slides, bottom.
To see or not to see
One of the first 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 help them blend better with light or dark drawer boxes.
Hide that slide
To conceal slides otherwise visible from the front, add a false front to the drawer box, or build a drawer front with a lip wider than the box.
Think about drawer access
Drawer slides further differ by how far they allow a drawer to open.
Overtravel slides utilize a telescoping design that lets the drawer extend beyond the cabinet. Use them when overhanging countertops get in the way of drawer access. Make sure the cabinet location provides room for opening the drawer fully.
Full-extension slides also telescope, allowing the full length of the drawer to clear the cabinet. Choose these when you need easy access 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 good compromise between 3⁄4 - and full-extension.
3⁄4 -extension slides, as you might guess, allow the drawer to open 3⁄4 of its length. Choose this type of slide when unblocked access to the entire drawer matters little, or where space limits how far a drawer can extend.
Weigh the weight options
Typical light-duty slides have weight ratings up to 75 lbs, medium-duty up to 100 lbs, and heavy-duty for more than 100 lbs, below.
Weight ratings apply to a pair of slides (if installation requires a pair), so two 100-lb slides cannot handle 200 lbs.
Longer slides have more robust construction than shorter ones of the same rating. For example, an 18" slide rated for 100 lbs will be stouter than a 16" slide with the same rating. A shorter slide has leverage to its advantage.
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's instructions. MDF and other composite 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 sure everything goes smoothly:
Slides come in lengths from 10" to 28". A too-short slide prevents the drawer from opening fully, and one that's too long won't fit in the cabinet. To determine the proper length, measure the interior depth of the cabinet (behind the face frame, if there is one) and choose a slide the next size shorter than that measurement.
Because the thickness of drawer slides and the width of the drawer opening are fixed, best practice is to build the drawer box to fit the difference between the two after assembling the cabinet. For example, most roller slides and side-mount ball-bearing slides require 1⁄2 " of mounting space on each side. To use these in a 12"-wide drawer opening, build the drawer 11" wide.
For shallow drawers or a pull-out tray, buy a slide no taller than the drawer or tray.
Installation considerations
For frameless cabinets, just screw the cabinet profile to the cabinet side, parallel to the cabinet bottom. On face-frame cabinets, the front of the slide attaches to the face-frame stile, photo 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. You can also create your own standoffs from wood scraps.
Secure the front of the slide to the face frame. The bracket at the rear slides to reach the back of the cabinet. This requires a stretcher or cabinet back at least 1⁄2" thick.
Use the exact type of screw called for or provided by the manufacturer, as screwheads that stand too proud can prevent slides from moving smoothly. Many slides come with multiple holes and slots to allow fine-tuning drawer position and accommodate a variety of mounting options, photo below.
Screw slots allow for adjusting drawer position in, out, up, and down. With the drawer properly positioned, drive screws into the holes to lock the slide in place.
Also, handed slides must mount on a specific side, photo below; unhanded slides mount on either side.
Know right from left. Slides that must be installed on a specific cabinet side (viewed from the front of the cabinet) have that designation stamped on them.
Now that you know the options, simply consider all installation requirements and pick a slide that best suits the project.
Some fancy functions
Manufacturers provide several options to add a touch of luxury to a drawer slide's operation.
Soft-close slides slow the drawer as it closes, ensuring that it doesn't slam.
Self-closing slides take the concept further and pull the drawer closed with just a gentle press on the drawer front.
Touch-release slides do the opposite—with a touch, 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 one segment reach the end of its travel before it begins pulling the next along.
Detent and locking slides hold in a set position until pushed, preventing unintended movement—ideal for small appliance stands or cutting boards.
Source: https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-how-to/doors-drawers/drawer-slides-demystified
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