Choosing the Right Drawer Slide

Mount

Decide whether you want side-mount, center-mount or undermount slides. The amount of space between your drawer box and the cabinet opening will affect your decision.

• Side-mount slides are sold in pairs or sets, with a slide attaching to each side of the drawer.

- Available with either a ball-bearing or roller mechanism.

- Require clearance – usually 1/2" – between the drawer slides and the sides of the cabinet opening.

• Center-mount slides are sold as single slides that, as the name suggests, mount under the center of the drawer.

- Available in classic wood version or with ball-bearing mechanism.

- Required clearance depends on thickness of slide.

• Under-mount slides are ball-bearing slides that are sold in pairs. They mount to the sides of the cabinet and connect to locking devices attached to the underside of the drawer.

- Not visible when the drawer is open, making them a good choice if you want to highlight your cabinetry.

- Require less clearance between the drawer sides and the cabinet opening (usually 3/16" to 1/4" per side).

- Require specific clearance at top and bottom of cabinet opening; drawer sides typically can be no more than 5/8" thick.

- Space from underside of drawer bottom to bottom of drawer sides must be 1/2".

Drawer Slide Tutorial - Mounting Types

Drawer Slide Tutorial - Ball Bering vs Roller Style Slide Mechanisms

Slide length

Determine what length of slide you need.

• Slides most commonly come in sizes ranging from 10" to 28", though some shorter and longer slides are available for special applications.

• For side-mount and center-mount slides, typically measure the distance from the front edge of the cabinet to the inside face of the cabinet back and then subtract 1".

• For under-mount slides, measure the drawer length. Slides must be the same length as drawer to work properly.

Extension

Decide how far out you want the drawer to come when open.

• 3/4 extension: Part of the drawer remains in the cabinet. An economical option when full access isn’t an issue.

• Full extension: Allows drawer to open the full length of the slide, providing greater access.

• Over travel: Allows drawer to open beyond full extension, providing complete access – even underneath countertops.

Drawer Slide Tutorial - Drawer Extension

Weight Rating

Think about how much weight the drawer will need to hold.

• Slides typically are rated for 75, 100 or 150 pounds, though some are rated for less and some specialty slides can handle as much as 220 pounds.

• Weight rating is especially important when choosing slides for heavy-duty applications such as file drawers or pantry pull-outs.

Drawer Slide Tutorial - Weight Rating, Length and Finish Options

Color

Are you looking for a specific color?

• Most slides have a zinc finish.

• Centerline Lifetime Series 757 also are available in black (great for entertainment centers).

• Blum Self Closing Epoxy Roller slides are available in white or brown (only at Rockler).

Motion

Decide whether you want special motion features.

• Push to open: Slides open with a nudge to the drawer front, eliminating the need for handles or pulls. An especially good option for modern kitchens, where hardware might not be desired.

• Self close: Slides return the drawer all the way into the cabinet when drawer is pushed in that direction.

• Soft close: Slides add a dampening effect to self-close feature, returning

the drawer into the cabinet softly, without slamming.

Drawer Slide Tutorial - Slide Motion

This article is also available in PDF form.

Original article and pictures take http://www.rockler.com/how-to/choosing-drawer-slide/ site


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