Drawer Slides Installation: Grumble, Grumble...and tips

spunwood · Jun 2, 2011

I just did a few hours of battle with an attempt at installing drawer slides.

I wanted to post this for anyone about to do this.

Some Tips on Installing Drawer Slides:
1. Be sure to have a square carcass/case/chest

2. Be sure that the distance between the drawer sides & the chest sides is the recommended distance for the slides (i.e., the thickness of the slides)

3.Use some kind of spacer or story stick to attach the slides

PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN…especially if you're more experienced then me!

spunwood · Jun 2, 2011

I have to say I have such respect for those of you who can just bang out cabinets and other standard furniture items!

ShaneA · Jun 2, 2011

I second the above tips. If it is not square you are in for tough times. Using a spacer (plywood) has really helped me as well. Nothing worse than moving parts that dont line up. It is a sinkhole for time and highly annoying. Knowing the exact width needed is crucial, one of the few times I think it may actually better to be too small in woodworking. Slides can be shimmed easier than drawers widths can be reduced. For me at least.

spunwood · Jun 2, 2011

Thanks Shane…encouraging to know that other people have used shims to make room for mistakes.

Sawkerf · Jun 2, 2011

Your tips are all good and I would add one more.

Whenever possible, install the drawers and glides before the cabinets are installed. Having access from the back sure saves a lot of time and aggravation.

beginner1 · Jun 2, 2011

I just spent 2 days installing slides on drawers. It was my first time. I would add to keep the same center line. In other words, install the slides at the same point on each side. Good luck.

spunwood · Jun 2, 2011

Today, I got the drawer jammed in there so tight I finally had to turn one of my hammers

into…

a PERSUADER

learnin2do · Jun 3, 2011

ha-ha! ...that is why I have almost entirely abandoned thought of making anything square! You are a brave one! -remember though, corrected mistakes are the best learning! - you will do a"bang-up job on the next go-round!

LeeBarker · Jun 3, 2011

I might be able to help if I knew a little more.
Faceframe construction?
What type of slide?
(white 3/4 extension, zinc full extension, file drawer?)

Kindly,

Lee

SCOTSMAN · Jun 3, 2011

It's true a serious pain in the bum if you don't read the instructions first. Anyway stop grumbling and thanks for bringing it to our attention. You deserve to Have anicer day than you had today. Alistair

spunwood · Jun 3, 2011

Thanks guys and gals for the help and encouragement.

christine: yeah, I really prefer the stress free projects of my own design, but a good learning experience non the less

Scotsman: thanks for the good wishes and in fact I did have a better day and go at it!

Lee: They were full extension 24" drawer slides which seemed pretty straight foward (1/2" thickness). The real issue was making the whole cabinet square. I should have spent more time squaring the main structure. I got the plans from Design Confidential:

spunwood · Jun 3, 2011

I do have one question…one problem was getting the larger sheet good cuts exact. For these cuts that won't fit on the table saw, I can get within a 1/4 of an inch using a clamp-n-cut & my circular saw.

khays · Jun 3, 2011

Spunwood,
You do need to start with getting the carcass square as possible to begin with. I always try for 1/32 - 1/64.

Here is a link with one way of installing.
http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4463760_attach-drawer-slides-chest-drawers.html

Drawer Slides Installation: Grumble, Grumble...and tips

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