Drawer Slides
Make sure that drawer glides freely
In almost every kitchen, the drawer slides on heavily used cabinetry eventually wear out. Drawer slides, or drawer runners, are the mechanical system by which drawers open and close. Fortunately, they are easily replaced, and your cabinet drawers will glide open like they are new once again.
An important consideration in building or repairing cabinetry is what type of drawer slides to use. For remodeling or new construction jobs, quality drawer slides are important. Using cheap or light-duty drawer glides in a high traffic area will only cause problems down the road.
A few of the most popular manufacturers of high-quality cabinet hardware and drawer runners are Blum, KV and Accuride. Blum drawer slides include the high quality Tandembox glides for metal drawers and the economical Solo glides for use in wooden kitchen applications. KV drawer slides are designed for rugged, functional usage in a range of applications from commercial cabinetry or case goods to office furniture and institutional applications. Specially designed Accuride drawer slides are available for woodworking and cabinetry projects, as well as electronics enclosures and automotive applications.
Roller bearing drawer glides use a variety of rollers of different sizes and materials, turning around a mostly fixed, stationary axle. Linear ball bearing drawer slides are case-hardened steel balls held in place by a retainer, running in a linear direction between specially formed profiles.
Side-mount slides are the most popular for kitchen applications and many others, as they offer the greatest variety of extensions, weights and durability. Many of these drawer slides are equipped with a stopping mechanism to prevent the drawer from coming completely out. Full-extension drawer slides have become a big hit with builders and homeowners alike, since they allow easy access to the back of the drawer.
Another option is under-mount drawer slides. Fully concealed, the drawer slides mount on the underside of the drawer. These look nicer but have a lower weight capacity. There are also special types of slides made for applications such as TV pull-outs and swivels, and drawer runners for cutting boards, pencil drawers and keyboard trays.
Drawer slides are available in many sizes and with many different weight capacities, so you can be sure that there is one out there that's a perfect fit for your home. Drawer runners sold by the length of the slide, not the depth of the cabinet. They are available in a variety of materials such as plastic, wood or metal, and aren't as confusing as they seem. At first glance, drawer slides are pretty hard to figure out, but after you install one set, you'll be an expert.
by Paradoxx
