If you’re having trouble extending your old drawers, it’s time to replace them. Changing drawer slides is another bothersome “must.” As a result, the drawer sticks—or collapses—inside or outside the cabinet, spreading its contents everywhere. Some people may find it complex or confusing to replace old drawer slides. So you might be thinking about how to install drawer slides on old drawers? And whether can you do it by yourself or do you need professional help? Well, don’t worry; we got you covered.
What are Drawer Slides?
Drawer slides, also known as drawer rollers, are structures that allow for smooth linear movement on one axis. They are most typically in use in pairs, and they may get found in various applications, mostly kitchen cabinets. Drawer slides function by sliding one component over a much bigger or smaller part of comparable form.
And with roller bearings provide a smooth-rolling movement that allows the entire system to expand or retract. Drawer slides aren’t motorised, but they may be if a linear actuator gets installed to offer you hands-free movement. You will generally utilise drawer slides on your own. There are only two types of slides: ball-bearing slides and roller slides.
Types of Drawer slides
Now there are different types of drawer slides which get explained as follows:
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Roller Slides
Roller slides are two parts: a sliding central member strut and a fixed cabinet drawer structure. These slides are not connected until you link them to the drawer and the fixed cabinets. Only then can you quickly move the drawer into place, allowing them to slide in and out.
Each strut has one wheel connected at each side, which allows the slides to move freely, although it also has restrictions. Another concern is that the plastic wheels aren’t put on bearings; they are merely plastic wheels on such a metal axel that could ultimately generate noise or wear difficulties.
One significant advantage is that they are relatively inexpensive to acquire from any hardware shop.
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Ball-Bearing Slides
Roller slides are not the same as ball-bearing slides. These employ ball bearings housed in a ball cage to keep them from falling out. These slide rails provide excellent stiffness of the draw when wholly opened or closed and, therefore, can support substantial weight.
They are also straightforward to install since they have various pre-drilled hole patterns along the whole length of each part to attach them to both the fixed cabinet and the cabinet drawer. When opposed to roller slides, ball-bearing drawer slides have a far more extended life period and a much higher load rating.
How To Install Drawer Slides On Old Drawers?
Follow the steps below for How to install drawer slides on old drawers?
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Remove the drawer
You’ll need to remove the drawer to get rid of the old slides. Pull the drawer out as far as it will go with care. Raise the front of the box to a 45-degree angle. If this does not liberate the drawer, lift it to the rear of the drawer.
If you’re still having difficulties opening the drawer, look for drawer locking or swing latches to keep it from sliding out of the box. You can often get around these closures by pulling the drawer in slightly and then shifting the latches towards the sides to release the slides.
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Remove Slides
Remove all of the hardware from the old drawer. You may need to remove the drawers above and below to place your hands and screwdriver. Keep a lookout for rollers or wheels on the back of the drawer.
For this process, you may need to use a Phillips head or slotted screwdriver, and on certain drawers, you may pull staples out of the drawer. Take care not to damage the wood or strip the screw holes.
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Measure
Determine the length of both the drawer slides with a flexible tape measure. Make a drawing of each slide, noting its length and breadth. As you record the size of each slide, record the drawer box’s length to determine if it can handle a more extended slide. Each length isn’t always accessible, so you’ll need to know whether you’re adaptable.
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Install new one
For installation, make sure the glides are correctly aligned—complete one drawer at a time. Proceed by laying the glides out across the drawer box and even in the drawer, ensuring that the right sides get lined up with the right sides and the left sides get lined up with the left sides.
Check the marks for the front and rear to redo work later. First, attach the sliders to the drawer box within the cabinet. Position the slides and then use the preceding slides’ dimensions to ensure they are level. Tighten the glides in place. Rep with the drawer glides.
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Things to consider When Installing Drawer Slides On Old Drawers
Following are some things to consider before installing new slides:
- A load rating is the maximum permitted load that the drawer slides, slide rail, or other systems can withstand. You should establish the load capacity for the whole design to avoid any surprises.
- Drawer slides with a maximum extension as far as your need is required. It will also determine the drawer slides’ overall length and completely retracted length.
- The thickness of the drawer slide material is another consideration. The thicker the material’s wall thickness, the stronger the slides.
How To Install Drawer Slides On Old Drawers – Final Thought
Given the number of times you’ll open a drawer throughout its lifespan, it’s simple to understand why selecting the perfect one is critical. Hopefully, the above pointers will help you choose the best slide for the project. That concludes our guide one How To Install Drawer Slides On Old Drawers.
