Drawer rails how to#

They are made of lower-quality materials. Roller drawer slides are typically cheaper than their ball bearing counterparts. You can pull them open and push them closed more easily than roller drawer slides. As a result, ball bearing drawer slides are easier to open. Ball bearings are more effective at reducing friction than ordinary wheels. Aside from this design nuance, there are other differences between roller and ball bearing drawer slides.īall bearing drawer slides provide a smoother operation than roller drawer slides. Ball bearing drawer slides, conversely, feature ball bearings. There are other types of drawer slides, but roller and ball bearing are the two most common types.

Differences Between Roller and Ball Bearing Drawer Slides The rails, though, feature ball bearings rather than a wheel. Ball bearing drawer slides consist of multiple rails as well. Regardless, they all feature ball bearings.

Other ball bearing drawer slides offer two-way travel. What Are Ball Bearing Drawer Slides?īall bearing drawer slides live up to their namesake by featuring ball bearing. The furniture rail wheel, on the other hand, is designed to fit into the groove of the drawer rail. The drawer rail wheel, for instance, is designed to fit into the groove of the furniture rail. The wheels of a drawer slide are designed to fit into the groove of the opposite rail. The drawer rail is mounted to the drawer, whereas the furniture rail is mounted to the furniture with which the drawer is used. Roller drawer slides consist of two parts: a drawer rail and a furniture rail, each of which has its own wheel. While all drawer slides consist of long rails, some of them feature rollers, whereas others feature ball bearings. Drawers will glide or “slide” along the drawer slides. Also known as drawer runners, drawer slides are rail-based components that allow drawers to pull out from the furniture or objects with which they are used. This could break the drawer or the drawer may fall out of its housing and cause injury.Īrthur Harris is a leading producer of stainless steel cabinet hardware with over a century of experience in the industry.You can’t build drawers without slides. Replacing only one side of the drawer slides can cause the drawer to become unstable.

Drawer rails how to#

You may be confused, but it’s a pretty sure bet that the person selling the slides will know how to measure your drawer and can provide you with slides that will fit perfectly.īonus Tip: Always replace drawer slides as a set. After measuring, if you are still uncertain about the size of slides to purchase, take the drawer with you If this is the case, you will need to use smaller slides as well to avoid the same issue. Smaller slides may have been used to avoid rubbing an interior part of the cabinet. Premature wear on the drawer slides may have been caused by improper installation or because of a poor design. Examine the interior of the cabinet and the exterior of the drawer If they measure less or more than 1/8 inch, you need to use bottom-mount guides or do a little carpentry work to make the drawer work with the new slides. If the difference in the width of the drawer and the width of the opening is within 1/8 inch, you can use full-extension guides. Measure the width of the drawer and the width of the opening in the cabinet For example, if the drawer is 20 ½ inches long you will need to purchase 20 inch drawer slides. Once you have the length, round the number down. Start at the back of the box and measure to the front of the box without including the face of the drawer. Since the front face of the drawer works to stop the drawer from entering the cabinet, it should not be measured. If neither of those options work, it may be necessary to use a screwdriver to remove the wheels from the guides. If that doesn’t work, guide the drawer so it is mostly extended, then lift the back of the drawer to pop the wheels out of the guides. Most drawers will require that you fully extend the drawer, then lift up and it will come right out. Removing the drawer may require some manipulating. This is one time when you don’t want to estimate – accuracy is key.

After measuring, if you are still uncertain about the size of slides to purchase, take the drawer with you.

Examine the interior of the cabinet and the exterior of the drawer.

Measure the width of the drawer and the width of the opening in the cabinet.

Whether you are installing replacement drawers or replacing slider hardware on existing drawers, knowing how to measure drawer slides is integral to the use and longevity of your drawers. When your drawers stick, bind, won’t move at all or make unpleasant noises, the chances are you need to replace the drawer slides. Posted by Arthur Harris & filed under Company News. How to Measure Drawer Slides for a Seamless Installation