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Setting up drawer slides is a job that can shock brand-new woodworkers with its problem. In theory, it’s incredibly simple: screw the slides in where they require to go, and proceed with your life. I thought that right up till the very first time I attempted it.
As I had a hard time to keep both slides at the appropriate height while attempting to connect the drawer to the slides in such a way that would keep it level and moving efficiently inside the cabinet, I understood how remarkably irritating the task really is. Numerous business offer jigs and tools that will assist with the procedure, however you can conserve yourself some money and time by finding out how to set up drawer slides with simply a number of pieces of scrap plywood to utilize as spacers.
This approach just works for side-mount drawer slides, however. If you’re utilizing undermount, Jon Peters of Longview Woodworking has an outstanding video that will reveal you how to construct your drawers and set up the slides.
Statistics
- Time: 5 to 10 minutes
- Expense: $15 to $30
- Problem: simple
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How to set up complete extension, side-mount drawer slides
Constantly begin with square drawers, whether you purchased them, developed them, or are doing repair work. If packages are wonky, setting up slides will be a headache. Whatever the case, your drawers need to be 1 inch narrower than the opening. It’s much better to err on the side of a 16th of an inch smaller sized instead of too big, due to the fact that a lot of drawer slides have adjustable tabs that can close spaces, however they can’t get thinner.
1. Identify the height of the slides from the bottom of the cabinet The most convenient method to set up drawer slides is flush with the bottom of the drawer. In this manner, you just have one height measurement to monitor. The bottom of a drawer need to sit about an eighth of an inch above the bottom edge of the opening it’ll sit within– this will permit it to move in and out without capturing.
If you have more than one drawer, discover this height for each one.
- Note: You do not need to set up the slides at the bottom of the drawer– they can address any height. It refers style aesthetic appeals. If you wish to focus the slides vertically, for instance, you’ll simply require to do some mathematics to determine how high above the bottom of the drawer the base of the slide requires to be.
2. Cut 2 plywood spacers to the height of the bottom of the greatest drawer. The very best plywood for this is 3/4- inch due to the fact that it’s a quarter-inch broader than the slides themselves, providing the drawer a lip to rest on (that’ll be necessary later on). You’ll require 2 spacers, one for each side of the cabinet. Utilize a miter saw or table saw to make this cut square, and utilize a stop block to guarantee that both spacers are precisely the exact same size.
- Note: If you’re preparing to have the slides sit greater than the bottom of the drawer, cut a 2nd set of little spacers that are the height of the range in between the bottom of the drawer and the bottom of the slide.
3. Utilize the spacers to place the slides inside the cabinet. Set your spacers inside the cabinet to discover the height of the slides.
- Note: If the slide must be greater than the bottom of the drawer, put the smaller sized spacer on top of the high spacer.
4. Set up the drawer slides. Location the slide on top of the spacer and screw the slide in location. Many side-mount drawer slides have bendable tabs cut into them– screw through those holes to begin, due to the fact that they will permit you to make micro-adjustments later on if needed.
5. Connect the drawers to the slides, utilizing the spacers as a rack. With the drawer slides screwed to the cabinet, location simply the high spacer board inside (get rid of the much shorter piece of plywood if you utilized one). Then set the drawer on the lip developed by the 3/4- inch spacer. Pull the drawer out of the cabinet 3 or 4 inches, then extend the drawer slide up until it’s lined up where you desire it. I generally place mine about a 16th of an inch from the front of the drawer box so there’s no opportunity of it hindering the drawer face.
[Related: Build your own drawer organizer]
Screw the very first hole of the slide into the drawer box.
Then pull the slide nearly all the escape, so the back of the drawer box is still resting on the plywood spacer, and screw in among the rear screws.
Your drawer is now set up.
6. Recut the plywood spacers and repeat Steps 1 through 5 for extra drawers. To end up any lower drawers, just cut the plywood spacer to the height of the bottom of the next-highest drawer, resolving Steps 1 and 2 if you require a refresher. Then repeat Steps 3 through 5
- Pro idea: Take the formerly set up drawers out as you go so they’re not in the method– you can quickly move them back in when you’re done setting up whatever.
Which’s it. When all of the drawers remain in location, ensure they open and close effectively, and utilize the micro-adjustments on the slides to repair any small disparities. Follow the producer’s directions for the specifics of those modifications.
When the drawers are working the method you desire, begin developing those drawer deals with if you’re not dealing with completed drawers. That job is its own unique brand name of discouraging enjoyable, however I can get you begun with a perk idea: Playing cards make fantastic spacers