Choosing the right drawer slides ensures smoothness and durability over time. Considering that we may open and close drawers countless times in our lives, the importance of this decision cannot be overstated. When selecting slides, we need to consider price, features, appearance, and personal preference for feel. Below Baoertai Hardware will reorganize this information in a way that is more relevant to everyday communication to help you find the best drawer slides for your needs.
Types of Drawer Slides
Side-Mounted Slides
There are two main types of side-mounted slides: ball-bearing and epoxy (or Euro). Ball bearing slides are known for their smooth operation, high load capacity, and full-extension or even over-extension design, and are often equipped with safety devices to prevent drawers from sliding out on their own. Epoxy-coated slides, on the other hand, offer an automatic closing function and an opening hold mechanism that allows the drawer to remain open for easy access while working. However, both types of side-mounted slides require some clearance on both sides – about half an inch – for installation.
Bottom-Mounted Slides
Bottom-mounted slides are hidden underneath the drawer and not only enhance interior storage space, but also offer advanced features such as silent closing, which makes them ideal for high-end cabinetry. Note that because the slides are located at the bottom, the height of the drawer interior is slightly reduced, and there are specific requirements for the thickness and size of the sides of the drawer box, as well as the backs that may need to be cut.
Center Mounted Slides
Center-mounted slides are a more traditional option and are primarily used to replace slides in older cabinets. These slides are mounted along the center of the drawer and, while completely invisible, usually only offer a 3/4 pull-out option due to their limited load capacity and do not offer features such as self-closing or silent closing.
Drawer Pull-out Distance
Depending on your needs, you can choose slides with different degrees of pull-out, including 3/4 pull-out, full pull-out and over-pull. Among them, the over-pull design allows the drawer to pull completely out of the cabinet for easy access to the deepest items. Different slide types support different pull-outs.
What Motion Features are Available?
Modern slides are also equipped with a variety of useful features, such as auto-close, silent-close, and tap-to-open. These features improve the user experience. For example, in busy kitchen environments, the auto-close function can help prevent drawers from opening halfway; silent close reduces noise when closing doors; and tap-to-open is suitable for design styles that seek a minimalist look, especially when space is limited.
What Load Rating You Need?
Standard metal slides are adequate for most home kitchens, but if you plan to place heavier items, such as filing cabinets or toolboxes, you should choose heavy-duty slides with a higher weight capacity to ensure long-term stability.
Measuring Slide Length
Most drawer slides are available in a variety of lengths, usually in increments of about 2 inches. It goes without saying that you’ll want to choose slides that are as long as possible to minimize dead space at the back of the cabinet, but make sure the slides have enough room in the cabinet to ensure proper operation. Consider any obstructions inside the cabinet, such as nails or stretchers, and whether the drawers are fully recessed or covered. Fully recessed drawers reduce the maximum depth of the drawer. Typically, side-mounted ball bearing slides should be the same length as the drawer box. For undermount slides, be sure to check the specification sheet – the drawer boxes for these slides must be built to a specific depth (front to back) to function properly.
Special Purpose Drawer Slides
If you are building any drawer other than a standard drawer, there are most likely special-purpose slides available. These include lightweight slides for keyboard trays, sturdy slides for pantry drawers and trash drawers, and “heavy-duty” slides for large file and tool drawers. Extra-long slides up to 60 inches in length are also available for truck compartments, mobile homes and other specialty applications.
We hope that the above information can help you choose the most right drawer slides to add a comfort and convenience to your home. Baoertai Hardware provides all kinds of drawer slides and one-stop custom drawer slides solutions to help you brand your home!
