Step By Step Guide & Items Required To Install Soft Close Drawer Slides
Installing the drawer slides is an easy task if the users get the right tools and then follow the right procedure. The users need to make the drawer empty and then detach its old hardware. Usually, the unused slides are crafted from the two pieces, the one-piece is screwed down to the drawer surface and the other one to the cabinet surface so as to launch up the slides. The users can easily install the soft-close drawer slides at home by gathering the below-mentioned materials and then following the below-defined steps:
Materials Required
- Soft-Close Drawer Slides, Level & Drill
- Electric Screwdriver, Pencil & Measuring Tape
- Mounting Brackets, 1/2-Inch Screws
Step I- Clear And Measure The Drawer
- Detach The Drawer: Start by making the drawer empty and then detach the drawer and to do so the users need to lift up the drawer and then place it somewhere else. Most of the drawers usually get popped outwards when they lift them back and if it does not work then they need to unfasten the screw that might be placed at the backend of the drawer.
- Detach The Slides: Then the users need to unfasten the slides within the cabinet and the drawer. Use the screwdriver so as to detach the pre-existing hardware and the hardware consists of the piece with the affixed screws. If in case the users are having the metal tracks then they can easily locate the slides either at the drawer base or at the drawer side. The users need to depress the clips downwards that is placed at the slide tracks so as to unfasten them.
- Measure The Drawer Length: Finally calculate the length of the drawer by using the measuring tape and calculate the length of the pre-existing slides. The slides usually come up in various size patterns. In order to get the perfect slide piece, the users are advised to calculate the measurements of the drawer before buying the slides.
Step II- Adjusting The Drawer Slides
- Align The Drawer Slides: Start by aligning the small-sized slide adjacent to the drawer base. The users need to lay down the drawer towards its side as it is very necessary that the slide should flush adjacent to the base corner of the drawer. The thick, squared corner of the slide needs to get flushed with the front corner of the drawer.
- Mark Down The Slide Placements: Then the users need to mark down the placement of the slide by using the pencil and then mark the location directly over the drawer surface. They also need to make the dark and thick lines raised over the slide ends. They also need to mark down those spots where they will screw down the slides to the surface of the drawer.
- Drill Down The Holes: Drill the holes within the drawer by using the power drill with the attached drill bit as well. The users need to drill directly within the marked areas.
- Screw Down The Slides: Then screw down the slides and to do so the users require to place the back of the slide on the surface of the drawer. Then they need to line up the topmost corner with the marked area and then adjust the slides accordingly. Then the users need to place the 1.3cm sized screw within each drilled hole and then fasten them down by using the electric screwdriver. In order to forbid the wood damage, they need to fasten the screws constantly. They need to stop fastening down the screws when they feel that the slide is placed firmly in its place.
- Affix The Slide: After that, affix the slide to the other drawer side and to do so the users need to find out the other piece of the slide. Then they need to spin down the drawer towards its other side and then align and affix the slide in the same pattern.
Step III- Set Up The Tracks Of Slides
- Set Up The Back Bracket: Start by setting up the back-sided brackets to the frame and to do so the users need to find out the L-shaped brackets that are made up of the metal and they also need to find out the remaining two pieces of the slides. Then adjust the bracket within each slide end as the brackets usually slide easily within the track. Then they need to affix the free ends within the cabinet by using the screws.
- Align The Slide Frame: Then the users need to line up the frame of the slides with the cabinet base. They need to place the frame of the slide within the cabinet and then push back the brackets. If in case the users are using the under affixed slides then they need to place the pieces of the frame to the base of the cabinet.
- Use The Level: In order to straighten the frame, the users need to use the level. Then they need to mark down the frame position by using the pencil and they need to mark down that area where the slide frame resides at the cabinet surface. Once they marked the frame position then they require marking that specific spot where they are fastening the rails and the brackets as well.
- Pre-drill The Holes: Then the users need to drill down the holes within the wood as these drilled holes will forbid the wood cracking and the breakage of the screws.
- Fit Up The Drawer: Finally screw down the pieces of the frame to its actual place by using the electric drawer and the screws as well. Once the drawers screwed the frame pieces then the users need to fit up the drawer within the slide frames of the cabinet accordingly.