How To Size Full Extension Drawer Slides: Ultimate Guide To Measure The Size Of Full Extension Slides

Ultimate Guide To Measure The Size Of Full Extension Drawer Slides

Nearly all drawers have drawer slides installed. The set contains two for the cabinet and two for each side of the drawer. The drawer moves smoothly and quietly as nylon bearings slide into matched guides. Your present drawers' bearings may be worn out if they are loud, stick, bind, or refuse to move at all. Any style of drawer slide can be replaced with just a screwdriver. They are available in various lengths. Pick the appropriate ones. Your drawer slides likely need to be replaced if they stick, bind, won't move at all, or create unpleasant noises. Knowing how to measure the size of the full extension drawer slides is essential to the functionality and endurance of your drawers, whether you are installing replacement drawers or repairing slider hardware on already-installed drawers.

Remove The Drawer From The Cabinet

This is one instance where accuracy is crucial and you don't want to guess. The drawer may need to be moved around in order to be removed. The majority of drawers require you to fully expand the drawer before lifting up and pulling it out. If it doesn't work, lift the rear of the drawer and pop the wheels out of the guides by guiding the drawer to a mostly extended position. If nothing of those approaches works, it might be required to pry the wheels away from the guides with a screwdriver.

Measure The Box, Not The Drawer Front

It shouldn't be measured because the front face of the drawer serves to prevent it from sliding into the cabinet. Measure from the rear of the box to the front of the box, excluding the front of the drawer, starting at the back. After you have the length, round it down. You will need 20 inch drawer slides, for instance, if the drawer is 20 12 inches long.

Measure The Width Of The Drawer And The Opening In The Cabinet

You can use full-extension guides if the distance between the width of the drawer and the width of the opening is less than 1/8 inch. To make the drawer function with the new slides, you must utilize bottom-mount guides or perform some little carpentry if they are less than or greater than 1/8 inch.

Examine The Interior Of The Cabinet And The Exterior Of The Drawer

The drawer sliders may have prematurely worn out due to poor design or incorrect installation. It's possible that smaller slides were employed to prevent rubbing against a cabinet's inside. If so, you will also need to utilize smaller slides to prevent the same problem.

Take The Drawer With You, If You Are Still Uncertain About The Size Of Slides To Purchase

Even though you might be perplexed, you can pretty much guarantee that the individual selling the slides will be able to measure your drawer and give you slides that will fit it exactly. Replace drawer slides in pairs only. The drawer may become unstable if just one side of the drawer slides is replaced. The drawer might break or it might fall out of its housing and hurt someone.