There are several factors to consider when choosing slides for your drawers, including how they’re fastened, how long they are, and how much they can support in terms of weight. So how do you choose the best heavy drawer slide for your needs, and what makes a good one?
1. Options for Mounting Drawer Slides
You have a choice of five standard mounting solutions when purchasing drawer slides. Your best choice is typically determined by the drawer’s available space in the cabinet, cost, weight-holding capacity, and visibility. Some mounting options include bottom-mount, side-mount, center-mount, groove-mount, and under-mount.
2. Slide Length
The slide length and extension are two more crucial factors to think about and take into account while selecting slides. Considering that high-quality drawer slides are made to last for many years, if not forever, it makes sense to choose the kind of setup you will likely like for a very long time. Making the right decision now will enable you to access the entirety of the drawer and have handy cabinet travel that complements your countertop.
The most popular length for slides among people is between ten to twenty-eight inches, while greater lengths are also available.
You should typically measure the distance between the cabinet‘s front border, and the rear’s inside face, then deduct an inch for center-mount and side-mount slides. Next, the drawer’s length should be measured when measuring under-mount slides. Finally, the slides’ length must match the drawer’s length for effective operation.
3. Drawer Slide Size
When selecting the ideal drawer slides, you should also consider the size of the cabinet space in your cabinet. Even though there are numerous possibilities for how a drawer expands, you must purchase a drawer that is the right size for your cabinet.
Additionally, installing drawers with over-travel will ensure you can access all of the contents of your drawers if your countertop or cabinet protrudes.
The following are the three primary types of drawer slides:
- Three-quarter extension: These slides are an upgrade over many of the older wooden guide drawers still available in many houses since they allow you to pull your cabinet drawer to its whole length. Old drawer slides can be replaced for a reasonable price using three-quarter extensions.
- Over-travel: To provide you with more clearance, drawers with this function enable you to open them farther than they would with a full extension slide.
- Full extension: Fully adjustable drawer slides are the ideal option for most people who own homes since they let you see and easily access all of the content of your drawers.
4. Rating for Cabinetry Weight
The load ratings of a cabinet are another crucial factor to consider if you desire your slide to survive for a long period. Please be sure the sliders you buy can support the weight they’ll require.
Most slides are rated to support seventy-five, one hundred, or one-fifty pounds. This capability is especially crucial in areas like kitchens where large pans and skillets could destroy slides designed to carry less weight.
Drawer slide weight ratings are calculated using formulas that adhere to predetermined rules. Usually, drawer slides are rated according to their length, which is eighteen inches. Slides that are more than eighteen inches won’t be just as strong, while those that are shorter “will hold more weight.”
5. Drawer Slide Disconnects
A disconnect is a device that makes it possible to remove a drawer from the housing cabinetry. Common disconnects include:
- Friction: Friction disconnects merely enable you to release the slide from the force of the ball bearing holding it.
- Rail: A rail disconnect features a latch that enables you to uplift the cabinet or drawer off the slide and remove it from the desk or cabinet where it is kept.
- Lever disconnects contain an internal lever that, when pulled, allows the drawer to slide out freely.
The Bottom Line
A quality drawer slide can distinguish between years of inconvenience and convenience. Naturally, you want the latter unless you have an endless supply of aspirin and do not want a stress-free life. Unfortunately, most of us don’t often consider drawer slides unless they aren’t functioning properly. So, you should get ahead of the problem before it becomes one and make sure that you have made the best choice from the start.
