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Installing new drawer glides in existing drawers

16 years ago

Our kitchen remodel is still a long way off. One of the things I hate about my current kit. is the drawer glides. The ones that aren't broken and hard to use only open about half way, and they don't hold much weight without the risk of joining the ranks of broken drawers.

So I'm thinking of installing some full extension, soft-close drawer glides. Dh said he doesn't have time to mess with it. So I said maybe I could do it myself. He said he was serious about not having time to mess with it. I said I was serious about trying to do it myself. How hard could it be? I can use a drill, tape measure, and level.

How hard can it be? Are there glides that are easier to install than others? Currently the glides are one single undermounted glide. Thought maybe I could replace it with two undermount glides.

Thanks

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Comments (3)

venkatbo
16 years ago
With the right tools (like say a RightAngle screw-driver, etc), good instructions, and lotsa patience/time, it should be doable... You should be able to practice one set first. Then the rest will be easy to do.

Apart from books, DVDs, etc., what may also help is to get a cabinet from say some place like IKEA, see how it all goes together, and replicate the process. Return the cab after that.

The only gotcha that I can think of, is if you are working with particle board boxes/drawers - if a mistake is made wrt holes drilled, it could a little painful to rectify the mistake. It is little more invloved to "fill" with wood-fillers (pastes made from quick drying water-soluble powders) and then relocate the holes/screws.

Best,
/venkat
sholt576
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks- I can certainly practice on a broken one and be assured of not making it any worse.

Now I just have to figure out which glides to order. I stopped by Lowe's but they don't have anything that will work.
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bob_cville
16 years ago
Sometimes Lowes carries Accuride brand full extension drawer slides, sometimes they seem to only cheap crappy ones. One good resource for drawer slides is Rockler Woodworking

The most difficult part is figuring out which slides will work with your drawers. For instance if you have face-framed cabinets with the type of drawer glides where a small nylon wheel mounted on the back of the drawer fits into a metal track mounted in the cabinet above the drawer, you may not be able to replace them with side mounted drawer slides, since there might not be room between the drawer side and the face frame for the slide.

If you can post pictures of your existing drawers and slides, someone here can probably point you in the exact right direction.

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