Less durable: Often not as durable as drawer slides, especially when loaded with heavy loads.

Poor glide: May not glide as smoothly as drawer slides, especially if they don’t have balls or rollers.

Difficult to maintain: May require frequent maintenance or replacement to ensure proper function after long-term use.

Weight limit: Usually have a low weight capacity and are not suitable for heavy drawers or high-frequency use.

Of course, you only need to prepare screws, screwdrivers, drawer slides that match the length of your drawer, and a measuring tape to start installation.

There are three ways to install drawer slides to old drawers: side installation, bottom installation, and center installation. You can choose according to your drawer style. Of course, AOLISHENG recommends that you choose to install the drawer slides at the bottom.

Making a drawer slide can be a fun and practical project. Here is a basic guide to help you understand how to make and install a drawer slide. Depending on your needs and available materials, the steps may vary, but the general process usually includes the following steps:

Materials: Wood or metal strips (if you plan to make wooden slides, use sturdy wood; if using metal, you may need some metal angle irons), slide bearings (optional, if you want a smoother movement)

Screws and nuts, lubricant (such as slide oil or paraffin)

Tools: Power saw or hand saw (depending on the material you choose), power drill and drill bits, screwdriver, plane (if you need to trim the wood), measuring tools (such as rulers and angle squares), sandpaper (for sanding wood)

Steps

1. Measuring and Planning

Measure the dimensions of the drawer and drawer slot to ensure that the slide is the right length and width. When measuring, make sure to take into account the weight and frequency of use of the drawer.

2. Cutting Materials

Following your measurements, cut the wood or metal strips to the required length. If using wood, you can use a power saw or hand saw; if using metal strips, you can use metal cutting tools.

3. Sanding and Finishing

If you are using wood, use sandpaper to smooth the cut edges and surfaces to avoid friction or damage when the drawer slides.

4. Installing the Slides

If you are using wood to make the slides, you can pre-drill holes in the wood and then fix it to the sides of the drawer and the cabinet.

If you are using metal strips, you can fix them in place to ensure that the drawer can slide smoothly. You may need to use screws and nuts to fix the metal strips.

5. Adding Slide Bearings (Optional)

If you choose to use slide bearings, install them to the slides according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will make the drawer slide more smoothly.

6. Lubrication

Apply a proper amount of lubricant, such as slide oil or paraffin, to the surface of the slide. This can reduce friction and make the drawer slide more smoothly.

7. Testing

After installation, test whether the drawer slides smoothly. Make sure the slide is firmly fixed without any obstruction or uneven friction.

Note: Wear appropriate safety equipment such as goggles and gloves during cutting and sanding.

Make sure the slides are installed symmetrically to avoid drawers from tilting or getting stuck. Check the condition of the slides regularly and re-lubricate them to ensure they work well for a long time.

But you need to know that wooden drawer slides are not as smooth as metal drawer slides, and they are not as corrosion-resistant and load-bearing as metal drawer slides. You can choose the right slide size by measuring the length of your drawer.

After long-term use, the drawer slides will be worn or damaged. To extend the life of the drawer slides, we have the following suggestions.

1. Do not place items that exceed the load-bearing range of the slides when using the drawer.

2. Stainless steel drawer slides should be used in humid environments to prevent the life of the slides from being shortened due to rust.

3. The installation position is correct to avoid stress concentration and deformation caused by improper installation.

4. Clean and lubricate the slides regularly, use a soft cloth or brush to remove dust and debris on the slides, and apply an appropriate amount of lubricant on the surface of the slides.

When measuring drawer slides, there are a few steps to keep in mind:

1. Measure drawer width: Use a tape measure to measure the width of the inside of the drawer. This width determines the length of the slide.

2. Measure drawer depth: Measure the inside depth from the front of the drawer to the back of the drawer. This helps determine the travel length of the slide, which is the maximum distance the drawer can be pulled out.

3. Measure drawer height: Although the height of the slide is usually not a decisive factor, knowing the height of the drawer can help you choose the right type of slide.

4. Measure installation space: Determine the installation space for the slide, including the space on both sides of the drawer and inside the cabinet to ensure that the slide can be installed smoothly.

5. Determine the type of slide: Choose the appropriate type of slide according to the weight and frequency of use of the drawer, such as sliding rails, roller rails, or heavy-duty rails.