There are billions of drawer slides powering cabinets and furniture around the world. While they may seem all the same, there are actually many different types of drawer slides with varying weight capacities and extension lengths.
Choosing the right ones for your project requires careful consideration. To help you out, here are some things to keep in mind.
Type of Drawer
Drawer slides allow drawers to slide in and out of furniture, supporting their weight while reducing friction between the drawer box and the housing. Without them, the drawer would rub against the housing and wear it down over time.
The type of slide you choose will determine how smoothly the drawer opens and closes. You can also get more features like a soft-close option that prevents the drawer from slamming shut or a touch release feature that allows you to open the drawer with just a push.
Make sure you select the right length of slide. If you select a slide that’s too short, the drawer won’t pull out far enough and may look strange. If you select one that’s too long, the drawer may bind and be difficult to open.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of a drawer slide is its ability to support a typical amount of load. When a slide is overloaded, it can cause damage and break down. The load capacity also varies by the slide's length and width. Using slides that are too wide can put excessive stress on them and reduce their safe maximum load rating.
Another feature of a drawer slide to consider is whether or not it has soft-close options which prevent the drawer from slamming shut. This is an important feature for commercial applications and can be a big difference in user experience.
Another consideration when choosing a drawer slide is whether it's center or under mount. Center mounting takes up less space but doesn't have as much clearance as side-mount slides.
Extension Length
The extension length of the drawer is important as a drawer that’s too short won’t allow enough of an opening and won’t support the contents once opened. A drawer that’s too long can add stress to the slides and cause them to break prematurely.
Fortunately, drawer slide lengths are widely available to match a variety of cabinetry requirements. There are even telescopic drawer slides that offer more than one section of extension for larger applications and higher weight capacities.
There are also side mount slides that stay hidden under the drawer box and won’t stick out, which is great for frameless cabinets or those who don’t want to deal with hardware in front of their cabinet doors. This style is more affordable than full-extension or over travel slides.
Material
Drawer slides support the drawer box’s weight and reduce friction between it and the cabinet housing. They also extend the drawer’s lifespan by keeping it separate from the cabinet. If the drawer didn’t have a slide, it would be in direct contact with the cabinet and wear down its surfaces.
Different drawer slide types offer varying weight capacities. Overloading a slide can cause it to break or damage the cabinet or drawer. Choosing a slide that’s too weak can lead to the drawer falling off or not closing properly.
Some slides feature additional features, like detents or locking, to prevent unintended movement of the drawer. They’re also easy to clean and are made of sturdy materials that won’t rust. They’re available in side-mount and bottom-mount styles.
Finish
The best drawer slides wholesale offer a high-quality and smooth performing slide that will make any cabinet or piece of furniture much more comfortable to use. These slides have many features that can improve the functionality of your drawers, such as soft-close options that prevent slamming and self-closing mechanisms that automatically close the drawer when pushed in.
When choosing a drawer slide, consider its mount type. Depending on your cabinet design, you may only have one option: side mount, under mount, or center mount. The mount type is important because it determines how your slides will be installed and where they will be attached to the cabinet. Side and under mount slides have an intermediate member that stays connected to the cabinet member, while center and ball-bearing slides have a removable intermediate member.