Drawer Slides

Mokshesh Jain
5 Types of Drawer
Slides

1. BALL BEARING DRAWER 2

1
SLIDES
2. SOFT CLOSE BALL BEARING
DRAWER SLIDES
3. BOTTOM MOUNT DRAWER
SLIDES
4. SIDE MOUNT DRAWER
SLIDES
5. CENTER MOUNT DRAWER
SLIDES 3&4 5
BALL
BEARING
DRAWER
SLIDES
SOFT CLOSE
BALL
BEARING
DRAWER
SLIDES
 Slide Mounts

Slide Length & Extension Types

This will cover all
the elements you Slide Weight Limits

need to consider
when deciding Slide Motion Features

which drawer slide

is right for your Slide Disconnect Types

project.
Slide Colors & Finishes

Popular Slide Brands

THE IDEAL
TYPE OF
MOUNT FOR
YOUR
PROJECT
BOTTOM MOUNT The bottom mount has a angle flange that
supports the drawer box which also has the
DRAWER SLIDES benefit of indexing the side for easier and
quicker installation. These are most used and
ATTACHMENT POSITION were designed for frameless cabinets, but
Bottom left and bottom have also been adapted and used for face
right hand sides of the frame cabinets
drawer box
 In side-mount drawer slides, the slides
themselves attach horizontally to the drawer
SIDE-MOUNT and the cabinet body. Side mount drawer
slides are useful across a wide variety of
SLIDES applications because of their weight bearing
capacities and durability.
ATTACHMENT POSITION Side-mount slides are available with either a
Horizontally to the drawer ball-bearing or a roller mechanism.
and the cabinet body.
 Center-mount slides are single slides that
mount directly under the center of a drawer.
CENTER-MOUNT Center mount slides may restrict the height of
SLIDES the drawer and you need to mind the size of
your cabinet. One benefit is that center
mount slides are easier to install. However,
ATTACHMENT POSITION most center-mount slides hold less weight
Directly under the center of than side mount alternatives.
a drawer
 Undermount slides mount to the sides of the
cabinet and connect to locking devices that
UNDERMOUNT are attached to the underside of the drawer
SLIDES body inside of the cabinet.
Undermount slides are ideal when you want
to highlight the quality of your cabinetry itself
ATTACHMENT POSITION
because the slides are not visible.
Slide attach to the sides of
the cabinet, locking devices
attach to the underside of
the drawer body inside of
the cabinet.
 These slides mount in a groove milled into
the side of the drawer box and are commonly
GROOVE MOUNT identified by the groove height. The common
DRAWER SLIDES groove heights are 17 mm and 27 mm.
This type of slide generally has a light load
rating, and is generally only used in a partial
ATTACHMENT POSITION In
extension variation.
a groove milled into the
side of the drawer box.
SLIDE LENGTH
&
EXTENSION
TYPES

SLIDE LENGTH
It is important for users to
consider their ideal slide
length and extension when
choosing drawer slides.
For side-mount and center-mount slides,
typically measure the distance from the front
edge of the cabinet to the inside face of the
cabinet back and then subtract 1”. For
undermount slides, measure the drawer
length. Slides must be the same length as
drawer to work properly.
In general most people buy slides that range
in size from 10” to 28”.
Some ADDITIONAL LENGTHS
 SLIDE
EXTENSION
TYPES
• PARTIAL EXTENSION:
• (SEE FIG. A)

• FULL EXTENSION:
• (SEE FIG. B)

• OVER TRAVEL:
• (SEE FIG. C)
SLIDE
EXTENSION
TYPES
Weight Rating is • This is a key consideration in places like the kitchen
where heavy cooking pots & pans could easily break
an important
down lesser slides.
consideration
• In general all drawer slides are rated based on an 18-
because you inch length. Longer slides will have less weight
want to have a capacity, slides shorter than 18” will have a higher
drawer slide that capacity.
lasts for a
lifetime of use.
THE IDEAL TYPE
OF MOTION
FOR YOUR
DRAWER SLIDE
SHOCK ABSORPTION PUSH TO OPEN SELF CLOSE SOFT CLOSE

Slides return
Hard closing or Slides return the
Slides that open the drawer all
slamming is often drawer all the
with an easy the way into
what causes way into the
nudge keeps you the cabinet
damage to the cabinet when
from needing an when drawer is
internal drawer is pushed
extra handle or pushed slightly
mechanism of a slightly in that
knob. in that
drawer slide. direction.
direction.
INSTALLATION
CONSIDERATIONS
 • RAIL - Feature a latch that enables you to
raise the drawer up off the slide to pull it
away from the desk or cabinet in which it’s
housed.
THE 3 TYPES • LEVER - Features an internal lever that, when
depressed, allows the drawer to slide out
OF freely.
DISCONNECTS • FRICTION - Unlike lever and rail disconnects,
do not require the manipulation of a latch or
lever but simply allow you to open your slide
against the force of the ball bearing holding
it.
COLOR
&
FINISH
BLACK WHITE METALLIC ZINC /
CHROMATED STEEL

There are also a few options on the color

or look of the drawer slides
POPULAR
SLIDE
BRANDS
SOME TRUSTED BRANDS