Roller Slides

These basic slides are what you’ll find in most cabinets sold in big-box stores. You can also purchase them separately. They’re the least expensive of all metal drawer slides, are very easy to mount and work reliably. Many of them allow the drawer to slide three-quarters or more of its length out of the cabinet and have a ramp built into the back which draws the drawer closed over the last few inches of travel. As with most metal slides, the drawer needs to be narrower than the cabinet’s opening – usually 1/2″. They’re great for work­shop cabinets because they readily tolerate high dust conditions, which would otherwise gum up the move­ments of their more sophisticated, high-count ball-bearing slide cous­ins. These slides also come in a flip-front version, as well as one which features built-in drawer sides, which some may find convenient.

Side-Mount Slides 

These slides are capable of carry­ing more weight than any other type. As their name implies, they mount to the drawer sides and are therefore fully visible when opened. Also, because they mount on the sides, the cabinet opening must be wide enough to accommo­date their thickness, which can be anywhere from 1/4″ per side, to as much as 3/4″ for the really heavy-duty slides. They also have a considerable number of ball bearings, which allows them to operate very smoothly. As with all slides incorporat­ing ball bearing movements, this type is very dust-sensitive, so they should be avoided in most workshop applications. Where they excel, however, is in kitchen pantries or office file cabi­nets where heavy loads may be encountered. They can also be used in tandem – one or more over the other – for tall open­ings where they help steady high-sided (6′ and even taller) pull-outs. These slides come in three-quarters, full, and more-than-full extension models. They also come in a thin variant, useful where you can’t afford to give up the extra width, as well as a more expensive self-closing variant. As you can appreci­ate, the higher tolerance machining and significant number of ball bearings in side-mount slides make them more expensive than roller slides. However, if it’s weight-carrying capacity you want, they’re the ones to turn to.

Under-Mount Slides

Under-mount slides were designed for applications where you don’t want the slides to show but you also don’t want to invest a lot of money. You’ll see them on the same, relatively inexpensive cabinets, that sport roller slides. The main differ­ence between these two is a set of plastic runners mounted at the lower corners of the cabinet’s drawer opening. Although most of these slides have a carrying capacity similar to roller slides, manufacturers have responded to this shortfall by pro­ducing sets that look more like side-mount slides. These variants are capable of carrying nearly as much weight as their look-alike counterparts … but their price tags reflect this addi­tional capacity.

Hidden Slides 

If you’re looking for the newest, snazziest drawer slides, look no further. These slides were previously featured only in high-end kitchen and bathroom cabinets. However, because manufacturers have since responded to the call for less expensive models, albeit with decreased life-span and with less carrying capacity, they’re now being seen in less expensive cabinets. As with all high-count, open ball-bearing slides, these aren’t recom­mended for workshops. There is even a variant of these slides that incorporate electric motors into their mechanisms, allow­ing them to open at the touch of a toe or finger. Just don’t try to rely on them if the hydro fails! As can be appreciated, with the exception of the relatively inexpensive knock-offs, this family of slides is considerably more expensive than any other metal slide. Despite their high price tags, they’re gaining favour with those who want nothing but the best or latest in their cabinets.

Installation Tips

It’s important to carefully read, and then re-read, the man­ufacturer’s installations, even before you’ve designed the cabinet into which you’re planning to use metal drawer slides. The reason for this attention is simply because most of these slides are to be installed to fairly high tolerances. Gone are the days of simply being able to plane a bit from the drawer side to provide more clearance. Another important tip is to ensure you use the recommended screw head type and size for affixing these slides; with such little space between the parts that connect to the drawer and those that fasten to the cabinet side, there’s very little clearance space. Finally, to help with drilling holes for the mounting brackets, some manufacturers and third-party companies offer interesting jigs that take the guess work out of the hole-drilling activity. I know that had these been available when I was working on the first kitchen upgrade I undertook, it would have made my life that much easier. And everyone I know likes that.

Simple Option

When you have lots of drawers to make, it might be worth your while to use slides that come with drawer sides. This way, you will not have to machine drawer sides out of wood or sheet goods. The all-metal slides are finished nicely and add to the look of a drawer. Often, all you have to do is cut a back and bottom to size, then attach a face. It speeds the process of drawer making, and the resulting drawer looks sleek and works well. A number of companies offer these sorts of slides, so check with your local supplier.