Binding, sticking and making unpleasant noises are common for drawers. These symptoms make you replace old drawers with new drawer slides. A person needs to know to measure drawer slides whenever he needs to replace the slider hardware or repair the existing one. You can get custom drawer slides. So this is a guide to measuring drawer slides for a perfect installation. Let us get started.
Equipment required
- A screwdriver
- A measuring tape
- A notepad
Step by step guide to measure drawer slides
This is a guide to measure the drawer to get proper drawer slides.
1. The first step is to remove the drawer from the cabinet.
Accuracy is the key to everything. You might have to manipulate to remove the drawer from the drawer box. In some cases, you might have to extend the drawer and lift them up to take them out. You can also extend and lift the back of the drawer to get the wheels out. In some other cases, you will have to use the screwdriver to remove the drawer. This is how you can remove the drawer from the drawer box.
2. The next step is to measure the drawer box.
As the front face of the drawer is a few inches bigger in size, it stops the drawer from entering the drawer box. There is no need to measure the front face. Rather, you should measure the box from the back.
3. You need to measure the width of the drawer and the opening of the cabinet.
You have to measure the width of the drawer. There can be a difference in the width of the drawer and the drawer box. If the difference is within 1/8th inches, you need to use full-length extension guides. Suppose the difference is less or more than 1/8th inches; you need to use bottom-mount guides. You might have to do a little carpentry to make the drawer suitable for the new slides.
4. You need to measure the exterior and interior of the drawer.
A poor design of the drawer can lead to improper installation. Smaller slides can help avoid and reduce rubbing. So in this situation, it is good to use smaller slides to avoid this problem. It is important to measure the exterior and interior of the drawer so that you can get a proper design and proper installation.
5. If you are still unsure about the size of the drawer, you can take the drawer with you.
Some people might be unsure about the measurements they have taken. So if you are uncertain about these measurements, you can take the drawer with you and get the suitable slides for the drawer.
It is good to replace the drawer slides as a complete set. Replacing one side of the drawer slide can make the drawer unstable. This might lead to the breaking of the drawer, or it might fall. Using the guide mentioned above to measure the drawer for the new drawer slides would be helpful. You can take the drawer to the drawer slide manufacturer to get the seamless drawer slides.