Introduction

Drawer slides are meant for pulling out and pushing in the cabinet drawers smoothly. They can be installed in kitchen cabinets, bedroom cabinets, etc. They are also known as pullouts and come in a variety of sizes. Cabinet drawer slides or pullouts help to rejuvenate and organize the kitchen cabinets.

Drawer slides are usually made of metal and wood. Metallic drawer sides are given zinc finish, brass finish and copper finishes.

Drawer slides have load ratings of light, medium or heavy and weight capacity required for a particular drawer is very important.

Types of Cabinet Drawer Slides

Drawer slides are suitable for a wide variety of applications. Various options like partial or full drawer extension, ball bearing, drawer stop and self-closing designs are popular with cabinet drawer slides. They are of the following types:

• Full Extension Drawer Slide: They are appropriate for allowing access to every inch of the drawer. Full-extension self-closing drawer slide occupies the maximum length of the drawer and comes with drawer stops. Drawer stops restrict the drawer from coming out.
  
  
  
• Ball-bearing Drawer Slide: This type of drawer slide requires a 1/4" mortise in the drawer side for installation. They come with drawer stops.
  
  
  
• Center-mount Drawer Slide: It is mostly used for face-frame cabinets. In this type of drawer slide, no hardware is visible on drawer sides.
  
  
  
• Side-mount Drawer Slide: It is stronger and more durable as compared to single center mono-rail or center bottom drawer slides. The drawer slide makes use of surface installation on face-frame cabinets.
  
  
• European Style Self-closing Drawer Slide: It is designed to be installed under the edge of the drawer side. These drawer slides are perfect for face frame frameless cabinets. European-style side-mount drawer slide is provided with a stop to prevent drawer from sliding out completely.

Buying Tips The most important point that has to be considered while buying drawer slide for cabinet is the type of slide required for a particular installation. The slide length and drawer length should be determined before selecting drawer slides for cabinet. As different load ratings are available for drawer slides, the most important factor that should be considered is the weight capacity required for your drawer.