Slides

Drawer or door slides are hardware items that help drawers open and close smoothly. These important parts can make the difference between drawers that work well for years and those that cause constant problems. There are two main ways to install a door slide. Side mount slides attach to the sides of drawers and cabinets, and these are a very common choice. Under mount slides connect to the bottom of drawers, ensuring that they stay hidden from view and create a tidier look. Ball bearing slides are the most popular type. They use small metal balls between tracks to create smooth movement. Some slides have two parts - one for the drawer and one for the cabinet. Others have three parts with a middle section that enables drawers to open further.

Drawer slides come with different features to improve the way in which they work. Soft-close slides slow down at the end to prevent slamming. Self-close slides pull drawers shut automatically. Touch-release slides open when you push on the drawer front. When you choose which door slide is right for your project, think about how much weight they need to hold. Light duty slides work for basic kitchen and office drawers, and they support up to 75 pounds. Medium door slides can handle up to 150 pounds for larger drawers and heavy duty slides can hold hundreds or even in excess of a thousand pounds for industrial uses.

Accuride is a leading brand in the industry, making door slides in many sizes from 6 to 60 inches long. They offer partial extension slides where drawers open most of the way, full extension where drawers open completely and over-travel slides where drawers extend beyond the cabinet for better access. To select the right drawer slides, you will need to think about how they mount, how much weight they'll hold, how far they need to open and what closing features you want. Well-chosen slides will ensure your drawers work smoothly and reliably for years to come.