Types Of Draws
Cabinet drawers that feature ¾ inch plywood will perform even greater strength and will last even longer. Regarding material, look for drawers that are made of laminated particle board or plywood. Usually, you can pick between Slab Drawer Fronts and Five-Piece Drawer Fronts. Slab drawer fronts contain one flat, simple looking panel. Choose them if you want to achieve a simple and clean look in a kitchen. Ball Bearing Drawer Slides. Our Liberty brand ball bearing drawer slides come in a variety of sizes.
Drawer slides—also referred to as drawer runners—are devices which enable individual drawers to slide in and out of the drawer unit allowing users to easily access the objects contained within.
There is a wide range of characteristics by which these devices can be designed and constructed, including:
- Mounting style (e.g., side, center, under, and bottom mounting)
- Slide length
- Slide extension (e.g., over-travel, full, three-quarter, etc.)
- Weight rating (i.e., maximum load capacity)
- Finish
In addition to these characteristics, drawer slides utilize different mechanisms and demonstrate different functionality depending on the type employed. Some of the common types of drawer slide available include:
- Wooden slides
- Roller slides
- Ball bearing slides
The following sections provide a brief description of the above-mentioned types of drawer slides.
Wooden Slides
Prior to the development of more modern plastic and metal drawer slide designs, cabinet and furniture makers exclusively used wooden slides. Constructed of strips of wood, these devices serve as horizontal rails on which drawers rest and slide. Depending on the cabinet or drawer face, guides can also be fitted on the slides to help guide the motion of the drawers as they are opened and closed.
Employing wooden slides in furniture and cabinet pieces requires precision fabrication and assembly to allow for smooth movement of the drawer without being too loose or too tight. While achieving the proper fit is difficult, doing so results in a finished drawer which requires no additional hardware or false face component. However, despite the aesthetic value of using wooden slides, the difficulty of achieving a balanced drawer fit coupled with the limitations on extension—i.e., full extension is not possible with sacrificing stability—and tendency to stick—especially in humid environments—often make them less suitable for use than other types of drawer slides.
Roller Slides
Roller slides are typically composed of two mated, epoxy-coated metal profiles—one which attaches to the drawer and one which attaches to the cabinet frame—and nylon wheels—which allow the profiles to move smoothly and quietly along each other. Compared to wooden slides, these slides are more conspicuous as they attach to the sides of the drawer and will, therefore, need a false face or an extended drawer front lip to conceal the hardware, if desired.
Available in both side mount and bottom mount—also sometimes called European bottom mount—models, roller slides are typically used for more lightweight applications (~75 lbs.).
Ball Bearing Slides
As suggested by their name, ball bearing slides contain ball bearing components which enable the mated steel or steel alloy profile components to smoothly and quietly move relative to each other. Compared to roller slides, these slides are more durable and have greater load bearing capacities (>500 lbs.).
Ball bearing slides are available in progressive movement or telescopic slide models. In progressive movement slides, all slide components move simultaneously, which allows for smooth and quiet opening and closing motions. On the other hand, telescopic slides are segmented, and the movements of individual slide segments occur in stages, with each segment fully extending (or condensing) before propagating the motion of the next segment.
Additional Drawer Slide Functions and Features
In addition to the mechanisms outlined above, which allow drawers to be opened and closed by a user, there are optional functions and features available for drawer slides, which can increase functionality and improve user experience. Some of these options include:
- Soft-Close: hydraulic dampening components prevent drawers from slamming closed, reducing the amount of noise produced and damage to the drawer
- Push-To-Open: drawer slides open when pressure is applied to the front face, eliminating the need for additional hardware components
- Assisted Open/Close: assistive mechanism automatically closes or opens the drawer three-quarters of the way through the motion
- Hold-In/Hold-Out: drawer remains opened or closed until a specific level of force is applied
- Lock-In/Lock-Out: drawer remains locked opened or closed until a lever component is released
Summary
Types Of Draws In Chess
This guide provides a basic understanding of the types of drawer slides available.
For more information on related products, consult other Thomas guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform, where you will find information on over 500,000 commercial and industrial suppliers.
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