7 Easy Steps to Replace Broken Drawer Slides
Everyone wants to have plenty of storage space in their homes. Drawers are a classic example of that. They are closets, pantries, and cupboards all rolled into one. But like any old appliance, drawers can get broken or damaged over time due to an accident or age. The good news is that you can easily replace broken drawer slides with the help of this article.
1. Take the Drawer Apart
The first thing you’ll need to do is reassemble the drawer. Remove all the screws that hold the drawer together, and then separate the parts. Make sure to remove anything from inside before you do so. However, don’t remove the drawer slides yet. Depending on the extent of the damage, you might want to loosen or tighten the screws holding them in place. But, of course, you have to put your safety first.
2. Remove the Old Slides
Before you can put in new drawer slides, you’ll have to remove the old ones first. Use a screwdriver to remove all the screws holding its mounting brackets, and then take them out.
There will usually be two mounts that hold the slides in place: one in the back and one on the inside. The back mount is held on by four screws, while the inside mount is held on by two. To prevent further damage, you should remove both of these mounts before removing the slide from its mounting bracket.
3. Put in New Slides
After removing the old slides, you can install the new drawers. Be extra careful if these are drawers slides heavy duty. If you’re buying a replacement set, slide them into the existing mounting brackets. However, if you’re building your slides by hand, it will be a little bit more complicated.
You’ll have to cut and drill pieces of wood to shape the mounts and runners and screw them together. Computer programs can help you draw accurate designs for these parts if you’re having trouble doing it yourself. Then, once your slide is ready, you can put it into place.
4. Install the Slide Mounts
To attach the slides to the mount, use wood glue and screws to fit the pieces together. Make sure that there are no spaces between gaps of wood, or else the drawers will not move smoothly. Allow them to dry for about a day before you start putting in everything else.
5. Put the Drawer’s Face
The drawer face is usually the laminate board that appears on the front of a drawer. You can either buy it or build one from scratch. To make a face for a new drawer, you’ll have first to measure and cut the board to size. Place it over the top of the runner and slide it into place. Once it’s in position, secure it with finishing nails so that it doesn’t fall off easily.
6. Reattach the Drawer Pulls
Now it’s time to put back all the drawer pulls and knobs. If you’re only replacing broken sliders, you can place them back on. Otherwise, you can install new ones into the drawer pulls using a hammer and screwdriver to secure them. You should make sure that they fit fairly well but not so snug that they won’t be able to move.
7. Test the Drawer
After you’ve placed everything back into place and secured the drawer, it’s time to test it. Place the drawer face over the runner and slide in the drawer. Try pulling it out and pushing it back in to see if it’s working well. The movement should be smooth without any noises or complications. If not, something might have come loose along the way during installation. You might also have to adjust a few screws here and there for a better fit as well.
Conclusion
As you can see, replacing broken drawer slides is fairly easy to do if you follow these simple steps. Just remember that it’s easier for a professional to do the job for you than to try doing it yourself. So, depending on your experience and skill set in handling such projects, you might want to seek a little help from others before attempting this project yourself.
