Popular Woodworking 2003-08 № 135, страница 46

INSTALLING UNDER-MOUNT SLIDES

I With the under-mount slides, it's easy to determine their mounting location on the drawer. Most of the parts are stamped with a DL (drawer left) or DR (drawer right) to make it simple. Slip the drawer slide over the bottom edge of the drawer side and hold the front end (without the roller) flush against the front edge of the drawer box. If you're not using a false-front drawer design, the slide will butt directly against the back of the drawer front. Drill a ⁵/s4" pilot hole in the center of the front-to-back adjustment hole to avoid splitting the drawer side.

I The slides should come with screws, but some economy slides don't. If not, a #6 x V2" screw is your best bet. Depending on the manufacturer, the included screws may be round-head or flat-head. If you have to buy your own screws, opt for the flat-heads. That way you won't run into any situations where the rounded head impedes the slide.Two screws (one at either end) in the adjustable slots will do for now. Once the drawers are adjusted, you'll put the permanent screws in their holes.

Center of mounting hole

Top of cabinet

I'lI^lT'¹,¹¹¹ 'I'¹"' I'¹¹⁽3| 'M'^l'i'lIXIIgj

,I,fill,l.hli...................1,],i,l,1,],J

Adjustable screw hole

I When under-mount slides are slid into, or out of, the drawer case, the drawer

must be lifted to allow the rollers to clear each other. Because of this, leave space above the drawer. One inch is sufficient to provide clearance.To determine where to

mount the cabinet slides, slip the two slide halves together, then position your drawer to determine top clearance. Measure to the center of the mounting holes on the slide and that is your cabinet-mounting dimension.There are three standard types of drawer fronts: Overlay (where the drawer front is completely outside the cabinet box); lipped (where a rabbet cut in the back of the drawer front allows the front to fit partially into the cabinet box); or inset (where the drawer front is fully contained in the cabinet box). Depending on your drawer front, you'll need to flush or recess (usually ³/4") the front end of the slide on the cabinet sides accordingly.

■u Transfer the dimension determined from measuring the slide location on the drawer to the cabinet side.You can make a mark at the front and rear of the cabinet sides, then connect the marks. Or if you have a good square that you trust, you can simply draw the line that way. It's not a bad idea to check the measurement even if you use the square.While there is adjustment in the slides, if the square moves ¹k" while making your line, adjustment will be much more difficult. Make a pilot hole at the front and back of the slide using the vertical adjustment slots, then mount the slides.To install the drawer, rest the wheels of the drawer slides on the top of the wheels on the cabinet slides while lifting the front of the drawer. The drawer will drop into the track, then you can level the drawer and slide it into place. Check your fit and you're done.

44 Popular Woodworking August 2003