Drawer slide limits

[dpaton]

In planning a set of mobile carts/cabinets for under/near my workbench, I've come across suggestions from the manufacturers to limit the width of a drawer (specifically, Accuride has these). My thought is that it's to prevent torsional loading of the slides and binding as the wide drawer flexes, but I'm skeptical, especially since I won't be loading my drawers to the limit of the slides.

So for those of you using the 3800 series Accuride slides, or the clones from CS Hardware (with the 16" width limit suggestion)...

Have you built 22" wide drawers?
Have you had problems?
Have you loaded them near the limit (100lbs)?

Thanks

-dave

[cabinetman]

Sure have. Made 'em about every size concievable. The wider you go, the more side to side play you will have when extended. Allow the minus (-) 1/32" for the drawer width to opening width, and then shim as necessary to take out the excess. You can't make them too tight either.



YOU HAVEN'T FAILED, YOU JUST HAVEN'T FINISHED

[dpaton]

Good to know. Mine will be about 23" wide, give or take a kerf width. Well, some will. The rest will be 10 1/8" or so, or some combination of widths adding up to a 24" inside width, minus the slide thicknesses and any internal braces.

Thanks

-dave

[mschrank]

I built two 30" wide drawers mounted on 22" slides similar to the ones you're using. I have them loaded with all my power hand tools, so not at the 100 lb limit but plenty heavy. There is quite a bit of sloppiness, but as long as I pull and push the drawer from the center (rather than closer to the side), the operation is pretty smooth.