Quality of drawer slides?

[Anna]

Is there any reason that I should be ordering my drawer slides (for cabinets inside the house, router table, garage cabinets) from Lee-Valley, Woodcraft, or Rockler rather than just picking up the stuff that's available at Home Depot? I'm new to installing drawers with slides, so I'm not quite sure what are the important criteria in picking them out besides maximum load. Also, is there some other store where you guys get your hardware from that is more cost effective?

Thanks for any help, as always.

Anna

[cabinetman]

I really can't think of a situation where I've under estimated the drawer load for the slide I picked. I used to use the inexpensive undermount euro slides in projects that might have 50 or 100 drawers or more, like commercial cabinets (hotels, supply orientated businesses, etc.). I went to full extension slides many years ago, just for the utility and quality of materials. The undermount had a capacity of anywhere between 50-75 lbs, and most full extension are 75lbs-100 lbs. It's difficult to get 50 lbs in a drawer believe it or not. If a drawer were constructed for the weight capacity of the slides, heavier materials might be selected.

I don't find much difference in the "budget" slides compared to the name brand. Most of the time they are a direct knock off and operate the same. Where you buy them could make a big difference in price. HD is not the most cost efficient source. You could check online and price shop. Or, my best advice is to find in your area a cabinet shop supply that caters to the trade. A lot of them will sell over the counter. The savings are considerable. Also you get quantity pricing. I might pay $5 - $6 for a full extension slide through a supply house, and the same slide at HD or online would be around $15 - $18.

Keep in mind that the online sources may not be a "to-the-trade" dedicated supplier. Most online sources are catering to the retail market. The same theory applies to hinges and most other cabinet hardware.

[Anna]

CM, thanks. I wondered about the max. weight rating and couldn't imagine something weighing 100 lbs inside a drawer. That's almost eight 13-lb bowling balls! Even considering the material used to make a drawer, 3/4" ply is only about 1.5 lb per square foot.

That's good information regarding budget slides vs name brand ones. I'll have to look into cabinet supply shops in town and see if they'll sell stuff over the counter to me.

Thanks again.

[Thom2]

Anna,

I often see this online outfit getting good reviews for pricing, worth looking at anyway.

http://www.cshardware.com/

[final_t]

Speaking from personal experiance (having installed over 50 of them), the slides from LeeValley (full extension) are better quality and cheaper than the same ones from HD or Lowes. One big problem I've had with the HD/Lowes purchased models is that the metal clip thing that holds the bearings place fails and the bearings fall out.

[Anna]

Thom, thanks for that link. Their prices are pretty low! Will have to check with the shipping costs, but I think they're about 1/3 of HD's prices.

Final_T, that's one thing that sort of worried me about the HD slides I bought. They felt a little flimsy. But then, I don't have much experience with them so I didn't really know. The store Thom linked to has really good prices, and I'll compare the different makes and prices with Rockler and Lee Valley.

It's just amazing how many choices are out there. It makes the decision-making process a little more difficult.

Anyway, thanks again, guys.

[BigguyZ]

I've had great experience from these guys. Best prices I've found...

http://www.gliderite.com/orderonline.htm

[Anna]

I've had great experience from these guys. Best prices I've found...

http://www.gliderite.com/orderonline.htm

Thanks for the link, Bigguy.

Another stupid question: Why should I choose one type of slide over another? Is there an advantage to European vs the other types?

[final_t]

Another stupid question: Why should I choose one type of slide over another? Is there an advantage to European vs the other types?

The choice of slider type depends on the application. Typically, kitchen drawers are the Euro-like styles - a simple nylon roller at each end, about 3/4 extension, little "bump" in the metal at the end to keep it closed. Simpler to install, esp. the bottom-edge mount. Generally cheaper, they work well, but you can pop the drawer out easily (which may or may not be a good thing).

Ball-bearing slides run smoother, are the choice for full extension (but can come in 3/4), are much more difficult to install, and removing the drawer is more involved so it's not an accident. Usually support more weight, up to where the drawer bottom will fail first.

That's REALLY a rough 5-minute-typing sketch. The take-away is "it depends on your application". For the kitchen and bath, I've used the Euros, for the shop, I prefer the full extension ball-bearings.

[Anna]

The choice of slider type depends on the application. Typically, kitchen drawers are the Euro-like styles - a simple nylon roller at each end, about 3/4 extension, little "bump" in the metal at the end to keep it closed. Simpler to install, esp. the bottom-edge mount. Generally cheaper, they work well, but you can pop the drawer out easily (which may or may not be a good thing).

Ball-bearing slides run smoother, are the choice for full extension (but can come in 3/4), are much more difficult to install, and removing the drawer is more involved so it's not an accident. Usually support more weight, up to where the drawer bottom will fail first.

That's REALLY a rough 5-minute-typing sketch. The take-away is "it depends on your application". For the kitchen and bath, I've used the Euros, for the shop, I prefer the full extension ball-bearings.

I just used the bottom mounts for the shop sliding shelves. They really are easy to install.

I think I'll try the full-extension ball-bearing ones for the garage cabinets before I decide which ones go inside the house.

Thanks.