Wooden drawer slides are strips of wood that function as horizontal rails where a drawer rests and slides. It takes precise skills in manufacturing and assembly to incorporate wooden drawer slides into furniture and cabinet parts so that the drawers can move smoothly without being excessively loose or tight. Although getting the right fit with wooden drawer slides is challenging, doing so produces a finished drawer that doesn’t need any extra hardware or false face components.
When did the Use of Wooden Drawer Slides Begin?
Though George Hepplewhite cannot lay claim to inventing drawer slides, he was able to illustrate an all-wood full extension slide for the fitted top drawer of a dressing chest which allowed full access to every section of the drawer. The illustration can be found in Hepplewhite’s work titled Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide which was published in 1788 and proved the existence of wooden drawer slides as early as this period.
What are the Other Common Types of Drawer Slides?
Roller drawer slides consist of two epoxy-coated metal profiles that are joined and attached to the drawer and cabinet frame, respectively, together with nylon wheels that allow the profiles to glide silently and smoothly past one another. These slides are more obvious compared to hardwood slides because they attach to the sides of the drawer. Roller drawer slides require a false face or an expanded drawer front lip to cover the hardware.
Ball bearing drawer slides have mated steel or steel alloy profile components that can move in relation to one another, smoothly and quietly thanks to the ball bearing slides’ inclusion of ball bearing components. These slides are more resilient and have a higher load-bearing capacity (>500 lbs.) than roller slides.
What are the Advantages of a Wooden Drawer Slide?
Wooden drawer slides are the gold standard for fine furniture because of their perfect fitting while still retaining relative ease in opening and closing. Wooden drawer slides do not come with additional expenses beyond the labor of constructing them. Since wooden drawer slides don’t have a false or dummy face, the drawer’s actual front functions as the finished face. Wooden slides also allow the drawer’s sides and joinery to shine without interruption from metal hardware.
LA Furniture offers modern storage furniture with Wooden Drawers.
What are Examples of Wooden Drawer Slides?
The following are the common types of wooden drawer slides.
- Top, bottom and side slides- this type of wooden drawer slide prevents the drawer from tipping and keeps a straight tracking of the drawer. This slide ensures a clean and unobtrusive drawer side, ideal for emphasizing beautiful joinery like dovetails.
- Drawer mounted cleats- this type of wooden drawer slide also prevents tipping and does not allow side-to-side movement thus eliminating the need for side slides.
- Grooved drawer slides- a cleat is attached to each side of the cabinet and fitted into the grooves of the drawer’s sides.
- Under-drawer slide- this center-mounted wooden drawer slide enables a drawer to be without cleats or grooves.
- Bottom as slides- though not recommended for fine furniture, this is a quick and easy method for fitting drawers in utility cabinets and shop fixtures.
