Drawer Slides Key Terms

Don't get stuck with the wrong type of drawer slides

By Meredith Fagioli

If you own a construction company or an automotive shop, chances are you have many drawers that are filled with things that you use every day. But when your drawers start to stick or a customer asks what type of drawer slides would be best, do you know how to answer them or fix your drawer? If you don't, take some time to learn and memorize a few drawer slide key terms to keep you (and your drawers) from getting stuck.

Wooden drawer slides

A wooden drawer slide is a drawer slide that is made out of solid wood, like beech or maple wood, instead of metal or plastic. It's typically a center mount drawer slide, which means you attach it to the middle of the bottom of the drawer.
Try: Rockler Companies has a picture of what their wooden drawer slide looks like.

Heavy duty

Heavy duty drawer slides are the toughest type of drawer slide you can purchase. These types of drawer slides can withstand a load ranging from 140 to 240 pounds, including the weight of the drawer itself. These types of drawer slides would most likely be found on drawers that need to hold heavy tools or construction equipment.
Try: At Jonathan Engineered Solutions, you can see pictures of heavy duty drawer slides and get specifications for them.

Full extension

A full extension drawer slide lets the drawer come all the way out so that the person looking for something isn't blindly reaching towards the back of the drawer. These drawer slides are made of metal, because they are used frequently in automotive shops.
Try: Head on over to the website called DrawerSlides.com to see what a full extension stainless steel drawer slide looks like and what kind of specifications it has.

Light duty

Light duty drawer slides are the most common types of drawer slides used in kitchens or on vanity drawers. These types of drawer slides can hold anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds, including the weight of the drawer.
Try: You can visit USA Cabinet Hardware to see images of a light duty drawer slide that can hold up to 35 pounds.

Medium duty

A medium duty drawer slide can hold a drawer and it's contents that weigh about 100 to 150 pounds. These types of drawer slides are usually side mounted, which means they are attached to either side of the drawer.
Try: Surf on over to the website for Castersupply to see a picture of a medium duty drawer slide.

Self-closing mechanisms

A drawer slide with a self-closing mechanism means that when you let go of the drawer, it will continue to glide closed without any more work for you. When you compare that to a wooden drawer slide, which requires you to actually push the drawer fully closed, it's a real time saver!
Try: The GSlide Corporation offers ball bearing drawer slides with self-closing mechanisms.