Installing drawer slides can be a deceptively tricky part of cabinet making. Getting your measurements right from the outset is crucial for smooth-operating drawers. A key element often overlooked is understanding the hole spacing and proper setup for your drawer slides. This guide will clarify the crucial aspects of drawer slide installation, focusing on achieving accurate and reliable results, particularly when using the common 32mm system.
One of the first things to understand is the importance of the 32mm system, a standard in cabinet construction. When preparing your cabinet sides for drawer slides, remember the critical starting point: the first hole should be 37mm from the front edge of the cabinet. This 37mm setback is a fundamental reference point for all subsequent measurements.
From this initial hole, the spacing to the next holes follows a predetermined pattern, often in multiples of 32mm. A common configuration, especially with brands like Accuride, features a 128mm gap between most hole lines, with a slightly reduced 96mm gap between the second and third hole lines. It’s important to note that all these gaps are designed around the 32mm system, ensuring compatibility and consistent spacing.
Let’s break down an example of hole spacing based on Accuride drawer slides, starting from that crucial 37mm front setback:
| Hole Line | Gap from Previous Hole (mm) | Cumulative Distance from Front (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37 (from front edge) | 37 |
| 2 | 128 | 165 |
| 3 | 96 | 261 |
| 4 | 128 | 389 |
| 5 | 128 | 517 |
| 6 | 128 | 645 |
This table illustrates how the hole pattern progresses, maintaining the 32mm system while accommodating the specific mechanics of drawer slides. It’s also worth noting that when using this 37mm front hole placement, the fixed part of the drawer slide typically sets back approximately 2mm from the cabinet front, allowing for proper drawer alignment.
It’s interesting to compare this to shelf pin hole drilling. While drawer slides use the 37mm front setback, shelf pins often utilize a 37mm inset from both the front and the inside of the back panel, with an additional line of holes centered between the front and rear sets. This difference highlights the specialized requirements of drawer slide installation.
Experiences shared by woodworkers often underscore the practical challenges of drawer slide installation. Issues with self-closing mechanisms failing to engage, even when measurements seem close, can be frustrating. Simple tests, like extending the slide and observing its closing action under gravity, can sometimes help identify faulty slides before installation.
Different brands of drawer slides may exhibit slight variations in their hole spacing. For example, ProSeries 20″ slides might follow the initial 37mm, 128mm, 96mm pattern, but then deviate at the fourth hole. Friho 18″ slides might start with a 35mm front setback. These slight variations reinforce the need for careful measurement and potentially testing with your specific slides before drilling all your cabinet sides.
To ensure accuracy and avoid costly mistakes, it’s highly recommended to mock up side panels and test your drawer slide placement before committing to drilling holes in your final cabinet pieces. This step allows you to verify measurements and refine your setup based on the specific drawer slides you are using. Understanding the 32mm system and the 37mm front setback is your starting point, but practical testing is key to successful drawer installation.
