How to Make Drawers With Rollers

Drawer Construction

• Drawers can be made from almost any type of wood, including reclaimed wood from a scrap pile or from part of an existing drawer. Before attaching rollers, construct the drawer as a simple wooden box without a top. Base your measurements on the opening you want to fill, remembering that the drawer must be small enough to slide into the space freely. Wood glue and nails hold a basic drawer together, though dovetailed and notched corners are options if you're more ambitious.

Installing Rollers

• Drawer rollers are usually metal rails that feature predrilled holes for screws and captive plastic wheels that serve as rollers. Corresponding metal rails attach to the drawer itself, allowing it to hang in place and slide to closed and open positions. Some metal drawer roller rails feature ball bearings in place of wheels. For each type of roller, install the guide rail in the furniture first, then measure its location to determine where to attach the rail on the drawer. Measure in several locations and mark the location in pencil to ensure that your roller's rails are level. Use short screws that don't pierce the wooden sides of the drawer.

Non-Captive Drawers

• While most drawers that use rollers are captive inside pieces of furniture such as cabinets, dressers or desks, others are loose and slide along the ground. This type of rolling drawer is useful for storing items under a bed or in a small crawlspace. A free rolling drawer is basically a wooden box with casters or wheels, and a knob or handle for accessing its contents. By adding rollers you can turn an old desk or dresser drawer into a free-rolling drawer.

Roller Drawer Benefits

• Rolling drawers offer a number of benefits over sliding drawers without rollers or stationary storage bins. Rollers make them easy to operate, allowing you to easily access a drawer full of heavy objects. Rollers also reduce the amount of friction between the bottom of the drawer and the floor or a drawer housing, reducing damage and making for quieter operation. Finally, drawers with rollers are easier to build and install than traditional wooden drawer stops, runners and grooves that you would need to design, cut and install yourself.