How to Build Sliding Hinges

Open the cabinet doors so that you can access the existing hinges. Unscrew the hinges where they join the cabinet with a screwdriver, starting with the lower hinge first. Remove the doors from the cabinet once you have unscrewed all the hinges.

Unscrew the screws holding the hinges to the doors and remove the hinges. Place a small amount of wood putty on the scraper and smooth it over the places where the hinges were attached, both on the doors and the cabinet. Wipe the scaper clean and draw it across the applied putty, ensuring any old screw-holes are filled flush to the wood's surface. Wipe off any excess putty and allow to dry. For quick-drying putty, this is no more than 30 minutes.

Sand the treated areas with 220-grit sanding paper once the putty is dry. Repeat this using 340-grit sanding paper until you achieve a super-smooth finish.

Place the slider's brackets in position on the bottom face of the cabinet opening. You will need one slider per door. Ensure the brackets are straight and mark through the screw-holes with a pencil. Remove the sliders and drill pilot holes at each pencil mark. Use a drill-bit slighter smaller than the screws for this.

Place the brackets in position again and screw each one in place with a screwdriver. Screw the sliders to the cabinet doors where they line up with the brackets.

Insert the doors into the face of the cabinet, lining up the sliders with the brackets. Slide the sliders right into the brackets. Test to make sure the two parts have clicked together securely by moving the doors back and forth. They should move freely without binding.

Repaint or re-varnish all the areas that were repaired during the sliding hinge installation, ensuring you match the cabinet's existing color or tint.