Side-Mounting Console Drawer Guide

Old Furniture

• Often, old furniture has drawers that stick or are heavy or difficult to move. These pieces were constructed by hand by carpenters and craftsmen using the techniques of the day. Unfortunately, this often meant that the drawer had a slot built into the bottom center that was used to guide the drawer into the cabinet. The movement of the drawer was stopped by a simple block of wood hitting the back of the drawer. This meant that if the furniture was mishandled, a drawer could fall inside the cabinet and be difficult to retrieve. These problems were solved by the introduction of modern drawer technology offering guides, glides and slides to support and assist the drawer from its sides.

Weight

• Your desk drawer isn't the same as the bottom drawer on your dresser. The two drawers may be visually similar, but your desk drawer is expected to hold a few sheets of paper, pens and staples. Your dresser, on the other hand, is expected to be loaded down with heavy objects, clothing and items in storage. This means that even if the drawers enter the cabinet the same distance, the grade of the guides will be much different. A dresser glide is designed to accommodate significant weight. The sides of the cabinet will be reinforced with framing points to allow the mounting of the guides and the drawers will be designed to support both the guides and the expected load.

Lift and Remove

• Most modern drawers are designed to be lifted and removed. Some have a hidden catch that you press. This opens a gate in the glide and allows you to lift the drawer up and fully remove it from the cabinet. This feature makes it easier to move heavy furniture items and to repair the furniture if the drawer or glide becomes damaged. If you need to replace your glides, it is important to find the right guide for your drawer style. Always replace both sides with new hardware so that the drawer operates properly. Use a sample of the old glide when buying the replacement for the best match.

Stops

• When drawers become heavy, they also become dangerous. Small children frequently pull on drawers and use the top of the drawer like a step. If the child's activity is not observed, it is important that the drawer doesn't close on small fingers. Many drawers have safety stops that manage how the drawer stops, starts and closes. Drawers often have built-in stops to prevent a drawer from entering too deep into a cabinet and stops to prevent the drawer from pulling out too far as well. Cabinets with drawers should be secured to the walls to prevent them from tipping over if all of the drawers are opened at once.