How to Replace Wooden Drawer Slides With Undermounts

Wooden drawer slides are common in many traditional wooden furniture pieces and cabinets. While they can be maintained to remain functional, you may want to install a more contemporary undermount slide for your drawers. An undermount drawer slide mounts in the bottom center of the drawer. Modern drawer slides offer a smooth operation, which many people desire. The fact that the slide is underneath the drawer also eliminates the unsightly side drawer slides that some people find unappealing. You can replace wooden drawer slides with undermounts as a DIY project.

Screwdriver
Drawer undermount assembly, with screws

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the drawer from the furniture piece and place it bottom side up on a work surface.
- 2
  Reach into the drawer opening and remove the mounting screws in the wooden drawer slides using a screwdriver. The drawer slides will be fastened to each side on the interior of the drawer opening.
- 3
  Remove the slides from the drawer opening and set them aside.
- 4
  Separate the undermount assembly into two halves by sliding the drawer half out of the furniture half. Center the furniture half of the undermount assembly on the inside bottom of the drawer opening. Make sure that it's perfectly centered and drive the screws that were included with the undermount assembly through the mounting holes and into the furniture piece with a screwdriver.
- 5
  Center the drawer half on the bottom side of the drawer and fasten it with the included screws and a screwdriver using the same process as in Step 4.
- 6
  Turn the drawer upright, align the undermount halves and slide it back into the drawer opening so the undermount halves join together and the drawer slides with ease.

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Woodworking