How to Install Drawer Glides on Old Drawers

Old drawers often feature quality woodwork including wooden drawer glides. The drawer sides are notched to slide over the glides. The glides are mounted to the inside sides of the drawer opening. Install new drawer glides for your old wooden drawers to keep them in good working condition. Old drawer glides can become worn over time and require replacement. Drawer glides are fastened to the inside sides of the drawer openings with wood screws for ease of adjustment and replacement. Complete the project with paste wax for smoothly gliding drawers.

Screwdriver
Replacement wooden drawer glides, with screws
Paste wax
Cloth rag

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the drawers from the drawer opening and set them aside. Reach inside the drawer openings and unscrew the existing drawer glides with a screwdriver. Remove the existing glides from the drawer openings.
- 2
  Place one replacement drawer glide inside the drawer opening at a time in the same positions as the glides that you removed. Drive the screws included with the replacement glides through the mounting holes in the glides into the drawer opening sides with a screwdriver.
- 3
  Align the drawers in front of their respective drawer openings. Slide the channels in the sides of the drawers over the new drawer glides and push them closed. Open and close the drawers to make sure that the drawers are aligned. Loosen the screws on any drawer that you have difficulty operating and adjust the glide up or down slightly and re-tighten the screws.
- 4
  Remove the drawers and rub paste wax into the wooden drawer glides and slots in the drawers with a cloth rag. This will help the drawers open and close with ease. Replace the drawers to their respective drawer openings.

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