How To Install Drawer Slides, The Fast & Easy Way

I'll walk you through my super easy method for installing drawer slides. At the end I show my process for setting up the drawers and fronts in the drawings as well.

[@RickMeccariello]

Best method I have seen so far....well done... I am in the middle of a cabinet build for my shop and plan to follow your guide. many thanks

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@RickMeccariello That's great to hear! So glad it was helpful.

[@yohanngoyat8719]

finally someone who explain easaly and properly how to mesure correctly gaps between drawers. thats easy but in the end, there's bit of math to do to make the drawers fit and open correctly. thanks a lot, it helps me so much

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching! I find no matter how much planning I do a couple drawers always defy the math.

[@alainwelter]

Real simple and explained very very well. Thanks for posting brother. ❤ from Texas

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@steverugg389]

Very nice use of Sketch up. Solving problems BEFORE building, saves a lot of time and frustration.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

It does indeed. Thanks!

[@mikenichols4313]

The installation method is very well described and the drawing layout at the end is invaluable. I have drawer dimensions from a well regarded cabinet book, but it does not describe how they were derived - your description and video shows how to adapt this installation approach to specific requirements. Thank you.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@alfonsoespinosa8643]

Brilliant! Thanks for your video. I'm getting ready to install a bunch of drawers and your video is very helpful.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@alfonsoespinosa8643 That's great to hear! Glad it was helpful, and thanks for watching.

[@twylabowman3489]

Excellent explanation and demonstration. I searched for over an hour and this is THE BEST video out there. Well done and thank you.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@dcsensui]

I wish I knew this when I built my kitchen cabinets. I made a jig to set all the slides. Your method saves someone from having to make a jig like I did.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Now you know for next time! Thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@sophiafleming7449]

Thank you so much for this video! Very informative for a DIY!

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@johnagajewski2348]

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing and making it all so very clear. Much appreciated

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@@johnagajewski2348 so glad it was helpful!

[@Darkstar2803]

Brilliant, saved me so much time and hassle thanks for this really handy explanation

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

That'd great! So glad it was helpful.

[@inlinesix6694]

I just spent a couple weeks building a dresser and all the drawers are out of wack LOL so here I am looking for ways to keep things square and drawer fronts flush - thanks for your tips!

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@inlinesix6694 Well I certainly hope this helps! Thanks for watching, and good luck with the dresser.

[@DjmMik]

Excellent video. I am going to follow this tomorrow why I install my side mounts.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching! Hope this helps.

[@merlinwagner]

Enjoyed the presentation. Well explained and demonstrated.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful!

[@brenfowl3037]

Great content. Well done.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks so much!

[@docprune9922]

Hello.. Great video.. Been looking for something like this for a while as have a number drawers to fit. Watching it got me thinking.. And I came up with something that I would like to add. It requires a little bit of maths that is not beyond anybody who can measure a piece of ply half accurately. 1. The height of the cabinet slider spacer is the same as the height of the drawer carcass being fitted, however variable the actual drawer sizes. (*) This can be cut from an off cut from making the carcasses. 2. The size of the drawer spacer can be easily worked out ... C = cabinet aperture height D = total height of drawer carcasses L = Lower gap U = Upper gap X = drawer gap/space N = number of drawer carcasses Thus X = C - (D + L + U)/N-1 You don't have to bother about any other dimensions once the first drawer is installed in the video then this technique used and you have measured the resulting lower gap, ONCE the drawer carcass is fitted. Another way would be to design in a lower gap and use appropriate thick template for first, lower carcass, but that is extra fiddly (*) If doing drawers of different sizes, the cabinet slider spacer MUST be the same as the drawer carcass being fitted or entire technique is a shemozzle. I would appreciate some advice on how to retrofit drawers in a cabinet that is currently just using wooden runners on the frame. Thanks.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

First, thanks so much for watching! I think you've put more thought into the drawer spacing method than me for sure! What you're doing with simple math, I usually work out in the drawings just to make sure I'm not missing anything. Regarding the retrofit, adding drawers, or changing slides in existing cabinets is one of my least favorite things to do. Side mount slides are super sensative to having the EXACT same spacing from the front to the back of the drawer. Even 2mm will make the slides stick or jamb. So whenever possible I build a complete insert box so I know the slides work properly before install. If that's not possible, spacers and shims!

[@docprune9922]

@@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop Thank You for your reply and happy if my contribution has helped.. You have confirmed my worst fears re the retrofit!! 🤔 Best

[@jackwilliams8776]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thank you for watching!

[@rejahmuhyi1592]

Very well done and explained.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks! And thank you for watching

[@archieking8696]

Very useful, thank you

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!!

[@marenlundquist9644]

You have inspired me!

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

That's great! Thanks for watching.

[@DaraHijazi]

It is vey clear and simple, thanks for this video and I have a question, what is the ideal drawer box depth so it will not hit the back?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks, glad it was helpful! We generally use 21" deep drawers and slides on standard 24" depth cabinets

[@secureherosecurehero6366]

perfect explanation , best ever

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks very much! Appreciate you!

[@stevecimino2711]

Great video, very helpful & well explained. Question: Which CAD Software are you using?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching! We are using SketchUp.

[@cindyragu4785]

Thank you so much. You are very good!!!!💕💕💕

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks so much!!

[@davewilkes9138]

Quality info 🤙

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@@davewilkes9138 So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@chipcook6646]

Very good 👍👍

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@technopreneurialminds]

No jig, no tools? But those scraps of wood are jigs in all ramifications. Also the clamp, the driver used, etc are. Tools 😀. Thanks all the way, I learned something new and very handy.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Very true, there's always some tool involved for sure. But very basic and simple stuff for this one. Thanks for watching!

[@MrLikeglass]

Thank you, nice and clear 😊

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@YTRobLand]

@5:14. Yup, and there's been a few times when I've installed them halfway...and wished I hadn't. The drawer gets bouncy, or sticks on opening or closing. Very frustrating/"deal with it later".

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Good to know it's not just me! Thank you so much for watching!

[@oworibenard7981]

very helful, thanks

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@joelevel114]

Yes very informative. What program are you using?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks, appreciate the compliment. I use sketchup.

[@joaniewakal8585]

very helpful! thank you

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelNekic]

Good video, but I would have like to know how to space the slides equally. It sounds arbitrary to me or like trial and error. Maybe it doesn't matter? I don't understand.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

It all depends on your drawer box and drawer front sizes. You'll need to figure it out in the design process. Go all the way to the end of the video, I cover my design process

[@buzzpatch2294]

nice - thanks

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thank you too!

[@bemisbagman]

Well done Thank you

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@bethpeerenboom8316]

How do you know what size spacer to put in between slides ?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

I've got a video coming on details of how I set up the design. Stay tuned, and thanks for watching

[@josiahmakuva7026]

How to measure spacer if you want to install 3 drawers and give me the measurement of of the first spacer please

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

This all depends on your design. Total height of your cabinet, height of drawer boxes, and height of drawer fronts all impact the size of the spacers.

[@letsdoit-tv]

Nice one by you. Please what software did you use for designing of the cabinet

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

I use Sketchup

[@chriswelch7944]

How do you how tall to make the spacers that you use in between the slides. Is it the height of the sides of the drwers>

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Just depends on where you want to set them on the side of each drawer. I work it all out with a drawing first.

[@chriswelch7944]

Thanks for your response. Appreciate it. As a hobbyist, I have 3 6" drawers that I am putting into a slide in cabinet that is just under 24" tall. The plan is to have the 3 drawers spaced out, starting from the bottom, 1". That's 6"x3 = 18", plus the 3" of spacing (not worried about the top). First drawer slide is 1": from bottom. Would my spacer for the other slides be 6". I am just not getting it. Sorry. Appreciate your response a whole lot. Your video on this method is great, by the way! Probably the best out there. But, NO ONE addresses this question of how big to make this spacer. THANK YOU!"@@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop

[@kodyirvin7541]

The "spacer" is jig technically but good quality video

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Very true, but a jig that takes two cuts to make. The idea was to be super simple. Thanks for watching!

[@BlairNickerson]

What size is that second piece put the tracks on

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

It's 5-1/4" tall. That depends on your drawer box size, drawer front size, cabinet size etc. At the end I go though the design side of how to get those pieces sized.

[@EverythingBallard]

how do you choose the size of the bigger spacer?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Based on how far apart the drawer boxes are in the cabinet. If you skip to the end I cover it in the drawings.

[@garrycoleman2494]

Is it still the same way with face frames

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

It would be yes. Just need to account for the frames when you do the math.

[@kenannen5383]

You said one inch spacer for bottom bracket but not how wide from there up

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

From that point up the spacer depends entirely on your drawer size, how many drawers, and how tall your cabinet is. Unfortunately, that's the part you have to figure out each time.

[@kenannen5383]

@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop ok thanks

[@susanazapata9205]

I dont why when installing drawers slides no one use shime to sqare an level

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Agreed! I've definitely used shims a few times to get the sliding nicely. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewpinson1268]

Well I see I DID NOT need to buy the Festool router and drawer jig setup for about $700. Kidding, but this is faster since either way you still have to figure the size of drawer height to maximize usage of the drawers.

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Thanks for watching! I suppose you could always sell that set up. 😃

[@andrewpinson1268]

@@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop Now you know woodworkers never admit 100% to themselves that they really wasted money. I have a shop full of Woodpecker tools to attest to that.

[@mikekeeler7060]

🇨🇦👍🏼

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Appreciate it, thanks for watching!

[@cloa9431]

I do understand the work but please too much BLA BLA show your work please

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

Got it, I will adjust next time. Thanks for watching g

[@carbonz7103]

I actually found this to be one of the best how-to videos on this platform and appreciate the insight. It’s amazing how critical people like yourself can be over a video someone made to help out the next guy. In fact, it’s pathetic and outright disrespectful. If you were paying to watch or better yet paying him for his time and work put into this video it may be different but, you’re not. I can’t imagine being so upset and emotional over a video that I felt the need to just BlahBlahBlah and boohoohoo over it in a public comment 😂Hopefully this will cheer you up, KZbin actually has a feature that allows you to skip forward and even rewind!! Can you imagine?? It’s wild!!You should check yours and see if you have it!! Hope you feel better soon!!

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@@carbonz7103 LOL, thanks so much! Appreciate you, and thanks for watching.

[@carbonz7103]

@@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop No seriously, thank you. You just saved me SOO much time and headache! lol 👍

[@jpmorphhilson]

How do you know what size to make the wider spacer???

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@@jpmorphhilson It depends on the size of each drawer and how you want the fronts to look. See my video on our cabinet design process for lots more info.

[@ArchAngel6501]

how do you calculate the spacing between slides?

[@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

@@ArchAngel6501 I do that all in the drawing stage before building. See my video on cabinet design.

[@ArchAngel6501]

@@ChestnutRidgeWorkshop Awesome! Thanks.. I will take a look..