How To Install Locking Drawer Slides

In this product review, I show you a new product added to my website, the 500lb Locking Drawer Slide. I love this product because of its durability, strength, and functionality. Follow the link below to order in many lengths! #AvantLink
Locking slides: bit.ly/3m7dp7V
Sex Bolts: bit.ly/3myfift
Milwaukee Drill: amzn.to/3dQe8aT
Drill Bits: amzn.to/3fUZHFf
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ABOUT ME I grew up in a cabinet shop and was born to be a woodworker. In the past few years when work slowed in the custom cabinet industry, I converted a few friend's Vans and SUV's so they had more storage for adventuring, work, or just the weekend beach getaway. Before I knew it I had my own business making people's ideas come to life. I design and build all kinds of custom woodwork and vehicles here at my shop in Huntington Beach, California!

[@yoojesss]

SUBSCRIBED. Dude, hands down. BEST YTuber. No BS, straight to the point, step by step!!! Good job man! Keep up the good work! 💪

[@billr4283]

At minute 13:30 you saved me from a MAJOR SENIOR moment. I was getting ready to scrap the project but then I saw this. My self-directed thought...Well D.A.... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Subscribed

[@aaron-o5u1g]

What you on about ?

[@brandonjohnson3120]

Great tips from a true professional. Thanks for the insight on installing the slides, measuring the ID, then building the drawer box. That’s the gold right there.

[@jonlangley7584]

Super helpful video! Thanks man! I'm installing the 56" version and I'm not gonna lie I was pretty intimidated before watching this!

[@andrewschwartz_]

couldn't have posted this at a better time, Im building my platform for my 4runner tomorrow. thanks for the video!

[@ArielleSea]

Amazing tutorial, man. Just what I needed. Thanks for all the tips throughout. Many KZbin videos skip explaining what drill bits and shims etc that they're using, assuming we know. Thank you!!

[@dianemora3602]

Thank you! The instructions that came with my slides were useless -- this is exactly what I need

[@toyostormrider1311]

In the planning stages in building my own bed storage boxes,etc for my Hilux, thought I'd see what's out there on you tube,yours set up in my opinion are the best going round, thanks for sharing. Greetings from West coast down under

[@jreg0028]

Thanks for your feedback

[@alwaysbepreparedwithjeff3245]

Thanks Again For Sharing Your Life Here On KZbin

[@izabari]

I wanted to suggest to those utilizing the slides that you may have to install these a little higher up on your vertical portion of your boxes to avoid rubbing the tailgate. I ended up going 1.5" (thickness of a 2 by) to ensure I had good clearance. Thanks to Brian for answering all my questions and the great content.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

That would be needed to mount the whole drawer higher on some tailgates not just the slide.

[@izabari]

@Solid Wood Worx good point. I haven't even made the drawers yet and hadn't thought about that. Hopefully sitting in the "box" and shimming the drawer is enough to overcome the tailgate.

[@izabari]

Or just shim it to overcome I guess.

[@izabari]

I thumbed myself down. The slides were already on the box so that part of the comment was just plain dumb. 😀

[@PhillipBlanton]

@@izabari Don't thumb yourself down. Thinking ahead is part of the process of getting it right.

[@mathewjon9329]

You are so bloody good at what you do mate

[@taliesinangling3564]

Your workspace is immaculate

[@wallheadkdir]

Good video. You touched on everything I needed to see..A BIG HELP YOU ARE😊

[@system2thinker659]

Excellent attention to detail sir, thank you.

[@williamlucrisia9169]

Hey Brother, nice work. I get all that part... Perhaps you could do a vid on the drawer front detail. How you go about getting the slide lever through its face. Again nice work.

[@jbk4341]

First of all I just wanna say, this is what every other truck build video leaves out. Thank you so much for going into detail, I’m only left with one question. Do you use the same holes when you install the slides on the right hand side, as well as the same sex bolts or do you offset the installations? For the middle “1” by”.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I sandwich the drawer slide/wood/drawer slide with the large sex bolts!

[@garyferguson1552]

Great Video Trying to build a drawer system in my 2023 2 door Wrangle. Is it better to install the slide at the bottom of the drawer or middle?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Bottom

[@malcolmhay6668]

Thanks Brian exactly what I wanted to see.

[@godaniel122]

Hey mate, great vids, thanks for sharing. I do have a rookie question tho. With those bolts you're using, how do you drill the slider rails on the shared plywood wall without hitting the bolts of the other rails on the other side, if they are both located on the exact same place, only on the other side of that wall. Thanks a bunch!

[@patricktompkins5704]

Solid video. I have some of your plans for a 1st gen 4runner box. My only question is How do you install the drawer slide on the opposite side without interfering with the first slide?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You sandwich the center jam with two slides and a bolt through all of them

[@Smithy-br2pl]

Love the little drawers in the background the set of 4 or so should show how to make them

[@mediaupload]

Thanks for the video, the level of detail and the parts you used. This is very helpful.

[@Tzimfukis]

Awesome work!! I wish I’ve seen your videos before I started building my drawer system lol

[@jaygraham4861]

It looks like you will be doing two side by side drawers with a divider? How did you mount the slide on the opposite side of the divider? Did you use the existing holes and install longer bolts or were the ones you were using long enough?

[@paulsanders1]

Thanks Brian, you have mad skills!

[@JizzySpeaks]

I wanna make a drawer & a slide out table underneath it. Any help on what I can use for the table

[@reneeserrichio1616]

I currently have a 4Runner and love love your 4Runner Platform with drawers… thinking of going to RAV4 prime and would love to see you do a build on any RAV4. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hoping to have somehting for the rav4 by summertime!

[@photog1529]

Nice work. I use long paint sticks to shim my drawers...these give about 1/8" clearance between the drawer bottom and base and pretty much support the entire length of the drawer bottom. I do like those sex bolts though...the screws that come with drawer slides are pretty useless. One suggestion...maybe consider using a flat washer on the inside of the drawer to keep the screw head from crushing the plywood...doesn't look like the screw flange is wide enough.

[@mwet2u2]

It looks like you are setting up to put in another drawer. Are you lining up the holes in the other drawers slides? Then you are through bolting them. I just got my slides and thats where im at.. Thank you for the video.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Yes I am

[@Luxman35]

Great video! Really like the sex bolt idea. Question I have in this video you, you installed the locking drawer pull, for the left side of the box, when installing the drawer for the right side, the middle locking slides do you use the same sex bolt to attach both rails

[@sherilucas6025]

Great video! I’m curious how you attach a drawer front when using locking drawer slides?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I cut little holes out for the tabs to go through

[@billshorter666]

@@SolidWoodWorx Do you have pictures or a video of the finished product?

[@misc.projects3094]

Sex bolts? 🤣 Chicago screws is their real name I believe. Good video!

[@arturasaranauskas6386]

Thank you for great explanation

[@jamiedouglas2809]

Nice work Mate, loving your vids from over here in Aus, any chance of a quick video on your Kreg / Hidden screw jig and how it works, such a good concept but not widely used over here. 👍🏻

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I wouldnt have time to get a video on how that works but im sure there is one out there. thanks for your support!

[@andrekrausz2407]

Thanks. I need to install mine into a closet, so I would be drilling into the studs in the wall, as opposed to a cabinet. What do you recommend?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Long wood screws

[@markhiggins3054]

Bloody good - I have 2 48” drawer slides - what material thickness are you using please?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

3/4”

[@msoomro0001]

Great video. Learnt a lot. One question. How would u install the LEFT rail on the Right hand box since the sex bolt position will be the same on the center separator. Where the right rail is for left drawer Thanks

[@Ron9257]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing..🏆

[@transitvandiego]

Thanks dude, I learned a lot! Avcrig lol... yeah I have their rack on my van.

[@webstuff56]

Hello and thank you. I'd like to see how you put together a ultitiered drawer--you know like where the first half of the draw slides out and then a second below that follows. Thank you

[@ArielleSea]

+1 this would be awesome

[@davidgoulden3543]

Hi great video can you tell me what length sex bolts you use with 3/4 inch ply please Dave

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Our large size available on our website

[@corgilover3011]

Great video.. love the shop. So if you were installing a drawer in the other side as well, would you use the same screw to hold the opposing drawer slide?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Yes

[@timbrown7980]

Wow you do nice work!

[@BenjiWhiskerBiscuit]

Solid video and hardware! Every other video had removable slides. Thanks for demystifying the installation of the non-removable slide types. My only issue that a single pack of sex nuts only provided 1 nut supporting each far corner of my 56" long drawers. With the extreme wait of it loaded, I wanted to add additional hardware. After buying another pack of sex nuts from your site, I now have 2 points in each corner, but now my drawers were binding on the nuts before the last lock could be engaged. I isolated the issue being the hardware installed in the middle of the inner box. Without the middle nuts it works fine. I already have holes in the wood at this mounting location, so I would like to make it work. Is this expected behavior with some of the mounting locations on the slides? Is there variations in the depth of the sex nut head (my digital caliper seems to think so)? Also the bolt side seems to have a slightly bigger head then nut side, so best to put the more flush head (nut end) in the metal and bolt side in wood (as you demonstrated). I may try to grind away some layers of steel off the nut to keep it from binding, before trying other hardware. 14/16 nuts installed operate great! Drawer works so I'm a happy customer. :)

[@jpeg.verification]

A+ tutorial Brian!!!!

[@jaygraham4861]

What thickness was the plywood for box and drawers?

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Nice, thanks for the video! How do you install the slides on the other side? Can you still use the same type of bolts?

[@jeffreyreichert1609]

I was wondering the same thing

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Yes I actually use the same holes for the other side and do one bolt between two slides!

[@dmwi1549]

Can he use a single bolt to attach both center slides through same hole in center wood divider? Seems logical. Otherwise he’d be using different holes in the adjacent rail and would need to dismount first rail etc. wondering why he bothered to pull them tight, flush with surface if that is the case? Otherwise good info-good timing for my van project. Might be ordering some stuff from your site.

[@Radryannn]

@@SolidWoodWorx what size would you use for this?

[@izabari]

I'm having trouble getting the sex bolts to grab. I got one with the use of a clamp but no luck with the others. Using large bolts with 3/4" plywood.

[@name.terrie]

Great video, info, and tips! Thanks so much!

[@pambansangprobinsyano7923]

What the name of that bolt you used for slide locking drawers bro

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Sex bolts on our website

[@JoeTirone]

So you've got one slide in. How do you make sure the next set aligned in the middle doesn't interfere with the mounting hardware for the first? Are there offset holes you can use so avoid the overlap?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

When i do that i bolt through both slides and sandwich the wood int he middle

[@JoeTirone]

@@SolidWoodWorx and the sex bolts you sell would be long enough to go through what thickness on that center board?

[@izabari]

@@JoeTirone I got one set of bolts to bite but didn't feel comfortable enough with it. So I went to a big box store and grabbed some longer bolts. Couldn't find exactly what I needed so I bought very close to what I needed and grinded the length and took a die to get the bolt pitch reestablished.

[@petercourtney-c3r]

If your draw slides are the same size as the cavity space what clearence would you leave at the rear of the draw to allow for correct locking?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

At least .25” I usually allow

[@mayatuinstra2032]

is there a soft close option for the locking slides? Any recommendations on how to add soft close feature if no existing hardware for it are out there?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

There is not

[@samcotnoir]

Do the sex bolts get in the way of the installation of the drawer on the right? Thinking of the middle support with a drawer slide on each side. Thank you!

[@norsefalconer]

Thanks for sharing the hardware recommendations.

[@FakePersonna]

Thank you! Awesome tutorial.

[@brei1138]

nice! but how do you do the other side slides?

[@Skeezusman]

I’m guessing you just use the other holes available but I’m wondering the same thing!

[@jacinto042568]

@Solid wood worx Hello, about the shims, what so much space do you recommend?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hello What do you mean about this?

[@lelandrychel3331]

Great video. I'm building a pantry, using these slides. Question is, I need the drawer to be inside of a pantry door. I'm considering recessing the drawer front enough to clear the locking tabs. Is there an issue with doing that? There's no overlapping face on the drawer fronts.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

No I wouldn’t think so

[@jreg0028]

How do you think these door slides would hold up for beach camping. Would you recommend these or is there some kind of polymer slide option?

[@tonydalessio7262]

I use these on my camper they have had all kinds of material in them. Dirt, sand, other crap and hold up just fine!

[@alexross4062]

So how would you go about doing the second drawer slide on the opposite side? Would you just use a slightly longer male bolt to have it go through starting from the drawer slide on the right, and into the female bolt on the left drawer slide with a hole in the wood in the middle?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I would essentially sandwich the wood between two drawer slides so yes a large sex bolt i sell on my website will work with a drawer slide on each side of the 3/4" center jam.

[@user-bw5xf3yr3m]

I have a question , with these locking draw slides how to you disconnect the slides so I can remove the draw box? The draws I built are very heavy and assembled and need to remove draw boxes to make it lighter so I can carry it into my truck.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You cant

[@lukeagex]

Most of these slides allow you to disconnect the inner rail by depressing the locking levels when the slides are at full extension

[@NWbirdseyeview]

Is there a top and bottom or can I install these so the locking mechanism is unlocked when pulled up?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You can do that but then if you pull the slide out it won’t lock open because gravity drops this little lever in the back

[@user-bw5xf3yr3m]

Can you put rails on the other box to the right now that the middle plank has a track on it?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

When i do that i bolt through both slides and sandwich the wood int he middle

[@user-bw5xf3yr3m]

@@SolidWoodWorx thanks and really like the videos and information you present

[@FROADER]

I have been watching your videos for a while and just finally read the ABOUT ME in the description, and saw you're in HB! I'd love to come by and chat with you about a couple ideas I have for the back of my '97 E350. I'll get in touch!

[@chuckprichard3691]

I was waiting to see how you did the faces in such a way that the lock levers could be used.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You can see in my more recent posts on instagram how there cut out.

[@chuckprichard3691]

@@SolidWoodWorx Thanks. I've never used Instagram, do you use the same name there?

[@nicocamnicohambleton2210]

Hi, great video. How thick should the ply be for heavy duty drawer system (to hold 100KG or so)? Thanks :)

[@SolidWoodWorx]

3/4"

[@finball70]

Hey Brian! Thanks for all the time and knowledge you have put into your videos! Is there such a thing as heavy duty (300lb or so) drawer slides that lock when closed or open that do not have the latches that stick out?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hey Scott, I have never seen anything like this no. I sell 100lb, 250lb, and 500lb locking on my website. www.solidwoodworx.com

[@finball70]

@SolidWoodWorx Thanks Brian! I appreciate it!

[@deanharris2240]

It looks like you drill pocket holes for the drawers. Do you use pocket holes for box carcass too?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

No I just do this to attach the drawer front so you don’t see the screws in the front

[@enhancehomeimprovementstoo1802]

Great video. Can these locking drawer slide be mounted flat with a plywood platform on top?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Yes that is possible

[@barrackobama3804]

Thank you chief

[@Espinal_424]

On some of your builds I see that you turn a pair of locking slides into singles instead of doubles like this video has. Do you have a video showing how to install one locking slide on each drawer instead of having two per each drawer?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hello Luis, I do plan on doing a video on that soon!

[@roar-films]

My question would be how to mount the slides on the next side using sext bolts if the other side is blocking access

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You use 1 bolt for both slides i was just trying to show the concept

[@danchamp7938]

Hey I was wondering if you have had any issues with the Vadania drawer slides? I hear mixed reviews for them

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I have had minimal issues with them. To be honest all of these slides are so similar from similar factories.

[@clintkarlsen9437]

Thanks for sharing all your great work! I based my build on your classic Baja camper design and referenced this video while installing my new drawer/drawer slides. I’ve still got some more work to do but I’ve already camped out of it a few times already.

[@RotasOpera]

My drawer on heavy duty slides locks closed, but won't lock open. Any thoughts on what is causing this?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

You want them to lock fully extended?

[@RotasOpera]

@SolidWoodWorx Yes, exactly!

[@MarkGaudie]

I want to create sometime similar to have pull out draws under my rock’n roll bed in my Campervan.

[@ryanskeete]

Have you had any issues from customers regarding slides failing? Also curious if the Vandania have stainless steel ball bearings?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I have very little problems with the slides i sell, they are chrome plated steel ball bearings.

[@jblyth22]

Very glad I found this video. I’m using similar slides for a completely different application and I think your method will work perfectly for my project. Well done. One question: what type/size plywood did you use for the box construction and drawer bottoms? The bottoms look super clean and I would like my project to have a similar look. Thank you very much.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

The uprights are 3/4" and the bottoms are 1/2"

[@chrismassie9894]

Question? I am building something similar and when you install the slide to the center jam. How do you install the one on the opposite side? Also could you use those sex bolts to install both the center slides?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

That’s correct

[@harrypottah8889]

Forget the slides, I wanna see more builds 🚌

[@izabari]

What is the gap measurement behind the slides and back of box and why did you choose it? Also on your drawers, you added rabbets. Is that for having a working surface? I'm not sure how you attached plywood to the box. Is there a video of that?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hey Michael, I would recommend looking at my video of the precut kit.

[@jonnytacooutdoors]

So how do I remove the drawer?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Once the drawer is installed it can not be removed unless you unbolt it. These 500lb drawer slides do not ave a function to remove the inner rail.

[@jonnytacooutdoors]

@@SolidWoodWorx thanks for the info

[@kenmarapese9085]

Good vid, well produced.

[@patriotsleepercell4060]

The lenght of your slide need to match the lenght of you drawer?

[@jake8286]

I will be building your 5th gen 4runner drawer system. Will the latches on the locking slides stick out too far to close tailgate?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

No

[@pono9679]

Mahalo from Maui🤙 Great video

[@roneykaithpalmaria]

Could you buy a pair of locking and a pair of non locking? Then use one on each side? Would they still lock?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Yes, on my website you can also purchase them one side locking

[@izabari]

Brian, great video. I have a question. I purchased the 56" 500lb drawer slides. I have the first and last holes drilled and sex bolts installed. However, the middle hole is only approximately 6.25" from the front hole. Do you just drill another hole at the halfway point or am I missing something?

[@izabari]

I also see a hole around 15.5" from the back hole. If I did all 4 holes it would leave an unsupported length of around 29". I assume this is okay?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Hey Michael in that long of a slide I would do 4 holes for sure!

[@izabari]

@@SolidWoodWorx sounds good. I ended up going with 5 bolts. I had to drill through the slide as you had mentioned. Thanks for a quick reponse.

[@Niafifia]

Thank you!!

[@santiagora89]

Great build! Where can i get those the sex bolts?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

On my website www.solidwoodworx.com

[@UncleT0ny]

what type of wood do you recommend for making these drawers?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I have been using a plywood called luan, it’s lightweight and strong.

[@RoughRide]

Put a scap piece of ply on the backside and you won't get the blowout when you drill your holes for the slides.

[@antonioguevara4188]

Or tape it firmly

[@barrypendley8814]

What lubricant do you recommend for the slides?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

I use a silicone spray if you think the lube that has come on the slides is dried up

[@jacob9775]

Is there a set of drawer slides you'd recommend? I have a set of these as well as one of the smaller set that's typically 2 inches tall, I'm doing one big drawer so I'm not sure which option to choose

[@SolidWoodWorx]

How wide n long is the drawer?

[@jacob9775]

@@SolidWoodWorx the drawer is 36 inches long and 40 inches wide

[@jacob9775]

@@SolidWoodWorx I have the vandania 2053 which are the smaller 250lb slides or a set that is just like the 500 lb slides you reviewed in this video, hopefully that help, I was leaning towards the 250 lb slide but because I have such a wide drawer 38 inches I don't know if the beefier 500lb slides would be better

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Berger would be better in that wide of a drawer, I have never built a drawer that wide so I honestly couldn’t tell ya from experience

[@jacob9775]

@@SolidWoodWorx went with the bigger ones but the lock mechanism on them is broken and doesn't lock at all so we shall see how the 250 pound slides work out! Thanks for the help!!

[@calebphelps1836]

Very nice u should make video for nissan rogue 2011

[@RowlettResS]

Nice video - how about a shop tour?

[@SolidWoodWorx]

some day!

[@robt7165]

Cool I'm gonna make a double drawer so I guess I would need longer sex bolts for the 2slides in the centre maybe some lock tight but excatly what I'm thinking of making for my truck

[@justinbelote1768]

Do those sex bolts stay tight? Or would you recommend using loctite? Im Going to build drawers for my camper storage and I’m wondering if over time those sex bolts will loosen.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

Loctite is always a good idea!

[@kayak77]

Can the drawer slides be detached to remove the drawer from the cabinet? In my Jeep where I am going to build some drawers, I have a storage cubby underneath the cabinet that I'd still like to be able to access for lesser needed emergency items. It would be great if I could pull the whole drawer out and detail it to get access to the cubby.

[@SolidWoodWorx]

No they can not detach as explained in the video