Expert: Jamie Yocono - 9/3/2008

Question
Jamie, my wife says something slipped down behind the drawer and now it won't close the last two inches. I can't get my hand or even a mirror back there. I tried your answers to a question like this but couldn't get the drawer out to see what was wrong.

It's a Broyhill bedroom suite in light oak, about 7 years old, with each drawer pull consisting of a recessed channel on the front. There are no side slides. There is a steel channel slide underneath that lets me pull it out so far and that's it. I'm afraid to give it a huge pull as I'll probably break something.

Broyhill wants to make me pay for a service call, but it should be easy for me to do it if only I knew the secret.

Answer
David,

I just took a look at Broyhill's website, to see if they possibly listed the hardware they use. No luck. Sometimes, manufacturers will brag and say they use Accuride drawer slides, or whatever.

Anyway, I will suggest something, but if it doesn't help, you will need to write back and supply a little more information and possible a picture.

On the underside of the drawer, where the drawer slide is located, there might be the name of the hardware manufacturer. It might be a simple logo stamped in the metal, or just an initial or something. But if you can find that, perhaps I can look up that company's info and figure out how to release the drawer.

In all likelihood, there is a release that will need to be activated. Sometimes it's a very small lever, sometimes it's just a tab that needs pressed. It's really hard to say.

There is also the possibility that when the drawer is fully extended, you can lift up on the drawer box, which sort of releases the back wheel from the track, if that's the type of slide that is used. But I strongly suspect that there is a small lever, button or clip that - when activated, will easily release the drawer.

Look around for it, or look for a manufacturing stamp, and write back. I'll be glad to help more, if I can. Send a picture of it, if possible. All-Experts just added that feature and it's WAY cool.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
www.wooditis.blogspot.com