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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Flush wooden drawer slides

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Expert: - 4/25/2010


Question

Drawer slide
Dear Mr. Scholl,

I have a Scandinavian style dresser with flush wooden drawer slides, i.e. zero clearance between the drawer and side of the dresser.  Both the grooves on the side of the drawers and the glide rails are wearing down over the years such that the drawers now sag and hit each other when you try to close them.
The rails are 3/16" thick x 1/2" high x 15 11/16"long. Is there "zero clearance" steel hardware that might work for this situation?  My only other thought is to cut wider grooves and fabricate wider rails.  What would be the best wood to use for rails if I go that route?  Thank you for your time and expertise.

Regards,
Gregg

Answer
These are always a problem when they suffer this much wear, and there really isn't a 'zero clearance' metal glide solution...you'll have to rebuild them using wood and possibly routing out the grooves to be flat again, (or even adding wood to return them to the original spec). Teak is a good choice, as is Ash, or White Oak....these will all wear well.Some planning and fiddling will be required to get the drawer clearance right, and everything lined up, etc.....but I think this would be the best plan- Post back if need be- regards- Greg

Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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