Expert: Jamie Yocono - 6/17/2007

Question
I'm modifying a new bath vanity cabinet to go along side my toilet. I've rebuilt the box and drawers so that it's 8 1/2" deep (face frame to back). I'm looking for drawer glides but can't find any for such short extention. Any ideas? Thanks, Jay

Answer
Hi Jay,

I can relate to your problem, I have needed short slides for small cabinets, and they're tough to find. Here's what I do in that situation.

I buy slides closest to the size I need. I believe 10" is about the shortest slide that you can find, Grass makes them both in side mount and bottom mount. I think K/V makes a 10" glide, too.  Then- I cut the pieces that mount to the drawer box to the exact length of the drawer box. Since the roller is at the rear of the box, you'll have to cut the excess off on the front edge of the piece, otherwise you would lose the roller.

Conversely, for the two sides that mount in the cabinet, you'll have to cut the excess off the front of those parts. That's because the roller is in the front of these parts, and you can't lose the roller.

Now this method won't work all glides, sometimes when you cut them off, you lose something important, like the slope that makes it self-closing, or a stop, that keeps the drawer from falling out. So you'll need to look at the glide you have, and picture how the two parts will interact if you cut something off of it.  

Sometimes, when I've built kitchen or bathroom cabinets fro someone, I'll save a couple of old glides from the old cabinets. That way, I can experiment with them, instead of experimenting on a brand new glide. But remember, it's usually best to experiment with the same glide, rather than say.... cutting a Grass glide when it's a Accuride that you're actually going to be cutting.

I hope that makes sense!

Anyway, it can be done- but you obviously can't cut an 18" glide down to work as a 8.5" glide. You lose too much of the glide/mounting holes/self closing taper. So you want to start with a short glides, and then just cut a little off to make it work for you.

As a last resort, you could always make a wooden glide. But in a bathroom situation, where humidity is present, a wooden glide could stick. Wax helps.

OK, good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

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