The clearance on each side of the drawer can only be 1/2″ for the metal drawer slides to fit and work properly. You may need to use some wood shims (from scrap 2×4) to get the board to be the right thickness. Attach them using 1 1/2″ wood screws into (pre-drilled holes– important to always pre-drill holes into old wood so it doesn’t split). Using a clamp and a level, position the 1×3 boards on the inside sides of the dresser for each drawer opening. Slide the drawer bottom back into place (into the routed grooves on the side pieces) and nail into the front and back using 1″ nails. Pre-drill and screw into place the new plywood drawer front into the back of the drawer face. Drill 2- 1/2″ pocket holes on either end of the plywood pieces and attach them to the drawer sides using 1″ pocket hole screws. You also will be attaching the new 1/2″ plywood between the two drawer sides (which are 1/2″ thick), so you have to subtract their thickness as well from the total length of the plywood front and back (hence 2″). The reason why you want the length different is because the metal drawer slides require 1/2″ clearance on either side of the drawer carcass. Cut the 1/2″ plywood to that same height and 2″ less than the length of the drawer face. Measure the length of the drawer face and the height of the drawer sides from the routed groove. Cut off tenons from drawer sides and discard the drawer back. Use a circular saw to cut off the sides from the drawer face. Slide out the drawer bottom (may have to remove nails with a hammer) and if it’s in good shape, save it to reuse. Using a chisel and mallet remove the old wooden drawer slides from the inside of the dresser.Ĭlick thumbnail below to see larger picture collage 1 1/2″ wood screws (for attaching 1x3s to side of dresser) 1″ wood screws (for attaching to drawer face) 1×3 boards cut to drawer depth (I used about 6′ on this dresser) Ball-bearing metal drawer slides (buy the length as the depth of the drawers– 12″ long ones are found at WoodCraft and Amazon) 1/2″ plywood (I used a 1/4 sheet for all 3 drawers that is 2′ x 4′)ġ″ pocket hole screws (8 for each drawer) They are more durable and easier to install, making their higher price point well-worth it.Īs you may remember from my previous post, this was the dresser as she started out: In my opinion the best type of drawer slide to install and use is metal ball-bearing drawer slides. But for those who love the look of vintage dressers but love the functionality of new dressers, this tutorial will help you achieve that! Most people who fell in love with an older piece accepted this as the ‘character’ of older dressers. This caused them to not slide smoothly, stick, sag when you pulled them out all the way, and were overall a pain if you used them a lot. Because most of them had wood drawer slides, over time and with different environments, the wood would wear down. To see this finished dresser and stain details go HERE.īack a few years ago when I used to refinish dressers and sell them, the most common complaint I used to hear from people regarding old, antique, or vintage dressers were the drawers. This is a great way to give an old dresser new life, especially if you plan on using it a lot and have been frustrated with sticky or sagging drawers. When the drawer reaches the back, it should click into place.As promised, today I’m sharing how to install drawer slides on a vintage dresser. With the drawer still removed, screw the remaining drawer-mount halves of the new slides onto the sides of the drawer. Screw the outer, cabinet-side halves of the new slides on the cabinet. You will need to do this both on the drawer and on the cabinet. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the old slides in place and remove the slide components. On the new drawer slides, unlatch and separate the two halves of each slide. Since this is a one-for-one replacement, take note of the slides' current position before removing them. Use this measurement to purchase new drawer slides. Measure the drawer from the back of the drawer front to the back end of the drawer. While this is a more complex process, it will usually solve the problem entirely. If other methods to fix the stuck drawer do not work, replace the slides. Side-mount soft-close full-extension metal slides with enclosed wheels usually cannot be re-bent and should be replaced.

The Spruce Home Improvement Review Boardīottom-mount metal slides may be able to be bent back into position.

Dresser drawer slides