Slippery Surfaces for Sliding Drawers
Advice on making wood-to-wood drawer-slide contact surfaces slick. October 27, 2009
Question
I've got a job with 9" wide, 7" tall solid wood drawer boxes that are going to slide directly on the wood. They are like a big rollout and are totally exposed to the room. The wood they rest on is plywood. Is there a better way to make a surface that won't just wear away as they are used? The owner doesn't want slides, undermounts or bottom mount. It's kind of an open, european look they are going after. I could make the shelves they rest on solid, but I'd just as soon not. The rest of the cabinet is ply.
Forum Responses
(Cabinetmaking Forum)
From contributor A:
Use some delrin or UHMW plastic strips on the bottom edges of the drawers. Check ebay for drop offs.
From the original questioner:
What would be the best way to attach it to the drawer bottom with out someting like staples that could end up being a problem itself?
From contributor B:
Look around on the internet, you can get it as self-stick.
From contributor C:
Lee Valley sells a UHMW tape just for that purpose. It is thin and clear and sticks great. I use it for furniture drawers and it makes the drawer slide nicely.
From contributor D:
Rockler sells Nylo tape for that in 10 mil and 20 mil.
From the original questioner:
Thanks guys, that will do the trick.
From contributor E:
A melamine bottom in the cabinet will work great too. We've got some drawers in the shop that just slide on that and they work great and the melamine doesn't wear away.
