Drawer Slide Fitment Help...

[Derek Arita]

OK...so I admit it...I made the drawers about 1/16" narrower than they needed to be, to fit the full extension slides. I thought that maybe the slides would "stretch" to fill the gap, but more consideration told me that it might be better to use shims. So, what can I use to fill the gap?

[Jamie Buxton]

Narrower is a good thing. You can shim to fix the problem. Too wide is a much bigger problem.

I put the shims between the casework and the case member of the slide. The shims are then invisible. Shims can be old credit cards (about 1/32"), "1/8 plywood" (about 3/32), veneer (nominally 1/42" these days).

[Steve Mcmahon]

I have used chip board (cardboard) the kink you find on the back of pads of paper - you can find it in a couple of thicknesses at an art store

[Lee Schierer]

Make your shims from strips of wood veneer, it is about .030" thick. One strip on each side behind the drawer slide should get you the needed decrease in clearance while keeping the drawer centered.

[Huck Schwee]

I used washers between the case wall and the drawer slides. Worked out perfectly!

[Matt Meiser]

I've used edgbanding and plastic laminate scrap for this issue. The Fastcap edgebanding is perfect as its self-stick.

[Derek Arita]

Thanks for the help. I ended up cutting 1/32" strips from a 2x4. It worked great!

[Chris Fournier]

Make your shims from strips of wood veneer, it is about .030" thick. One strip on each side behind the drawer slide should get you the needed decrease in clearance while keeping the drawer centered.

Shop made solution that works. +1