how to execute a sliding door in an oak shelf unit

[Michael Marcinelli]

hello all,
a strategy question for you. i'm making an oak shelf unit that's long and wide (for my TV and associated gear). the unit has 3 horizontally positioned shelf bays sandwiched between two long panels. in front of the bays i'm making a sliding door the width of one bay that can slide horizontally across any of the three bays.

so i have to figure out the best way to slide a wood door on top of an oak surface. i could go old school and just route a groove in the bottom and top panels and wax the groove and slide the door in the grooves (wood on wood) but that might bind over time.

any suggestions as to how to execute this situation giving me a nice, smoothly sliding door for years?

thanks.
michael

[Kevin Groenke]

UHMW tape on the bottom of the door and paste wax elsewhere.

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=71217

[George Bregar]

Use something like this

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1067

[Jamie Buxton]

One key issue is to make sure the shelf above the doors doesn't sag. If it sags, the doors may bind.

[Brent Ring]

I am doing a similar thing with 3/4" oak doors in a cabinet with some stained glass panels. Not done yet but you might look here:

http://wwhardware.com/catalog.cfm/groupid/Sliding%20Door%20Hardware

I plan on using the Hettich hanging door slides.

[Brent Ring]

One other thought, you will have to increase the height to accomodate an apron that hides the door slides. But the fact that they hang it what interested me. I have seen them in action. Good solid, long lasting hardware.

[Michael Marcinelli]

thx all for the great advice. i'm either going to just dado out the bottom/top panels to receive a tenon in the bottom/top door edges and then put nylon tape on the bottom tenon or i might use one of the metal rollers from the site brent sent: http://wwhardware.com/