Drawer slides and construction

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

I am mulling over some projects, and I have a question about drawer runners or slides. All of our kitchen cabinets have rollers/slides, but most (but not all) of our furniture in our bedrooms has wooden runners for the drawers.

Does anyone have thoughts or preferences on rolling slides versus wooden runners on drawers in bedroom furniture?

[Jamie Buxton]

In general, drawers with metal slides are easier to make, and are more durable, than wood-slide drawers. It is also very easy to use full-extension slides, but that's difficult in wood. I use wood runners only when I'm making a piece which is intended to evoke the feel of furniture built before the middle of the twentieth century. Even then, I may choose to use metal slides.

[David DeCristoforo]

Generally my "rule of thumb" is:

Kitchens and low cost furniture - Steel - Good.

"Fine" Furniture - Steel - Bad.
Exceptions: File Cabinet drawers - Steel - Good.
Drawers or pull outs in "media" cabinets - Steel - Good.
Computer keyboard trays - Steel - Good.

[Karl Brogger]

My personal opinion is that undermounts are good for furniture as well. They work smoothly, don't jam, and they're is nothing to see anyway.

I'll second the r.o.'s comment from David.