I had some free time this afternoon so I decided to make some drawers for one of my shop cabinets. I designed them weeks ago, carefully taking measurements and drawing everything up with details for the rabbets and drawer fronts, etc. Today I made the drawers without double and triple checking the dimensions. I totally forgot to add space for the drawer slides, some heavy duty economical ball bearing slides I got on amazon for the cheap. I go to fit the drawers and they’re the exact width to fit in the cabinet. Dang it!
As a consolation, at least I can make some wooden slides, which will work since they are the right width for that. But I have to admit this was dumber than dumb. MEASURE 18 TIMES CUT ONCE!!!!
Losing fingers since 1969
At least you have a solution, it’s all about being able to make repairs or adapt to the situation at hand. If they are shop cabinets and still work, chalk this one up.
CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!
Not a mistake it’s a happy accident. Good solution
Daba
At least they’re shop cabinets. Still, not as good as smooth ball bearing slides. :-(
Losing fingers since 1969
I call that a design change opportunity .
Good save and the slides will come in handy for the next project .
Klaus
Yep, that’s true. The slides will be there for the next set. :-)
Losing fingers since 1969
Wooden slide work pretty good too..
Good save.
Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
Put some wax on them, and call them eco slides.
Nice save.
Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.
I got the dados cut into the sides and made and pre-drilled the slides last night out of some maple scrap. Actually, the maple came from a disassembled crib someone threw away. I guess I’ll call these baby slides. LOL.
Fortunately I made the sides out of 3/4 ply. Plenty of room to cut into for a decent sized slide. Hopefully I’ll have time to install tonight. And yes, wax is necessary.
Losing fingers since 1969
I use ivory bar soap instead of wax. I learned it very long ago and have used it exclusively as a wood lubricant for everything .
CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!
I’ll try it out.
Losing fingers since 1969
I got the wood slides in. I never did that before. It was almost more trouble than it was worth. I almost gave up and decided to just remake the drawers. That’s how much trouble these things gave me. Everything is an opportunity to learn, I guess. First, this was a retrofit, obviously, so that meant crawling into the cabinet that was already installed. Not fun. Next the slides were warped before and after I screwed then in. I ended up enlarging the dado on the drawer sides to make them move smoother. That also was a pain because the drawer front is glued on. They’re shop cabinets. They weren’t supposed to be fancy. You can see where i cut through the drawer fronts. Well, they’re finally in, anyway. Tomorrow I’ll cut some gaps in the drawer fronts for finger pulls. Nothing fancy. I still need to lubricate the slides. I have to find some soap.
Losing fingers since 1969
Sure sounds like something that I would do. :-)
Keith "Shin" Schindler
I have an ice creame tub in my shop that holds my soap. When the bar gets down to half an inch thick in the houe I take it to the bucket and open a new bar for the shower.
CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!
I like that idea. I don’t think I’d go through that much soap in the shop, though. ;-)
By the way, this morning I came up with an idea retrofit the ball bearing slides. Glue a 1/2" plywood drawer side to the inside of the drawer to make the sides thicker, then cut a dado big enough to fit the ball bearing slides. The existing sides are 3/4" ply so it probably could be done without any reinforcement. It’s too late now and I’m also happy to have learned a few things in the process.
Losing fingers since 1969
I like to think that everytime a mistake happens it is actually a test to see how good you are at saveing the project.Some of my most creative thinking has come from adversity!
steve66
Been there done this more than once. Hey Brian just an FYI check out Grizzly.com at slides and hinges. Them ball bearing slides your talking about im going to be using on my bench. Im getting mine from Grizzly 18" full extension 100lbs rating at 8.50 buck a pair. I just saw them when i was on there site Sunday. I paid at menards 11 bucks for 14" full extension 65lbs rating. So yeah ordering from Grizzly.
Jeff Vandenberg aka "Woodsconsin"
Try amazon. KV full extension economy (no frills, no soft close, etc) 100 lbs 22" only $6.50/pair. Prime shipping too!
Losing fingers since 1969