How To Remove Undermount Drawer Slides

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Every now and so, sure cleaning and moving tasks may require you to manually remove the drawers from a chiffonier, dresser, or similar piece of article of furniture. Removing drawers is a cinch in most cases, but the process can vary a fleck depending on the blazon of drawer you lot're working with. Most woods-glide and free-rolling drawers will come up straight out with a picayune bit of strength or a tilt at the right bending. For drawers with stopping mechanisms like stabilizer screws or anti-tip cables, you'll need to remove the screws belongings the drawer in identify before you lot tin finish pulling it out.

1. 1

   Pull the drawer out as far as it will go. Stand in front of the piece of furniture, take hold of the handle or knob on the front panel, and begin sliding the drawer out until information technology stops moving. If the drawer doesn't have a stopper, it should come right out. If you lot run across resistance, you'll need to move the drawer around a little in order to work it free.^[one]

   • Near drawers contain some blazon of stopping machinery designed to keep them from falling out accidentally. In free-rolling drawers, the stopper is typically a minor raised lip on the front side of the interior track.
   • Be certain to keep enough space betwixt you and the front end of the drawer to allow it to extend all the manner out.^[2]

   Tip: Woods-Glide draws can sometimes seem to stick a piffling, even if they're not fitted with stoppers. Before y'all start searching for obstructions, try giving the drawer a expert tug to run into if that gets it past its sticking bespeak.^[3]

2. 2

   Tilt the front of the drawer down. Push down on the sides of the drawer then that the back end lifts slightly. This will cause the wheels or lip on the dorsum edge to enhance up higher than the stopper at the front end of the track, making information technology possible to pull the drawer out the rest of the way.^{[4] [five]}

   • Yous may need to stone or jostle the drawer to assistance free the wheels from the track. Be conscientious not to get too rough with it, though, or you lot could damage it or its attached hardware.

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3. 3

   Finish pulling the drawer straight out. Once the wheels or back edge are past the stopper, all you take to do is slide the drawer off of the track and out of the opening in the piece of furniture. Set the drawer aside on a flat, stable surface and repeat the procedure for any boosted drawers you wish to remove.^{[6] [vii]}

   • If you're still having trouble getting the drawer out, at that place's a chance that it may be equipped with another blazon of stopping mechanism, such as levers or stabilizer screws.

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1. 1

   Open the drawer and identify the track levers forth the outer walls. Y'all should see a lever on each side of the drawer, right around the center of the rails. These levers may either exist directly or slightly curved. Their job is to prevent the drawer from being removed until they're disengaged.^{[8] [ix]}

   • Exist careful not to get your fingers caught in the overlapping tracks as you open the door.
   • Full-extension slide tracks, which are often institute on 12 in (30 cm) drawers, most often take directly tabs. 3-quarter-extension slide tracks, which are more common on vi in (15 cm) box drawers, tend to have curved track levers.

2. 2

   Printing down on both levers simultaneously. The best way to exercise this is to use your thumbs or forefingers to undo the levers while supporting the drawer from the bottom with your remaining fingers. That manner, y'all won't drop the drawer if information technology comes off of its track unexpectedly.^[10]

   • Use your left mitt to press the lever on the lefthand side of the drawer and your correct hand to press the lever on the righthand side of the drawer
   • Some track levers may need to be pulled up rather than pushed down. Notwithstanding, this configuration is somewhat rare.

3. 3

   Pull the drawer straight out while holding down the levers. Continue sliding the drawer towards you, making certain to proceed both levers disengaged. When it reaches the end of its tracks, it should lift straight out. Remove any subsequent drawers from the piece in the same manner.^[11]

   • When yous're set up to put the drawer down, place information technology on a flat, sturdy surface.

   Alarm: On some pieces of furniture, the metal retainer tracks will remain extended after you've pulled the drawer free. For your ain rubber, be sure to push these tracks back in before handing the piece any further.

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1. 1

   Slide the drawer out and locate the stabilizer screws at the end of the tracks. You'll find these screws on the bottom portion of each track. They're used to secure the two halves of the track, the acme of which doubles as a catch tab to concord the drawer in place.^[12]

   • If the drawer you're attempting to remove has metallic tracks just no screws at the terminate, they may exist metal glide drawers with levers. Run across if you tin can find a pair of track levers to printing that volition then let you pull the drawer free.

2. 2

   Use an advisable screwdriver to remove the stabilizer screws. Plough the screws to the left (counterclockwise) to loosen them, then pull them free from the holes in the rail hardware. Set both screws aside somewhere you won't lose them.^[xiii]

   • Near drawers with stabilizer screws use 2 in (5.i cm) #8 cabinet screws, which need to be removed with a Phillips screwdriver.^[14]

3. iii

   Lift up on the take hold of tabs to split up the 2 halves of the rails. Pull up on both tabs simultaneously. As you do, the pinnacle half of the rail will come up abroad from the bottom half, permitting the drawer to open past the stopping mechanism.^[15]

   • At that place should be enough of a lip on the grab tabs for you lot to easily grip them between your thumb and forefinger.

4. 4

   Pull the drawer out the rest of the way. Without letting go of the catch tabs, guide the drawer off of its tracks. Hold information technology as straight as possible and movement information technology in alignment with the tracks to prevent it from sticking. One time it'south clear, gear up it down advisedly and motion onto the side by side drawer.^[16]

   • If you're going to be removing multiple drawers, cheque the lip on the righthand side interior of each drawer for a small number decal. These indicate which drawer goes where, which volition brand information technology much easier to return them all to their proper identify.
   • To reinstall a drawer with stabilizer screws, merely work in opposite: align the door with the rail, lower the catch tab over the runway'southward bottom half, then thread and tighten the screws.^[17]

   Warning: Brace yourself when lifting the drawer out. Drawers with stabilizer screws are likely to be heavy, regardless of how total they are.

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1. ane

   Extend the drawer and wait for the cable on the behind. Pull the drawer out until it stops moving and take a peek at the back console. There, you should come across a small metal cable tethering the drawer to the torso of the piece of furniture. This cable is there to prevent more than i drawer from existence opened at the same fourth dimension.^[18]

   • Anti-tip cables are a common safety feature on top-heavy pieces that are prone to losing their stability when multiple drawers are open up.
   • On the top and bottom drawers, the cables will be connected to special inserts attached to the back panel. On the eye drawers, they'll be threaded through eyelets drilled through the back panel.

2. 2

   Undo the screws belongings the cable in identify. At that place may be one or two screws, depending on how the anti-tip hardware is designed, but a pair of screws is almost common. Turn the screws to the left (counterclockwise) until they're loose enough to pull out by hand.^[19]

   • Slip the screws in your pocket or set them on a nearby table or counter to avert losing them.
   • Different hardware may require different screwdrivers. In about cases, however, a Phillips caput should practise the play a trick on.

3. 3

   Press and concur the disconnect tabs if your drawer has them. Examine the rear portion of the metal tracks on either side of the drawer. If you find a pair of adjustable tabs there, printing both of them in at the aforementioned time to undo them and let the drawer to slide freely.^[twenty]

   • Continue a firm grip on the edges of the drawer while you take intendance of the disconnect tabs.
   • Make certain both tabs are pushed in completely. They may not "lock" into identify on their ain, which means you'll demand to continue pressing down on them until subsequently you've removed the drawer.

   Tip: In some cases, it may be necessary to push down or pull up on the disconnect tabs (or perform both actions simultaneously) in order to disengage them.^[21]

4. 4

   Slide the drawer straight off of its tracks. Pull the drawer towards you until it comes away from the furniture. You may need to lift or bending the drawer upward slightly in guild to get information technology articulate of the end of the tracks.^[22]

   • Don't forget to button the extended metallic tracks back into the piece earlier removing the next drawer or going well-nigh your business.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  Tin can I buy the plastic gliders that attach to the drawer?

  

  Yep, y'all tin purchase them online or expect for them in your local hardware or furniture stores.

• Question

  The drawers on my dresser have no visible rails and very little movement upwards or down. Tin can you lot propose an alternative method?

  

  I have an old Mumbai Company dresser and I institute that it had a peg in the back on both sides that needed to be pushed in. This may be the case for your dresser as well.

• Question

  How can I remove drawers from Nolte furniture?

  

  Pull out the drawer to its fullest extent. Concur the drawer front cease with both hands and give a sharp elevator up. The drawer will detach from the slides and can then be removed. To replace, fit the drawer onto the slides and push all the way in. Test correct functioning by pulling out while supporting the drawer to brand sure it halts on the stops.

• Question

  How do I supersede the drawer after information technology has come out?

  

  Simply lock it back in place by riding information technology on the inside wheels of the supporters. If the drawer is lacking, measure out the drawer and find the model number for information technology to look for a replacement in places similar Lowes or Abode Depot.

• Question

  What tin can I practise to fix a sliding drawer that has popped off its track?

  

  Line upwards the drawer with the track, check to see if it'south lined up, and push button forward.

• Question

  How do I remove a drawer that has a bottom track and a block on it?

  

  Attempt using a putty pocketknife to pry it. Pull it out as far as it will get, then slide the putty pocketknife underneath.

• Question

  How practise I put the drawers back?

  

  If you have the ball begetting gliders, there are levers on the sides of the drawers. Squeeze the levers and line the drawer upwards carefully. One time you commencement sliding the drawers back in, y'all will feel the levers click in place. Then, the drawers should easily glide for you!

• Question

  What do I practice if my draws but get 3/four of the way and stop?

  

  If you have the ball bearing gliders and they are installed properly, including that they are the right size, they should glide all the mode out. In that location are levers on each side that you squeeze and they will come out; unless they are worn out. Mine merely opened an inch and I was able to pry them with a flathead screwdriver. The main thing that you demand to be careful of when replacing them, is that they are lined upwards properly and level.

• Question

  How practice you remove drawer glides if they are mounted at the middle of the drawer?

  

  Later on it stops when fully open, concur both sides, brace knees or foot confronting dresser and pull with firm, steady pressure on the drawer. Information technology should slide right out. The glides are then attainable and can be screwed off.

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• When removing multiple drawers from a slice of furniture, always start with the top drawer and work your style down to prevent the piece from tipping over.

• Emptying the drawer of its contents before pulling it out volition make it lighter and therefore easier to hold onto and maneuver. Information technology will as well reduce your risk of injury if you happen to drop it.

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• Consider pulling on a pair of thick piece of work gloves when working with metal drawers and tracks to protect yourself from cuts, pinches, and sharp edges.

• Lightweight drawers can ordinarily exist handled safely past i person. If you plan on taking the drawers out of a loaded filing cabinet or other heavy-duty piece, it'south a good thought to recruit an assistant.

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Things Yous'll Demand

• Screwdriver
• Thick piece of work gloves (optional)

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Article Summary X

If you desire to remove wood-glide or free-rolling drawers from a slice of furniture, outset by pulling the beginning drawer out as far every bit it will get. Then, push down on the sides of the drawer so that the back end lifts upwards slightly. This causes the wheels or lip on the dorsum edge to raise up higher than the stopper at the front of the track. In one case the wheels or back edge are past the stopper, yous tin can slide the drawer off of the rail and out of the piece of furniture. Set the drawer aside on a flat, stable surface and repeat the procedure for any additional drawers you wish to remove! For tips on how to remove drawers with stabilizer screws or metal gliders, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Drawers

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