This is the backbone of every drawer and pull-out. It is what enables quick and convenient use of drawers and objects inside them. A furniture slide allows for pulling the drawer in and out along rails cut into the drawer housing. It allows the entire drawer to stay at the correct height for the entire piece of furniture. There are different types of furniture slides. To choose the right one you need to consider what will be stored in the drawer and more specifically how much it will weigh as slides have different load capacities. Failure to do so may result in the slide structure breaking and needing to be replaced. When heavier items will be stored inside the drawer, choose a ball bearing slide.

A ball-bearing slide – strength above all else!

A ball-bearing drawer runner has the highest load capacity of any slide on the market. Weights of up to 50kg are not a threat to it! All this is due to the use of very strong metal materials, which will survive even very high temperatures, remaining in an unchanged state. This makes it possible to use it in factories to store all kinds of tools. Inside the metal structure are nylon balls that smooth the movement of the entire drawer – but are not visible to the naked eye. They are designed for special tasks. There are less heavy duty roller runners – used for bedside cabinets and the home office. They have a lower load capacity than ball bearing slides so you have to be careful when loading them to avoid breaking the whole slide structure.

Ball bearing furniture slides are not only hardwearing options, but also extremely functional. The option of soft close or push to open continues to delight customers. The former creates a harmonious silence in any room by reducing the risk of loud and unpleasant noises from the drawer hitting the wooden structure. A silent closure will brake the rushing drawer before it ends. Push to open allows you to remove the handles from the drawer surface and open it by pressing on the furniture surface. The slide mechanism does the rest!

Summary

Once you’ve looked at choosing the right slide for your application, it’s time to install it. If you choose a roller slide, mounting is not too much of a problem. However, if you want to mount a ball bearing slide, it’s a good idea to seek professional advice as mounting a ball bearing slide is a little more problematic.