I'm making a stereo cabinet and I want to use slides so I can pull the
component shelves out for wiring, etc....
The shelf will be plain, edge banded 3/4" stock.
Does anyone have advice on what type of slide to use in this application
(and a source too, if you have it)?
Obviously, the big thing here is that the height of the slide can't be more
than the 3/4" thickness of the shelf.
Thanks,
JC
JC:
Given the weight (and cost) of the equipment in my stereo cabinet, I would look
for some good ball bearing, full extension slides. No, they won't fit in the
3/4" you specified, but they will properly support the expensive (and heavy)
equipment on them so I don't end up with a pile of scratched (or worse)
equipment.
If you just want to be able to move the shelf out a few inches, then just make
the dado a bit wider than 3/4" so the shelf can slide out a ways to reach in
and connect cabling. (Think of a loose fit shelf that can be moved. The
cabinet will really need good construction and cross bracing of you have
several shelves you wish to move if you take this approach.) If, on the other
hand, you want to pull the shelf most of the way out, go back to the first
paragraph and reconsider using decent, full extension slides. By the way, they
aren't really pretty, and aren't cheap either, but they are worth their weight
and cost when you have expensive equipment sitting on them... The ones I used
in my cabinets cost about $35 or $40 per pair, and were worth every penny. 10
years later, they are still like new. I used the same slides for the media
drawers as for the equipment shelves, and will be doing it again with built-ins
in my new home, just beginning construction.
Alternately, (which didn't work in my case) an open or removable back allows
for cabling without hassle, as long as your cabinet has rollers and sits on a
hard surface floor. (Glides and a carpeted floor just won't do when you have
several hundred pounds of equipment and/or even more weight in CDs, DVDs or
other media and then try to move the loaded cabinet...)
Good Luck
--Rick
noonenparticular wrote:
> I'm making a stereo cabinet and I want to use slides so I can pull the
> component shelves out for wiring, etc....
>
> The shelf will be plain, edge banded 3/4" stock.
>
> Does anyone have advice on what type of slide to use in this application
> (and a source too, if you have it)?
>
> Obviously, the big thing here is that the height of the slide can't be more
> than the 3/4" thickness of the shelf.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JC
Most hardware vendors have an assortment of slides
check out leevalley.ca - I have used computer keyboard tray slides in some
cabinets as the shelf sits on top of the slides, and regular drawer slides
in other cases.
For heavier items, look at Lee Valleys Entertainment Hardware - TV hardware
I have seen them at both Lee Valley and at home depot - I suspect most home
building centres or hardware stores would have them.
You need to know how much weight the sliding shelf will be supporting.
Two points of consideration
1) cable support (and length). You don't want to strain or pull out the
connections / wires when the shelf is out.
2) venting of the cabinet - so the electronics doesn't over heat. If it is
so enclosed it cannot circulate, it can get pretty warm. If you need to add
venting, you can find vent covers, put holes in the sides, or leave the
back off.
as examples:
Keyboard hardware
http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=48619&cat=3,40894
TV hardware
http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&cat=3,43597&p=43601
Matt
"noonenparticular" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm making a stereo cabinet and I want to use slides so I can pull the
> component shelves out for wiring, etc....
>
> The shelf will be plain, edge banded 3/4" stock.
>
> Does anyone have advice on what type of slide to use in this application
> (and a source too, if you have it)?
>
> Obviously, the big thing here is that the height of the slide can't be
> more than the 3/4" thickness of the shelf.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JC
>
>
"noonenparticular" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Obviously, the big thing here is that the height of the slide can't be
more
> than the 3/4" thickness of the shelf.
Can't testify to the exact height of these slides, but they should fulfill
your needs. Call up Lee Valley if you want to know their exact height.
http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=51811&cat=3,43614,43616&ap=1