drawer slides: side to side play normal?

"Swingman" wrote
>
> When I get in a bind in a kitchen install, the construction site dumpster
> generally has something ... packaging cardboard/plastic, pieces of shims,
> anything that will get the job done .
> --
Exactly.

While working on my porch modificaions for an elderly couple, I needed some
shims. I ventured into that tomb of a garage with at least 40 years of
accumulated junk and found something that worked.

Both my grandfathers and my father were great scroungers and recyclers. I
remember all of them telling me to go find something that works. No matter
the problem, go find something that works. That is a lesson that has stuck
with me my whole life. Not all solutions come in a mass manufactured package
at the big box store.

On Oct 9, 8:14=A0am, adrian <[email protected]> wrote:

> How would you suggest shimming? =A0(Washers? =A0Piece of veneer?)

UHMW tape comes to mind. Could you do that?

[email protected] wrote:
> I'm making a file cabinet and I installed the first drawer using
> Accuride 4043 drawer slides.

> Is this amount of side to side play normal? Other "light duty" sides
> I have around the house don't seem to do this.

Not unusual, but may be excessive for your application and, IME, can be
amplified by errors in the drawer opening width.

You will want to try shimming the drawer slides, on one or both sides,
to see if you can remove some of this slop.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

adrian wrote:
> On Oct 9, 9:11 am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>> I'm making a file cabinet and I installed the first drawer using
>>> Accuride 4043 drawer slides.
>>> Is this amount of side to side play normal? Other "light duty" sides
>>> I have around the house don't seem to do this.
>> Not unusual, but may be excessive for your application and, IME, can be
>> amplified by errors in the drawer opening width.
>
> Can I expect to get the side to side play down below 5/64", or is some
> play unavoidable?

Out of necessity there must be some side-to-side play. I wouldn't obsess
with it, however. Do what you can within reason, and and what makes you
feel better, and you will find that your inset drawers are going to work
just fine. :)

>> You will want to try shimming the drawer slides, on one or both sides,
>> to see if you can remove some of this slop.
>
> How would you suggest shimming? (Washers? Piece of veneer?)

All of the above ... IOW, whatever will do the job. When I get in a bind
in a kitchen install, the construction site dumpster generally has
something ... packaging cardboard/plastic, pieces of shims, anything
that will get the job done ... permanently, so you won't have to come back.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

adrian wrote:
> On Oct 9, 11:31 am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> adrian wrote:
>>> On Oct 9, 9:11 am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> [email protected] wrote:
>>>>> I'm making a file cabinet and I installed the first drawer using
>>>>> Accuride 4043 drawer slides.
>>>>> Is this amount of side to side play normal? Other "light duty" sides
>>>>> I have around the house don't seem to do this.
>>>> Not unusual, but may be excessive for your application and, IME, can be
>>>> amplified by errors in the drawer opening width.
>>> Can I expect to get the side to side play down below 5/64", or is some
>>> play unavoidable?
>> Out of necessity there must be some side-to-side play. I wouldn't obsess
>> with it, however. Do what you can within reason, and and what makes you
>> feel better, and you will find that your inset drawers are going to work
>> just fine. :)
>
> You think they would work fine if I don't shim at all? I mean, the
> main reason
> I'm worried about it is that I don't want the drawers to slam into the
> drawer
> frame when the users (like my 4 year old) close the drawer.
>

Try some minor shimming and see how it works. Doesn't take a second to
just loosen up a cabinet side slide and stick a piece of cardboard
behind it and tighten the screws.

It it doesn't bind the drawer, and you gain something, go with it, or
try doing it to the other side also ... tweaking drawers to go in and
out of a opening is a trial and error endeavor regardless of what slides
you use, or don't use.

Make it a source of satisfaction that you've "tweaked it to the max"! :)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Oct 9, 11:31=A0am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
> adrian wrote:
> > On Oct 9, 9:11 am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> [email protected] wrote:
> >>> I'm making a file cabinet and I installed the first drawer using
> >>> Accuride 4043 drawer slides.
> >>> Is this amount of side to side play normal? =A0Other "light duty" sid=
es
> >>> I have around the house don't seem to do this.
> >> Not unusual, but may be excessive for your application and, IME, can b=
e
> >> amplified by errors in the drawer opening width.
>
> > Can I expect to get the side to side play down below 5/64", or is some
> > play unavoidable?
>
> Out of necessity there must be some side-to-side play. I wouldn't obsess
> with it, however. Do what you can within reason, and and what makes you
> feel better, and you will find that your inset drawers are going to work
> just fine. :)

You think they would work fine if I don't shim at all? I mean, the
main reason
I'm worried about it is that I don't want the drawers to slam into the
drawer
frame when the users (like my 4 year old) close the drawer.

On Oct 9, 9:11=A0am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I'm making a file cabinet and I installed the first drawer using
> > Accuride 4043 drawer slides.
> > Is this amount of side to side play normal? =A0Other "light duty" sides
> > I have around the house don't seem to do this.
>
> Not unusual, but may be excessive for your application and, IME, can be
> amplified by errors in the drawer opening width.

Can I expect to get the side to side play down below 5/64", or is some
play unavoidable?

>
> You will want to try shimming the drawer slides, on one or both sides,
> to see if you can remove some of this slop.

How would you suggest shimming? (Washers? Piece of veneer?)

Lee Michaels wrote:
> "Swingman" wrote
>> When I get in a bind in a kitchen install, the construction site dumpster
>> generally has something ... packaging cardboard/plastic, pieces of shims,
>> anything that will get the job done .
>> --
> Exactly.
>
> While working on my porch modificaions for an elderly couple, I needed some
> shims. I ventured into that tomb of a garage with at least 40 years of
> accumulated junk and found something that worked.
>
> Both my grandfathers and my father were great scroungers and recyclers. I
> remember all of them telling me to go find something that works. No matter
> the problem, go find something that works. That is a lesson that has stuck
> with me my whole life. Not all solutions come in a mass manufactured package
> at the big box store.

I was taught the same thing, and I'll spend hours massaging something I
found in the garage to fit the need at hand before I'll make the four
mile drive to Lowe's Depot to get the exact thing I need. Of course,
I've been burned so many times by the Borg NOT having the exact thing I
need that I can hardly blame myself. :-)

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