Drawer runners or drawer slides are hardware pieces fixed to drawers’ sides, allowing drawers to move/glide smoothly without making a noise. These slides mesh with drawers, allowing you to open or close them without getting stuck. They are designed with ball bearings for easy movement and are made from durable stainless steel, steel, and aluminium for added durability and strength. Depending on the drawer slides and applications, they can support different weight capacities in various settings. Some models allow the self-closing facility for convenience and are available in varied types.
Types of Drawer Runners Based on Their Weight Support:
Based on weight support, drawer slides are classified into the following:
- Heavy-Duty Drawer Runners – They carry a holding capacity of over 100 kg and are best suited for heavy-duty and larger applications, including garage industrial workstations, offices, and kitchens.
- Light Duty Drawer Runners – These are suitable for domestic applications with supporting up to 50 kg weight. They are ideal for drawers in kitchen furniture.
- Medium Duty Drawer Slides – They can support weight in the middle of the two slide types with a supporting weight between 51 to 99 kg. They are often installed in drawers containing heavier items like pots and pans.
Drawer Runner Types Based on Mounting Configurations:
Drawer slides are available in the side, center, and under-mount configurations.
- Side Mount Drawer Slides – These drawer slides are the most used runners mounted on drawer sides or cabinet carcass. They allow easy installation and content visibility within drawers and are widely used in kitchen or living room furniture.
- Centre Mount Drawer Slides/Runners – As the name indicates, these runners are mounted in the drawer centre underneath. They are ideal for lightweight drawers and are not visible while open.
- Under-Mount Side Drawer Slides – Undermount side drawer slides are widely used for kitchen cabinets allowing drawers to be wider with underneath fittings. They are the preferred choice for medium duty uses and are not visible from above.
What Are Special Drawer Runners?
Besides the above types, there are special drawer runners with special built-in mechanisms, including:
- Self-Closing Drawer Runners – The self-closing slides feature built-in ramp mechanisms and springs or other components for closing the drawer. They offer benefits by closing the drawers neatly without leaving them half-closed or open, thus, protecting your valuables and other possessions.
- Soft Close Drawer Runners – Using hydraulic or other mechanisms, these runners provide a smooth and soft closing of drawers by dampening the closing motion. They prevent excessive force with a smooth gliding action and avoid resulting damage and slamming.
Applications of Drawer Runners:
Depending on the users’ applications and environments, drawer runners can be effectively used in domestic, commercial, and industrial environments, such as:
- Kitchens
- Cabinets
- Offices
- Storage Warehouses
- Bedroom Furniture
- Electric & IT enclosures.
