Many pieces of inexpensive furniture use plastic drawer slides to allow a drawer to be pulled out and pushed in with simple mechanics. They are an inexpensive alternative to a roller- and bearing-based slide... but are they any good?
The Pros and Cons of Plastic Drawer Slides
The main benefit of plastic drawer slides is that they are inexpensive. They do not offer a smooth motion when pulling the drawer out or pushing it back in, with a potential to stick. More expensive metal slides, with wheels and ball bearings, offer a much smoother motion.
Can Plastic Drawer Slides Be Replaced with Metal Slides?
Yes. Plastic drawer slides can be replaced with metal slides when desired. Metal slides can be purchased at virtually any hardware store, and the only thing to keep in mind when making this conversion is that the new slides must be the same size as the original plastic slides. Metal slides can be generally be attached with short wood screws.
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