Any form of the drawer is incomplete without a slide. Slides are also known as drawer slides and drawer runners. They are rail-based components that ease a drawer’s pull and push features. Drawers smoothly glide in and out with the help of slides. Different types of slides and ball bearing drawer slides are popular. Despite the types, drawer slides are bound to function on long rails. Now, some slides feature ball bearings, while some feature rollers.
What are Ball Bearing Drawer Slides?
Ball bearing drawer slides function on ball bearings. Within this type, there are two categories. Some slides move one way while others can move two-way. Regardless of the style, they all feature ball bearings running on multiple rails. On the contrary, roller drawer slides have two parts. One is the drawer rail, and the other is the furniture rail. Each of these rails has wheels. The drawer rail is designed to be mounted on drawers, and its counterpart is intended to be used on furniture to which the drawer will be attached.
Full Extension Ball Bearing Drawer Slides
Full extension ball bearing drawer slides are typically characterized by their balls. These balls are made from stainless steel and help to perform a rolling movement when the drawer is pulled or pushed. Note that the mounting process for ball-bearing slides may vary. The mounting process includes the Side Mount, Center Mount, and Bottom Mount. Side mounts are the most common among all. Bottom mounts are a bit costlier than side mounts. The ball-bearing rails stay concealed even when the drawers are pulled open. Center-mounted slides come with a single rail. The slides are installed at the bottom centre of any drawer.
How much weight can ball-bearing drawer slides hold?
The design, material, and length define the weight capacity of ball-bearing drawer slides. Typically, ball-bearing slides can take 50-100 lbs. Heavy-duty drawer slides can sometimes support up to 500 lbs or more. These are specialized designs and are made for industrial uses. Factors that affect weight capacities are:
- Material: Stainless steel or reinforced slides offer maximum durability and strength
- Slide length: Longer slides do not contribute to heavier weights due to leverage effects
- Mounting type: Side mount and undermount slides evenly distribute the weight to boost the load-bearing capacity
It’s best to check the specifications before buying any ball-bearing drawer slide. This will help you achieve maximum performance in every aspect.
Bottom Mount Ball Bearing Drawer Slides
Bottom mount ball bearing drawer slides look the same as side-mount slides. The only difference is in the position of the mounting. They come with a pair of rails, each mounted on the left and right bottom of the drawer. The slides are perfect as they offer quiet and smooth operation. They are most commonly used in modern cabinets to achieve maximum aesthetics. Bottom-mount slides are good for light to moderate loads.
Heavy Duty Ball Bearing Drawer Runners
Ball-bearing slides come with additional features like self-closing or soft-closing mechanisms. They are designed to provide maximum convenience and functionality. Heavy duty ball bearing drawer runners are effective when it comes to reducing friction while operating. Collinets Industries has a range of full-extension ball-bearing drawer slides. They are available in multiple sizes like 10 Inch | 12 Inch | 14 Inch | 16 Inch | 18 Inch | 20 Inch | 22 Inch | 24 Inch | 26 Inch | 28 Inch. Feel free to visit our online store and find the most suitable one. Do not skip the additional information specified with each product!
