Follow these four steps to remove drawer slides
Drawers are often the unsung heroes in our homes, keeping clutter hidden and organizing everything from utensils to paperwork. But chances are, you don’t think about how they work—especially the slides themselves.
When a drawer malfunctions or you want to upgrade the hardware, you’ll need to understand how to remove drawer slides. Common reasons for removing a drawer slide include replacing damaged or faulty slides, upgrading to soft-close or undermount versions, or refurbishing cabinetry.
During the removal process, you can wear protective gloves. Safety is especially important if the slides are damaged so you don’t cut yourself on any sharp edges.
In this article:
- Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- Step-by-Step Instructions for Removing Drawer Slides
- After Removal: Next Steps
- Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Choose Eagle Woodworking for Your Drawer Slide Needs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Here are the necessary tools for removing drawer slides:
- Screwdriver or drill
- Drill bit
- Pliers
- Flashlight
- Protective gloves
Step-by-Step Instructions for Removing Drawer Slides
Removing drawer slides is a straightforward process that will require you to pay attention to the type of drawer slide you have, as well as check for any issues. Follow these drawer slide removal steps for a smooth removal process:
Step 1: Identify Your Slide Type
There are a few different types of drawer slides, and knowing yours will help you remove them.
- Side-mount drawer slides mount to the side of the drawer box. The cabinet member mounts inside the cabinet, whether it’s a frameless or face-frame style. This style may also attach to a bracket installed at the back of the cabinet.
- Undermount drawer slides mount to the bottom of the drawer box and the cabinet interior.
- Center-mount drawer slides run down the center of the drawer bottom and are supported by a rear bracket.
Step 2: Release the Drawer from the Cabinet
Many modern cabinet drawer slides have different types of disconnects to allow for easy removal, but older slides may just pull out with the right pressure. The types of disconnect methods are listed below and will help you take out drawer slides:
- Roller slides: Pull the drawer until it stops and then tilt it up slightly to pull it out all the way.
- Lever: For side-mount slides with a lever disconnect, there is a small lever on each drawer member. The track levers may need to be pushed up or down to release the drawer.
- Press tab: Some drawers, including roller slide drawers, have a push tab. Just press the tab to release the drawer.
- Friction: Friction-disconnect slides release when pulled firmly past the resistance point.
- Push-latch: Push the latch on the drawer slide to release a push-latch disconnect slide.
Step 3: Detach the Drawer Slide
After you’ve released the drawer from the cabinet, remove the screws securing the slides. If you plan on reattaching the drawer slides, make sure to keep the screws in a safe place while you remove and clean the slides.
Step 4: Remove the Cabinet-Mounted Track
Next, remove the cabinet-mounted track. To do this, simply remove the screws holding it to the cabinet. As with the drawer member, if you plan to reattach it, save the screws in a safe place.
After Removal: Next Steps
Once you’ve removed the drawer slides, you can move forward with your next steps. If you’re upgrading your slides, check to see if the new slides will line up with the existing screw holes or measure for new drawer slides. If the slides were malfunctioning, clean them and the drawer box, checking each. You can reattach the current slides using the same screw holes if you fix the issue and the slides are in good shape.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
One of the most common drawer issues with drawer slides is that they can get jammed or stuck in the cabinet. Start by pulling the drawer out as far as you can and then vacuum any dirt or debris from the areas of the drawer slides that you can reach. If that doesn’t work, you can apply lubricant to help the drawer slide smoothly. When the drawer is out, check to make sure the screws are all tight, as loose screws can cause the drawers to jam.
Screws can become damaged over time or may have even gotten damaged when the drawer slides were installed. Screw guns can’t remove a screw with a stripped head, so if that’s the problem, you can use locking pliers to grip the screw and gently loosen it.
Choose Eagle Woodworking for Your Drawer Slide Needs
Whether you’re installing undermount drawer slides or side-mount slides, upgrading drawer slides can be an affordable and easy way to elevate a kitchen or a bathroom. Replacing old slides with soft-close, full-extension, or push-to-open slides requires removing the old slides. Choosing premium-grade slides is an investment in quality and can drastically increase the functionality of your cabinet or furniture pieces.
At Eagle Woodworking, we’re proud to offer premium craftsmanship for our dovetail drawers and provide multiple drawer slide options, so you can replace your existing slides with an upgraded version that will last. Contractors trust us to meet their needs and timelines while providing excellent products for kitchens, bathrooms, and office cabinets.
Explore our cabinet drawer slides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what type of drawer slide I have?
Look at the slides that are on your drawer. Slides located on the side of the drawer are called side-mount slides and slides located under the drawer are called undermount slides. Center-mounted slides consist of a single slide centered on the bottom of the drawer box.
How to remove a drawer on slides with no levers?
Drawers on slides with no levers may have a press tab or push-latch release. Drawer slides without a release lever may be friction disconnect slides and just need to be pulled firmly from the cabinet slide. Drawers with roller slides need to be tilted up slightly while in their extended position to remove the rollers from the cabinet member.
Can I reuse old drawer slides?
While it is possible to reuse old drawer slides, it’s not recommended, especially if you were having problems with them that caused you to remove them in the first place. When you upgrade your slides, you’ll not only get the benefit of a brand new smoothly gliding slide, but you can also choose soft-close, push-to-open, or full-extension slide options.
How to remove a sliding drawer from a track?
Removing a sliding drawer from a track depends on the type of drawer slides you have. You may need to push a tab, slide a lever, tilt the drawer, or pull the drawer firmly to release the drawer slide from the cabinet member.
Are soft-close drawer slides removable the same way?
Yes, removing soft-close drawer slides, as with any drawer slide, will require pushing the release lever up or down to detach the drawer member from the cabinet member. From there, you can remove the slides by removing the screws that hold it in place.
Should I replace both the slide and track?
Yes, you should always replace both the slide and track when you’re installing drawer slides. Drawer slides see a lot of use, which means there’s a lot of wear and tear. Replacing both pieces at the same time will prolong life and prevent you from having to replace one and then the other.
