What are Ball Bearing Drawer Slides? Are you looking to make your kitchen drawers more smooth and efficient? If so, then look no further than ball bearing drawer slides! These drawer slides are the best, most functional drawer slides on the market, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them once you install them in your kitchen. Ball bearing drawer slides are made of materials that are extremely durable, strong, and dependable. You can move your drawers with ease, knowing that they will hold up over time. What is a Ball Bearing Slide Ball-bearing slides, also known as full extension drawer slides, is a type of drawer slide that gives full access to any compartment in your drawers. That’s because ball bearing slides can extend past their original length when they’re pulled out. These drawer slides come with ball bearings on them so they glide effortlessly in and out of cabinets or drawers. Even though most ball bearing drawer slides only move in one direction (out), some allow for easy adjustment and multiple directions, giving you more options when it comes to opening and closing a specific drawer. When choosing a ball bearing slide make sure to pick one that works with your space and contains all of your needs. Some models include mounting kits while others offer under-mount installation hardware. How do I Install Drawer Slides? You'll find a wide range of drawer slides for just about any cabinet. Because there's no right or wrong approach to installing a drawer slide, figuring out how to mount them may seem confusing at first. To get you started, here's a quick overview of some general guidelines: Install your slides in pairs on either side of your cabinet face. If you have more than one pair of slides, line up your top slide with your bottom slide and screw them together using two 1/4-20x1-1/2in screws per side. Make sure you position your screws at least 1 in from each end and center on each slide mount to prevent slippage. Find out if your drawers require left-hand or right-hand mounts. Most drawers will be installed in a standard cabinet that has doors that open toward each other. In these cases, you'll want to install your slides on opposite sides—left and right—of your cabinets so they don't interfere with each other when they're opened. With most models, it doesn't matter whether you mount them on the left or right side of your drawer—you simply choose based on which direction works best within its physical space. Where can I buy them? Ball bearing drawer slides can be purchased online or at any hardware store. Ball bearing slides, often referred to as drawer glides, allowing you to move heavy drawers without exerting a lot of effort. Because they utilize ball bearings and metal tracks, ball bearing drawer slides offer smooth mobility and durability even when frequently moved. There are many different types of ball bearing drawer slides available, so you'll want to think about what size drawers you will be using them on and how long it will take for them to pay for themselves. For example, if you're working with very large furniture such as dressers and armoires, you might need double-extension ball bearing slides that extend out from both sides of your drawer. If you're working with smaller furniture such as desks or tables, four-way slide systems may suffice. These vary in price depending on materials and quality but generally cost between $15 and $30 per pair (and sometimes up to $100+). If one drawer is much heavier than another (or longer), consider getting under-mounted ball bearing slides; they will help prevent sagging under heavier loads. Most home depot stores should carry all sizes and variations of ball bearing slide systems available; ask an associate to help find what best suits your needs before making a purchase.