Finally figured out why my drawer slides kept failing after 3 years in business

Turns out I was using the wrong length slides almost every time. Found a PDF from Blum that explains the whole theory behind over-travel and side clearance. Been doing it by eye since I started and that was my mistake. Any other cabinet guys ever catch themselves doing something basic wrong for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_nina1mo ago

Nice catch. I did something similar with hinge boring distances. For over a year I was setting my cup holes too close to the edge because I eyeballed it. Turned out I was off by like 3mm the whole time. Once I sat down and read the actual spec sheet from the manufacturer everything lined up perfect. Sometimes the basics are the easiest to mess up when you're in a hurry.

wren9761mo ago

Isn't it funny how one tiny measurement can throw off everything even when you think you've got it down? @the_nina, that 3mm thing reminds me of how my dad used to measure twice cut once, but I never really got why until I screwed up a few times myself. It's like with cooking, you think you know how much salt to add until you overshoot and ruin the whole pot, so you go back to the recipe and realize you were winging it wrong the whole time. We all just want to get things done fast and forget that the details are what make it work right every single time.