How to Repair Cabinet Drawers
Problems with cabinet drawers mostly pertain to slides, screws and how thick and long the tracks are. Slides, which are metal hardware attached to the side of the drawer, sometimes are not long enough and the cabinet drawer cannot be pulled out far enough. However, if the slides are longer, they can always be cut down to size. A thin track will cause the wheels to jump off the track and the drawers will stick. Thin tracks can be replaced by using thin wood strips on both sides of the cabinet drawer to help move the track nearer to the sides of the drawer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check the drawer to see if the slide is jammed. Tapping the drawer helps it jump back into place. If this does not work, it may be a loose or missing screw that holds the slide in place. Replace missing screws or tighten if necessary.
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Check the ball bearing and other parts to see if anything appears broken. The ball bearing is located at the sides of the drawer to assist with the rolling in and out movement of the drawer. It decreases any kind of friction that rotation causes while opening and closing the drawer. If the slide does not work, it may be more than just a jam. To do so, go to a cabinet maker or home supply company to find the parts for replacement. You may have to take slides or parts along with you.
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Check to see if the drawer has swollen due to water damage or any type of absorption. If so, use a pencil to make a line to measure the drawer to see how much you would like to cut off from both sides of the drawer. Do not cut more than 1/16th inch off both sides. Use an electric saw to do the cutting. Cut close to the line that you measured.
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Check to see if the drawer sides were cut too small. Using a tape measure, check to see exactly how wide the drawer should have been. Cut two pieces of thin cardboard to match the measurements on both sides. Loosen the screws by unscrewing them. Place the cardboard on both sides right next to where the screws are located.
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Check to see if the drawer is broken. Go to your local home improvement store with the drawer measurements and have the sales personnel cut out a piece of wood using the same measurement. Try to use a similar kind of wood that the original drawer is made of. You can also cut the piece of wood yourself using an electric saw with the similar measurements as the previous piece of wood and replace it by nailing it in with nails and a hammer. Add new slides to the newly created drawer to make it work.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to assess damages before going out and getting new cabinet drawers.
You can use a repair kit to fix any damages to the cabinet drawers. Make sure that the repair kit contains glue to replace any loose parts you may find.
