How to Make Wooden Roll-Out Drawers for Cabinets

Shelving in kitchen cabinets can have roll-out drawers added.

Base cabinets that have been installed in a kitchen have shelving that is used to stove various items, such as food and dishes. If your cabinet only has shelves or is an open unit, you can install a roll-out drawer to easily access and organize your stored items. You can install roll-out drawers, in a cabinet, by using a track system which slides and will automatically close the drawers with minimal force.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 1/2-inch plywood
• Pencil
• Table saw
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Nail gun
• 1-by-4-inch pine boards
• 22-inch drawer slides
• Screws
• Power drill

Instructions

1. Measure the width and depth of your exiting cabinet or shelf with the tape measure. The standard depth of the cabinet should measure 23 1/4 inches. Subtract 2 1/2 inches from the width for the hinges and door that the roll-out drawer will need to clear.

2. Transfer the measurements from Step 1 to a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood. Measure and mark the cut lines on the plywood with the pencil. Cut the number of drawers you need from the plywood sheet with the table saw.

3. Measure and cut the sides of the drawers. The side of the drawers should measure 22 inches long and between 2 and 3 inches high. The back and front of the drawer will be the width that you measured in Step 1.

4. Place a bead of wood glue along the edges of the top, back and side pieces. Set each piece on one of the cut pieces of plywood and secure them with clamps. Attach the pieces together with nails using the nail gun.

5. Repeat Step 4 for to assemble each shelf that you are going to need.

6. Measure 1/4 inch from the bottom of the drawer, on each side, and make a mark with the pencil. Place the drawer portion of the drawer slide on the marks and secure it with the nail gun.

7. Measure and cut 1-by-4-inch pine boards into 22-inch strips. These will be the carrier pieces for the drawer sliders. Two strips will be needed for each drawer.

8. Measure up 1/4 of an inch on each strip and make a mark with the pencil. Connect the cabinet part of the drawer slide to the carrier pieces that you cut in Step 7.

9. Place the carrier pieces into the bottom of the cabinet and attach them with the nail gun or use screws with the power drill.

Tips & Warnings

• Install the carrier pieces and drawer from the bottom and then measure up to determine how much spacing to leave between the drawers.

References

• Reader's Digest: Kitchen Storage Tips