Affordable DIY Slides for Shop Drawer

by jthornburgh1 in Workshop > Workbenches

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Affordable DIY Slides for Shop Drawer

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I wanted to add a simple drawer with DIY slides to my workbench using odds and ends from around my shop. This Instructable only covers making the sliders. I'll discuss building the drawer only as it pertains to the sizing and installation of the sliders. No cut sheets provided. This is intended to present an idea you can build off with your own ideas.

Supplies

PVC Pipe, 2" Diameter, Cut to match the depth of the drawer.

Woodscrews

Cut PVC Pipe to Length

Cut your PVC pipes to match the length of the drawer.

There are pros and cons for choosing the length you cut. Cutting your pipes a little short gives room to avoid interferences but your drawer pull is shorter. If you've got room to leave it long that provides increased support to keep the drawer from falling down when it's pulled all the way out.

Bifurcate PVC Pipe

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There's your five-dollar word for the day. Cut it in half lengthwise.

I originally considered raising the blade just enough to clear the pipe wall and take two passes, but thought it would be more precise with a better chance of getting two equal halves from a single pass with the blade way up. Choose what you feel comfortable doing.

Cut two pipes so you end up with four halves.

Lay Out

Ona flat surface, place one half up and one down. Slide the halves together until they touch, without causing the Up Half to rock. This shows the width required for your PVC slider.

Install Lower Half

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With the dimension acquired from the previous step attach the lower half of the slider the same distance from the bottom of the benchtop surface. I gave myself some elbow room because what's a 1/4" between friends? I attached the slider in six spots. I highly recommend countersinking the screw just enough that the heads don't interfere with the drawer.

Time to Build Your Drawer

If you're looking for an Instructable on how to build a drawer you've come to the wrong place.

Once you have installed both of your lower sliders measure the distance between the two inside points of the sliders. This is the max allowable width of your drawer. Keeping this dimension tight will prevent your drawer from falling in between the sliders. Good luck. You can do it.

Install Upper Half

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Repeat Step 4 to attach the upper half to the drawer. I set the top of the PVC flush with the top of the drawer. Don't forget to countersink your screws. You'll thank me later. Slide your drawer in and enjoy the low coefficient of friction between the two PVC sliders.