I am having kitchen cabinets made and would like really, really good slides and glides.
Has anyone had any experience with a brand called “Accuride”? Can you recommend them? Any better ones that I should explore.
Thanks very much.
JWW
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Replies
Yes they make a good slide. I used them on our kitchen drawers, full extension 100lbs I think, they slide nice but the ones I have do not retract close like some models. These also mount on the sides, you can get under drawer kind but they are costly.
I am building my third chest of drawers with Accuride slides. They are smooth, sturdy, and silent. IMHO they are worth the extra cost. A balky drawer due to a poor or worn slide is aggravating to live with and really aggravating to fix.
I have used their slides in a lateral file cabinet. Full extension slides and they work wonderfully. I installed them 5 years ago and have had no problems at all. Taking the drawers off and back on for 2 moves was simplicity itself. They cost a lot but they are worth the money.
Accuride and Blum both have superb products.
I went with the Blum units for my kitchen, because the "shock absorber" was something I wanted with kids slamming the drawers.
Both are excellent and are almost always an upgrade for any purchased cabinets. I believe that Accuride are less expensive though.
Cheers,
Michael
Used Accuride on two projects and very pleased. One one of them, I would have used the under-mount versions, but they were not available yet. I don't think it is good to see metal slides on better grade of furniture/cabinet work.
Jeff
Hi JWW,
Accuride makes several different drawer glides at different price points and quality levels. Among the variables are the extent to which the drawer will open (e.g., 3/4, full-extension, over-extension), weight bearing capacities, and the mounting location.
Determine your selection criteria early in the design process - it's usually a big mistake to wait until design and/or construction are completed before selecting hardware because hardware can significantly determine some aspects of design. In addition to spacing, it's important to determine how you will mount drawer glides if you choose to install them in a carcase with a face frame, and to determine whether your choice of drawer fronts will be completely compatible with the glide and mounting method selected (e.g. full overlay, partial overlay, flush inset...).
Most glides require a 1/2" space on each side of the drawer, although they offer other models. As I recall, their least expensive model uses a single glide centered under the drawer with a 35-pound weight capacity; the premium models hold the most weight (100 pounds or more) and open the most. Other design attributes include a self-closing mechanism, and a soft/quiet closing option.
Accuride also offers products that integrate slides and Euro-style cup hinges - as often seen on entertainment centers with doors that slide discretely into the carcase when opened.
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I just finished a kitchen cabinet and used the Blum 562H bottom mount glides. The customer specified them and I was a little put off by their price (~$40/set) and weight (the UPS guy almost gave himself a hernia bringing the box of eight sets into the shop) - lol.
The instructions really need work, but when I finally figured it out and installed them, I was blown away. They're incredibly smooth and the self closing feature is terrific.
I can't remember the last time I've used drawer glides by anyone other than Blum or Accuride.
jww ,
Another quality brand name is K.V or Knape and Vogt . They just came out with a mid range 125lb capacity with 1" over travel . I use the KV 8505 150lb capacity on all large drawers and I use 1/2" bottoms in the drawer box . The kitchen I just finished used both of these slides and they are flawless as is the Accuride line . Check with your supplier on price and availability .
good luck dusty
I've got some K&V slides myself in the shop...haven't used 'em yet, but they look well-made.
On that subject, a while back I picked up a zillion different sizes of slides made by an outfit called Fulterer. Anyone got experience with or knowledge of this brand?
Jason
Jason ,
Fulterer has been around for maybe 5 or 10 years or so that I know of , a few of my cronies use and have used them . They are about a third less in cost and the people that have used them seem pleased . They look just like KV or Accuride sort of a spin off if you will . The Blum tandem with the self closing feature are the state of the art slide in todays market , I have not used them myself yet , but have been told they truly are the cats meow by those who have used them , you get what you pay for . I am slow to make changes so I stick with KV and Accuride and have been using them for the last 25 years or so with little or no failures to speak of . I build some rather large drawers in the majority of my kitchens and the 150 lb slides are super for this application . dusty
"Accuride"..
I have used them in several projects.. I think they are GREAT..
In fact I recently built a shop made Horizontal router fixture that uses three 24 inch full extension slides for each sliding table. Three for the X table and three for the Y table.. Each table has two mounted vertically at the edges and one mounted horizontally in the center.
There is ZERO movement of the tables in any direction.. Zero means not worth measuring...
I was cutting some mortises in several 6X6 inch by 10 foot long oak
for a neighbors project. The 'sticks' were just clamped to the table (two at a time) and the tables moved just like I had a normal stick on them AND the cuts were dead on.. NO I did NOT have the tables extended out 24 inches to make them cuts. That would have tipped over my workbench!
For the money I payed for them.. worth every cent...
Just me..
Accuride is an excellent choice. Make sure yhey are full extension, meaning when you open the drawer, it comes all the way open instead of the cheaper ones that only open the drawers 75%
Accurides were the standard for quality for years and I used them exclusively. Now I use Blum Tandems with the hydraulic closers called "Blumotion". They are silent, glide smoother than Accuride and close them selves when pushed without slamming. Really nice and viewable at Blum's website. aloha, mike
I am a great fan of Accurides, and have always used them for full extension drawers.
My favorite for regular kitchen drawers is the #2632. Easy to work with, low profile, and has a 65 lb rating, which is more than adequate for most drawers:
http://tinyurl.com/aud6n
They make a more heavy duty version (100 lb.), which has a larger profile:
http://tinyurl.com/exh9a
However, I used the Blum Tandem slides for the last set of cabs I built, and I think they are terrific. They mount beneath the draw, so they're completely invisible. They do, however, require a different kind of drawer construction (than side mounted slides).
And, as others have noted they are expensive. Woodcraft was selling the size I needed for about $42-43, but I was able to find them at a local wholesale outlet for about $22.
http://tinyurl.com/82uwa
"I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
-- Herb Caen (1916-1997)
The top of quality and feel of action, IMHO, is the Blum Tandem full extension with the Blumotion option. The Blumotion option gives you the soft-close action.
They mount under the drawer, and thus are concealed. Easy-to-access trigger clips are pulled by your fingers to remove the drawer, and putting the drawer back is seamless.
Go to any kitchen showroom that has higher end products, and ask to see drawers with the "soft close" feature. It will likely be Blum hardware that you will experience. I believe Hettich and Hafele make competing slides.
If you want slides like these at the high end, though, be prepared for the high-end cost.
Gene Davis, Davis Housewrights, Inc., Lake Placid, NY
I am having kitchen cabinets made and would like really, really good slides and glides
That would be the Blum Tandem. Accuride and KV are excellent quality, but for a high-end custom job the Tandem is the way to go. With 48 drawers in my kitchen I couldn't afford the Blumotion option, but even without it the drawers are exceptionally smooth, and have the other attributes others have mentioned in the post: full extension, self-closing, and hidden. They do require a bit more depth (your drawers will be a tad shallower) but less width than Accuride or KV side-mount.
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