One of the most popular types of furniture fittings are drawer systems for drawers. In the manufacture of cabinet furniture with drawers , guides of various modifications, sizes and models are used. Among the many types, one of the best options is a telescopic rail.
Accessories for movable furniture elements
In past times, a lot of effort was needed to open and close the drawer. At the same time, he could skew or completely jump off the wooden rails. Modern systems allow you to easily, smoothly and silently open and close any sliding element of furniture, whether it is a heavy chest of drawers or a small drawer of a desk. Telescopic rails There are several types: roller, ball, bottom mounting, with clamps, closers, as well as the metabox and tandembox systems. The scope of the latter where high operational loads are planned - kitchen cabinets, workbenches, technological equipment.
Types of retractable structures
Systems for drawers are divided into two main types - ball and roller. With proper installation and operation, the roller mechanism ensures smooth opening and closing of the drawer. Moreover, the nomination may be incomplete and complete. The latter option is much more expensive. Ball designs are more complex and expensive. They work silently, are durable and able to withstand heavy loads. Ball or telescopic guides have several modifications. Differ in installation. They can be mounted on the side plane of the box, in the groove of the side surface and combined - on the bottom and side of the box. The dimensions of the rails vary in length from 150 mm to 700 mm. Extra long guides consist of three parts. The width can be from 17 mm to 35 mm. Depending on the size, the system can withstand a weight of 10 kg to 30 kg. Designs with full extension have levers for separating the drawer from the rails.
The principle of operation of retractable systems
Telescopic rails for drawers are used in all types of furniture where there are sliding systems. The principle of their operation depends on the type of guide devices and the installation location. The base of all the guides has the same design. It consists of a series of balls that slide along the stamped grooves. The plates are designed in such a way that, with their minimum weight and size, it is possible to move heavy loads over a large length. The telescopic guide is made of high-strength high-quality steel, which ensures the durability and reliability of the entire system. The main advantages of the design are high adaptability, the ability to fully extend the drawer with protection against rolling out. In rails with a closer, the mechanism is mounted on the bottom of the drawer and is not visible when extended. For the failure-free operation of the mechanism, the calculation of the box itself and the correct installation of the structure are important.
Installation of "telescopes"
The telescopic guide is quite easy to install, but it requires precision during assembly. It is necessary to correctly calculate the dimensions of parts and places for their fastening. Gaps should be provided between the drawer and the cabinet body (about 12 mm on both sides). The length of the telescopic mechanism should correspond to the depth of the box. Before installation, “telescopes” are disassembled into two parts. A strictly horizontal line is marked in the center of the side of the box. One part of the mechanism is screwed along this line. Similarly, the part is mounted on the other side of the box. There are main and auxiliary holes for fastening. Oval holes allow you to adjust the guides, moving them up and down, back and forth. After that, the same marking is carried out on the internal surfaces of the cabinet, taking into account the number of drawers and the height of the front parts. Next, a box with an attached carriage is inserted into the system on the cabinet. Smooth and easy sliding of the moving element indicates the correct installation of the system.
Selection of retractable mechanisms
Not all guides are interchangeable. Roller mechanisms and metaboxes have left and right parts. Telescopic rails are the same for the left and right sides. For each type, the details of the boxes are calculated differently. The telescopic rail is suitable for a dresser in the bedroom, drawers in the children's room. In a desk or computer desk, conventional roller guides are more often used. Hidden systems are appropriate in the living room, although they are more expensive. For kitchen furniture, systems like METABOX or TANDEMBOX are most suitable. BOSCH 3-level telescopic rails are successfully used in ovens. They make it easy to push multi-level lattices and trays from the oven.
Telescopic designs have several advantages. First of all, it is a long service life. Ease of management and at the same time the ability to withstand heavy weight. Among the disadvantages is the high price of some types of systems. It is important to know the assortment in order to best combine the characteristics and quality of the product with its price.