The guides used in modern furniture are being improved and take on new shapes and sizes. The guide for the drawer is the main element that ensures its comfortable operation. If more recently, slide elements were used for drawers , now ball or roller models are widespread.
Roller guides for boxes
These are the simplest panels that are of good quality with sufficient metal thickness. The correct choice of self-tapping screws has a great influence. Installation of such panels ensures easy operation of the cabinet and ease of dismantling. Replacing the rail is also quite simple.
Roller panels are short-lived with frequent use, they do not give the opportunity to fully open the cabinet and clap when closing the latter.
Ball guides
They have a complicated design, due to which it is possible to fully extend the cabinet, provide smoothness when moving and reduce the noise that appears during the operation of the rails.
The ball guide for the drawer has a higher cost, but all its advantages pay off during the use of the cabinet. The design of the panel is nested in one in three parts, which provide full extension of the drawer.
The quality of the guide is determined by the thickness of the metal from which it is made. The larger it is, the stronger the panel and the greater the load it can withstand. Boxes on ball guides have a less aesthetic appearance than on roller guides, and are operated with less smoothness.
Closer panels
They are advanced ball panels. Their feature is the presence of a closer, which provides a smooth and silent closing of the drawer. The principle of operation of the closer is to pick up the moving element and slow it down. Thus, even with excessive force, there will be no loud sounds.
The guide for the drawer with closer is able to withstand heavy loads. It has a high cost, so when choosing such panels it is important to pay attention to the smooth operation of the box. If it is insufficient, then it will be irrational to acquire a guide with a closer.
Such accessories also have a not very attractive appearance and spoil the aesthetics of the drawer.
Guides providing drawer extension by pressing
They have the same characteristics as the panels described above, but they have one feature. This is the opening of the drawer by clicking on the front part. This variety allows you to not use pens. Guide rails for drawers with closers ensure maximum smoothness of closure.
During installation, it is important to remember that between the front part and the cabinet body, a gap of several millimeters must be left, thanks to which it will be possible to press and overcome the damper.
It is worth carefully placing such mechanisms in a house with young children, as there is the possibility of injury if you accidentally click on the box.
Hidden guides
Flush panels are currently the most sought after. They are used for all types of furniture, especially expensive manufacturers. The guides are mounted under the bottom of the box. They have increased reliability and withstand heavy loads, provide trouble-free dismantling of the box for cleaning it. However, it is important to note that this installation method reduces the height of the box.
There are also hidden guides that open when pressed. The drawer guide provides high aesthetics and allows maximum use of the width.
Metaboxes
They are advanced followers of roller guides. They have a complex structure, which is a support panel and a side element of the box. This device allows you to not use additional to create the side walls of the box chipboard sheets.
It is also possible to fasten the front of the box to these elements. Such drawer guides are used primarily in kitchen furniture and office cabinets. They are made on the basis of metal, which is subsequently painted in a suitable shade. Due to this, a similar mechanism has a wide range.
Metaboxes have many advantages, their use increases the size of the box, while reducing its weight. They are more convenient to install, however, despite all the advantages, the cost of furniture with such a mechanism is an order of magnitude higher, which does not always please the buyer.
The choice of guide is more dependent on the necessary functions of the box. The most commonly used in the production of economy class furniture are standard roller guides. They are the simplest both in installation and in operation.