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A stuck drawer is one of those little household annoyances we all face at some point. Whether it’s due to age or a poorly aligned installation, the key is knowing how to fix it! In this article, we explain the most common reasons why drawers jam and how to solve the problem with easy, beginner-friendly solutions. With just a few basic tools and a bit of patience, you can get your drawers sliding smoothly again.
Why Drawers Get Stuck
Over time, the drawers in older pieces of furniture may stop sliding smoothly, making it increasingly difficult to open or close them.
This issue arises because the sliding mechanism in such furniture often consists of two wooden rails fixed to the side walls, with grooves on the drawer sides that glide along them. Naturally, after years of use, the constant friction of wood against wood wears down the lubricating substance, increasing the friction between the parts.
The first step in such cases is to remove the drawers and try lubricating the rails.
In the past, solid paraffin was used for lubrication. While it is still available today, it can be hard to find. Alternatively, beeswax—commonly used for polishing furniture—can be a suitable replacement or also a silicone-based lubricant can be used to ensure smooth movement.
When the Rails Are Worn Out
Sometimes, prolonged use of drawers—and neglecting to lubricate the rails—can cause the wooden rails to wear down. Over time, the rails may develop a triangular cross-section or even break along their length, as shown in the photo.
In such cases, it’s unfortunately too late to solve the issue by simply lubricating the rails. When the rails are too worn, they can no longer hold the drawer at the correct height. As a result, the drawer sags lower, touching the one below it and making it difficult to slide smoothly.
Replacing the Rails
At this stage, the best solution is to replace the rails.
Start by marking a guide to help position the new rails correctly. Using a fairly soft pencil, draw around the wooden strip to outline its profile on the side of the furniture.
Next, take a sturdy screwdriver and begin removing the rails one by one to proceed with the replacement.
Alternative repair methods
Once you've removed the old rails, simply purchase some sturdy wooden strips (you can find oak or beechwood ones at DIY stores). Make sure they have the right dimensions, cut them to match the length of the old rails, and mount them back in position following the traces you marked earlier on the furniture sides. And that's it—job done.
However, there’s another option that I personally found even better. I measured the groove inside the drawer (the one that slides along the rails) and, armed with this measurement, headed to a large DIY centre where I found metal drawer guides. These are called “ball-bearing slides” and feature a mechanism with small steel balls that allow for smooth sliding.
Installing Ball-Bearing Drawer Slides
Installing these “ball-bearing slides” is quite straightforward, as long as you follow a few simple steps.
First, place the slide into the groove on the drawer, aligning it flush with the back edge of the drawer itself. Next, use a pencil to make two marks (one at each end of the slide) for the screw holes that will secure the piece.
Be sure the slide is positioned correctly; if it is, the hole near the back edge of the drawer should be threaded.
Attaching the Slides to the Drawers
Using a drill, make holes on the side of the drawer where the screws for securing the ball-bearing slide will go.
Repeat these steps on the other side of the drawer and then for all the remaining drawers.
Attaching the Slides to the Furniture
To attach the slides to the furniture, position them at the centre of the pencil marks made before removing the old rails, ensuring the outer edge is flush with the line. Be cautious—this positioning preserves the original drawer alignment. If the slide is placed further inward or outward, the drawer may either sit too far inside the furniture or fail to close properly.
Once you've made the marks, use a drill to make small pilot holes (with a 1.5 mm drill bit) to prevent the screws (wood or self-tapping screws) from splitting the furniture's wood.
Three screws per slide should be more than sufficient.
Inserting the Drawer After Installing the Slides
Once the slides are mounted inside the furniture, pull one pair out gently and carefully insert the drawer until the holes in the drawer align with those on the track.
Begin by attaching the two outer screws. These should be inserted from outside the slide into the drawer, with the nut secured inside the drawer.
The two inner screws, on the other hand, should be mounted from inside the drawer without a nut (remember, the track of the slide is threaded).
One important detail to consider: these screws need to be long enough to reach the threading but not so long that they penetrate into the slide itself. If they do, they could jam against the screw heads mounted on the furniture.
Conclusions
Now, the drawers are incredibly easy to open and close. Be sure to warn anyone who was used to opening them when they were stiff that they aren't anymore—otherwise, they might pull too hard and accidentally remove the drawer along with the slides!
For the first use, gently pull each drawer towards you until you feel the first stop, then pull a bit more until it meets a second stop. This step is essential for properly positioning the ball-bearing cages.
The only downside is that the drawer cannot be fully removed; a small portion, equal to the length of the cage (around 5 to 10 cm), will remain covered by the upper drawer, as it cannot slide out further.
One more thing to keep in mind is that these slides aren't designed for heavy loads. They're best suited for drawers intended to hold lighter items. Overloading them can risk breaking the slides. For heavier loads, metal roller slides are a better option than ball-bearing ones.
I hope this guide proves helpful.
Thank you!
Luciano (Capitan Farloc)