How to build a slide out pantry using rollers?

[gemmaholmes]

How would I make a slide out pantry, similar to the photo. However I don’t want to damage the floors so don’t want to use wheels or screw tracks directly into the floor. I was thinking king of some kind of side mount or building a carcass first. 
the gap I have is fairly narrow. 

 

 

[EricL]

Hello @gemmaholmes 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about the slide out pantry.

It is possible to build the slide out panty using drawer slides. However, your comment about space is correct, if there is not enough space left it will not be practical to build the pull out and have very little on it. You'll notice in that in some of the builds they were using castors with rubber wheels on them, this would be the best way to support the pantry without damaging the floor. Generally speaking, it would require installing another panel inside the gap to support the drawer runners.

Not only that, but you would need to make space for the drawer runner themselves which would occupy conservatively a space of 26mm which is taken away from your shelf space. By the time the entire structure is built there may be limited space on the shelf. If you can please tell us how big the gap is beside your fridge, we'll be able to give you an estimate on how much space will be left on your slide out pantry.   

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[gemmaholmes]

Thanks so much for your response! The area is 22cm wide x 56cm deep x 185cm high. 

Would the rubber castor wheels leave track marks on the floor Once there is weight the shelf? 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @gemmaholmes,

220mm of space is significant, as most people would be working with around 120mm. It sounds like you'd have room to use mounted drawer runners.

It's difficult to tell whether rubber wheels would leave marks on your floor. Typically, rubber marks are left only when wheels are dragged forcefully across the floor rather than rolled. However, after a few years, a wear pattern will form in the area where the wheels roll.

Mitchell

[gemmaholmes]

Thanks for your reply! To use mounted drawer runners, would I need to make a cavity to attach them to, or could I just use them on one side and mount them to the existing cabinet wall. 

sorry for all the questions! Just trying to work out the best way to do it. 

[EricL]

Hello @gemmaholmes 

You would technically need to create a cavity or a frame of sorts to hold the drawer runners in place. Having it on just one side is not ideal as it creates an imbalance and all the weight will be on one side of the wall which will put a lot of stress on the drawer runner and its bearings. It would be best to have drawer runners on both sides so that it is balanced and pulling it out will be nice and easy.

Eric