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How to fix sticky drawer runners?

Can anyone please help me get my drawers working?

I've bought a house that came with some modular built in cabinets (brand unknown) that the previous owner installed, which includs soft close drawers. Two of the drawers were sticking, taking a LOT of physical effort to get them open, and then you really had to shove them to get them to close; they also made a weird scraping/crunching noise. Pulling the drawers out, the runners were tacky to the touch and covered with what looked like solid flakes of dried grease and a LOT of grit and sawdust.

I cleaned them off fully with a paint brush and cloth both damp with warm water and a litle bit of detergent, and dried them fully. The runners after were silent and working almost perfectly. To finish the job I sprayed them down with Selley's Ezy Guide Dry Lubricant. Hours later, the runners are sticky, incredibly resistant to moving, and make a weird mix of a scraping noise, a squeak, and a squelching noise when used. When I put the drawers back on it took as much effort as before to get them to open, and the soft close function would not kick in until the draw was basically already closed. I've got the same drawers twice the size holding heavy objects that work fine, so can't be the added weight, and everything's aligned good. It's the runners just jamming up when they get lubricated, which seems to be the opposite of what's meant to happen! Do I need to use a different lubricant, perhaps?

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Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Dragon_Toad

Well you did all the right things by the book, Dry lube is the way to go as well as silicon spray.

Sometimes things are beyond reasonable repair. to fix this bunnings has replacement draw slides in different lengths and some are push to click some are soft close some are regular sliders.

You may want to bring the draw in question in and staff can help you choose replacement options.

It is rare but some sliders are unique to draws and might need them tracked down. to replace them. Hope this helps

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Dragon_Toad. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about drawer runners.

If the runners are clear of debris and are still jamming, it suggests a deeper issue with them. It's possible that they were installed incorrectly or that the rollers or components inside the runners have deteriorated over time. The lubrication and cleaning should have helped, but as @Jewelleryrescue mentioned, it may be time to consider replacing the runners entirely. This would ensure that the drawers operate smoothly and that the soft-close mechanism functions properly.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Dragon_Toad

Given the runners were working fine once cleaned off, and only started sticking and squeaking after I lubricated them, is it possible that it's something wrong with either the lubricant or how I've applied it? It was a brand new can, so can't imagine a bad batch. If I had sprayed too closely, would it have ended up too concentrated perhaps and not been able to dry properly?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/47050#Comment_47050

That's highly unlikely @Dragon_Toad. I would say that it is more possible that you've temporarily corrected something whilst cleaning, and then the issue has now returned.

I'd be checking the function of the draw and trying to determine what is obstructing the operation when it sticks and squeaks.

Mitchell

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