ᐅ What is the best way to install drawer slides in a Pax wardrobe?

Hello everyone, I am planning to install drawer slides in my Pax wardrobe to make better use of the storage space. My question is: What is the best and safest way to attach these drawer slides within the Pax system? The issue is that the built-in mounting options differ slightly between some slides, and I want to avoid the components becoming loose or unstable over time. I have also heard that using certain screws or wall plugs is better for the support profiles – can you provide specific recommendations? I would appreciate any advice regarding positioning, types of screws, and any necessary preparatory work such as drilling or reinforcements. Thanks in advance!

Hello Rerabla, your question about the optimal way to attach drawer slides in the Pax system is fundamentally well asked. Here is a structured answer: - The slides are usually mounted directly to the side panels of the Pax frame. It is important to use the screws provided, as they are generally matched to the material. - The side panels are made of chipboard, so Spax wood screws sized 4x30 mm (about 1/8 x 1 1/4 inches) are ideal, better than long metal screws to avoid cracking. - Position the slides parallel and at the same height; using a spirit level is best for alignment. - If necessary, drill small pilot holes of 2-3 mm (about 1/16 to 1/8 inch) diameter to protect the material and guide the screws during insertion. - For heavy drawers, consider additional metal brackets inside the frame for extra support. In summary: Preferably use the original screws, focus on precise alignment, and drill pilot holes carefully. If the installation instructions for the slides differ, follow their guidelines to prevent material damage.

Gregory schrieb:
The drawers are usually attached directly to the side panels of the Pax frame.

This is true to some extent, but I would question how durable the side panels are when multiple screws are drilled in. Especially with particle boards, overloading through too many screw points can reduce stability.

I recommend planning additional reinforcements beyond the standard drill holes, for example securely screwing somewhat stronger wooden strips inside to support the drawers. This is a bit more effort but provides greater long-term stability and prevents loosening due to material fatigue.

Also, it’s important to consider that screw size alone is not decisive; the quality of the screws and their tightening torque also matter.

Hello everyone, after reading many comments, I would like to add that besides the type of fastening, the alignment of the drawer slides is also crucial. Especially with the Pax frame, slight inaccuracies can easily occur if the side panels are not perfectly squared.

Therefore, my recommendation:
- Use a level or a laser tool during installation to ensure the rails are exactly parallel.
- Start by attaching the guide rails to the sides, but only tighten the screws lightly at first, so you can still adjust them when mounting the drawer later.
- Only fully tighten the screws once everything is properly aligned.

Additionally, if the drawers will be heavily loaded, it is advisable to secure the screws with small washers. This distributes the pressure on the particleboard better and helps prevent pull-out.

I hope this helps as an additional tip!

I would like to provide a slightly more detailed guide that I followed when installing several Pax drawer slides. Hopefully, this will help the original poster and others as well:

- Step 1: Preparation
- Check that all screws (usually 3.5 x 30 mm (about 1/8 x 1 1/4 inches)) and mounting materials are complete. If not, obtain suitable wood screws with a countersunk head; do not use chipboard screws with coarse threads.
- Mark the attachment points with a pencil on the inside of the Pax carcass.

- Step 2: Pre-drilling
- Pre-drill holes with a 2 mm (about 1/16 inch) drill to prevent the chipboard from splitting.
- Caution: Do not drill too deep, so that the screws hold securely.

- Step 3: Installing the runners
- Screw the runners in hand-tight first using the original screws, then align them with a spirit level.
- Adjust the position as needed before tightening the screws fully.

- Step 4: Additional reinforcement
- For larger or heavier drawers, I recommend screwing an additional wooden batten (e.g., 20 x 40 mm (about 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches)) under the runner inside the carcass. This bears most of the load and relieves stress on the chipboard wall.

- Step 5: Final assembly
- Insert the drawers, test the smoothness of operation, and extend and retract the drawer slides several times to check stability.

If anyone has questions about individual steps, I’m happy to help!