It could be low quality slides. I would look at the drawer from the bottom while on the slides. I just adjusted some drawers recently that had this issue, I found the drawers were racked diagonally and I shimmed between the dado on the drawer box and the slide to make it more parallel to the opening. Was able to adjust them in this way so they opened much smoother. Hope this helps Answer from Accomplished_Tell_18 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/woodworking › soft close drawers difficult to open - suggestions?
r/woodworking on Reddit: Soft Close Drawers Difficult to Open - Suggestions?
December 14, 2022 - The most annoying part of drawer slides is how much force it takes to pull out the drawer. I bought 3 different brands of side mounted drawer slides, Lontan, VADANIA and Richelieu. The lontan was the easiest to pull open, followed closely by vadania. Richelieu was too hard to open.
iFixit
ifixit.com › Guide › How+to+install+Soft+Close+Richelieu+Drawer+slides › 157645
How to install Soft Close Richelieu Drawer slides - iFixit Repair Guide
Failing to do so will make the drawer hard to pull or push back in place due to misalignment on the drawer slides. In this guide, we will demonstrate how to correctly install soft close drawer slides solely using a power drill, measuring tape, and hand grip clamps.
Videos
Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 6295544 › all-soft-close-drawer-sides-hard-to-open
All soft close drawer sides hard to open
The 3 different side mount drawer slides I've tried require force to open. My gal hates it. I realize the cause is that pulling the drawer open stretches the soft close springs activating the soft closure. I don't get it, is this a problem everyone simply accepts? In reviews there aren't many complaints about it, but some. A pair of Richelieu slides I put in a year ago has gotten easier to open, but still there's resistance.
Lowe's
lowes.com › hardware › cabinet hardware › drawer slides
Richelieu 20-in Soft Close Side Mount 75-lb Load Capacity Silver Drawer Slide (2-Pieces) TU9907SC2G20 at Lowes.com
A pair of full extension, side mounted, ball bearing slides that can adapt to many of your projects. Equipped with soft closing technology, they are easy to install and versatile. Can be used in kitchen and bathrooms cabinets or on furniture drawers. Intergrated quick release lever allows for easier and secure disconnection and release of the drawer.
Woodworking Talk
woodworkingtalk.com › home › forums › woodworking forum › general woodworking discussions
Drawer Slide Problem | Woodworking Talk
Double check the slide's drawer side to cabinet side clearance requirement. Check to make sure you haven't damaged the slides and try lubricating them as it doesn't take much tightness for them not to slide in.
Quincaillerie Richelieu
richelieu.com › documents › imageCatalogue › 1001165 › pdf_Fr.pdf pdf
Richelieu
Find the largest offer in functional and specialty hardware at Richelieu.com, the one stop shop for woodworking industry.
Rapid Start
rapidstartusa.com › home › product categories › 21″ richelieu® 815 drawer slide, under mount, soft close, non-over travel, 80 lb, zinc
21" Richelieu® 815 Drawer Slide, Under Mount, Soft Close, Non-Over Travel, 80 lb, Zinc - Rapid Start
July 8, 2023 - The right choice in a medium-duty slide, the 815 series delivers an ultra-smooth slide operation and soft-close dampening effect. The 2-way tool-free locking device (sold separately) ensures enhanced comfort and movement without annoying sounds ...
Richelieu Hardware
richelieu.com › homepage › hinges, slides, and opening systems › slides and drawer box systems › slides › concealed slides › series 828 - full extension synchronized concealed undermount slide with soft-close
Series 828 - Full Extension Synchronized Concealed Undermount Slide with Soft-Close - Richelieu Hardware
- Hybrid slide made for both wood drawers and our OPTIMIZ-R metal drawer system - Designed for easy, fast, and flexible installation and release process - Elegantly concealed underneath the drawer bottom panel - Automatic soft-close mechanism allows a progressive and silent closure of the drawer - Easy to open with a low pull-out force requirement - Full extension slide allows complete access to drawer content
The Home Depot
homedepot.com › hardware › cabinet hardware › drawer slides
Richelieu Hardware - Drawer Slides - The Home Depot
/Cabinet Hardware · /Drawer Slides · Side Mount · Undermount · 4 Results · Filters · FiltersClear All · Brand: Richelieu Hardware · Hardware · Cabinet Hardware · Drawer Slides · 54 & Up3 & Up2 & Up1 & Up0 · View Results · All Filters · Slide Length (in.) Features ·
Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 2560325 › help-soft-close-full-extension-drawers-are-horrible
Help! Soft Close Full Extension Drawers Are HORRIBLE!
The drawers are extremely hard to open AND close. The drawers I have seen and tested with these options were extremely easy to open and I can just give it a slight push and they would close on it's own.
Amazon
amazon.com › Richelieu-2-Pack-Self-Closing-Drawer-Slide › dp › B07WW7HLFV
Richelieu 2-Pack 20-in Self-Closing Drawer Slide - Amazon.com
Prevent drawers from slamming shut with integrated soft-close drawer slide technology.
Richelieu Hardware
richelieu.com › homepage › hinges, slides, and opening systems
Slides and Drawer Box Systems - Richelieu Hardware
Slide Brackets and Fixtures (43) Handles for Drawer (28) SERVO-DRIVE (19) Miscellaneous (13) Facade Adjusters (13) Tools and Jigs (12) Stabilizers (6) Push-Open Device (4) Soft-Close Accessories (3) Gallery Tubes and Rods (3) Shelf Lock (3) + View More · SPACE STEP (6) Space Step System - Parts and Accessories (4) SPACE STEP kits (2) Riverso (6) + View More ·
Reddit
reddit.com › r/homeimprovement › soft close drawer rails, so hard to open!
r/HomeImprovement on Reddit: Soft close drawer rails, so hard to open!
October 1, 2021 -
I now live in a house that has soft close cabinets and drawers installed everywhere. The cabinets are fine, they open like any other cabinet yet they slow down and slowly close. The drawers don't work like that. There is a lot of resistance to open them. Once you get past that resistance, it's like a game of tug-of-war where one team decides to play a fast one and let go of the rope. Needless to say, a lot of undesirable consequences have come from this.
Is there any way to make the drawers work like the cabinets?
Top answer 1 of 4
3
The resistance you feel is how the soft close mechanism gets activated. Once it is activated by pulling the drawers open just enough, the part of the drawer slide making it hard to open is no longer in the way and the slides function like normal. There is not a way to avoid this without changing the drawer slides. Changing slides usually involves remaking the drawer box. Some slides are better than others, but I have not found one yet that doesn't have a little resistance in order to activate the soft close piston. Usually they will get better over time and you will become more used to operating them at the same time. Source: I am an engineer for a cabinet manufacturer.
2 of 4
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Do you have pulls on the drawer fronts?
Richelieu Hardware
richelieu.com › homepage › hinges, slides, and opening systems › slides and drawer box systems
Slides - Richelieu Hardware
Hinges, Slides, and Opening Systems · Kitchen and Bathroom accessories · Closet and Storage · Lighting Solutions and Accessories · Sinks, Washbasins, and Faucets · Office Accessories · Sliding System Solutions · Glass Hardware · Window and Exterior Door Hardware · Commercial Display Hardware · Surfaces, Panels, and Edgebanding · Custom-Made Cabinet Doors and Drawers ·
Woodweb
woodweb.com › cgi-bin › forums › cabinetmaking.pl
Undermount Soft Close Slides Inconsistent Closing - WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum
Or call up Richelieu and tell them your problems you are having with them and see if they'll replace them. 5/9/20 #4: Undermount Soft Close Slides Incons ... ... These come from China. Its another side effect of COVID19. Try social isolation for fourteen days. If the problem persists, they may need a ventilator. 5/9/20 #5: Undermount Soft Close Slides Incons ...
SFGate
homeguides.sfgate.com › adjust-automatic-closing-drawers-27615.html
How to Fix a Self-Closing Drawer That Won’t Close All the Way
July 26, 2023 - Struggling with self-closing drawers that won't close all the way? Learn how to easily adjust them in this simple guide.
The Home Depot
homedepot.com › p › Richelieu-Hardware-Pair-21-in-533-mm-Full-Extension-Concealed-Undermount-Soft-Close-Drawer-Slide-T815533 › 314781510
Richelieu Hardware (Pair) 21 in. (533 mm) Full Extension Concealed Undermount Soft Close Drawer Slide T815533 - The Home Depot
Richelieu Hardware (Pair) 21 in. (533 mm) Full Extension Concealed Undermount Soft Close Drawer Slide T815533
This slide is conceal mounted under the drawer to give you easy and optimal access. Its large width provides superior stability between the cabinet and drawer. The automatic damper slides smoothly so the drawer closes in a silent and progressive manner. The integrated closing system has a nylon covering to avoid damages caused by dirt or dust. The Richelieu slides are easy to open with very little effort. They are installed with a front-locking device to ensure a complete and secure adjustment.
Price $47.69
Reddit
reddit.com › r/woodworking › why are my soft close draws so hard to open? cheap hardware? installed wrong? weak arms?
r/woodworking on Reddit: Why are my soft close draws so hard to open? Cheap hardware? Installed wrong? Weak arms?
January 6, 2023 - If its every drawer then it’s possible that they’re shit slides (are they cheap?). More likely they haven’t used these and/or didn’t read the papers and sized something wrong for these- this seems more likely since he also lied and told you they were normal.
RONA
rona.ca › home › products › hardware › furniture and cabinet hardware › guides and sliders
RICHELIEU Guides and Sliders - Furniture and Cabinet Hardware | RONA
They work with a variety of latches that keep drawers closed and are available in metal or plastic. Extension drawer slides move on ball bearings and make drawers easy to remove for repairs and other tasks. There are adjustable slides for computer keyboard trays, and soft-closing slides to eliminate noisy slamming. Rona also carries a wide selection of other cabinet hardware, such as hinges for doors of all sizes. ... RICHELIEU Richelieu Series 102 Euro Side Mounted Drawer Slides - White - 75-lb Capacity - 19 11/16-in L - 2 Per Pack
Rapid Start
rapidstartusa.com › home › product categories › 15″ richelieu® 815 drawer slide, under mount, soft close, non-over travel, 80 lb, zinc
15" Richelieu® 815 Drawer Slide, Under Mount, Soft Close, Non-Over Travel, 80 lb, Zinc - Rapid Start
December 22, 2023 - The right choice in a medium-duty slide, the 815 series delivers an ultra-smooth slide operation and soft-close dampening effect. The 2-way tool-free locking device (sold separately) ensures enhanced comfort and movement without annoying sounds ...