drawer slides and a solid wood case

[adrian]

I have 600 mm drawer slides that I'm affixing to a solid wood case. Of course, the drawer slides go in a cross grain direction. I tried to estimate the wood movement of the case and got a large number like 20 mm (that's about 3%). But the drawer slides have tiny mounting slots that are maybe 6mm long and I've "used up" some of the slack in trying to adjust them so that the drawers are kind of aligned with each other.

Do I have to worry about the case being cracked by the drawer slides? If yes, what does one do to prevent this from being a problem? (Mill the slots longer, somehow?)

 

[Slim]

I would estimate an average shrinkage or expansion over 600mm of no more than 3-4mm. Obviously it depends on moisture contents and where the piece is going, but I don't think you need to worry about it.

 

[Slim]

Btw, try the Shrinkulator

 

[adrian]

Thanks for the link to the shrinkulator. I've been doing the computations based on the formulas in Hoadley and this is easier. More wood species, too. I think I got 20 mm because I had been computing for flatsawn maple and then I forgot to change the numbers for quarter sawn cherry.