How to Install TV Shelf Slides

Measure the width of the right and left cabinet walls to determine the length of the drawer rail that you will need. Subtract 1 inch from the measurement so the rail does not go flush to the edges of the walls. Have drawer slides cut to your measurement or purchase one that is as close to your measurement as possible, without exceeding it.

Make a mark on the left wall of the cabinet 2 inches from the base with a pencil. Mark a 2-inch point on the left and on the right. Repeat the process on the right wall of cabinet. These marks will be your guide for the lower cleats on the cabinet wall.

Cut wood cleats. Use the actual measurement for the cabinet walls (without subtracting any inches) to cut solid wood pieces of maple or oak from 1-by-3-inch pieces to make cleats for the cabinet walls to support the drawer rails. Cut four pieces of wood to measurement (two for each cabinet wall).

Place the lower cleats in position. Drill holes through the wood in the center and 1 inch from the far left and right ends. Attach the cleats to the cabinet walls with wood screws.

Place the slide rail for the left side on top of the lower cleat. Drill holes to attach the rail to the side walls. Use the cleat screws as your guide for placement so the screws for the rails are in line with the screws for the cleats. Attach the rail for the right side in the same manner.

Attach the top cleat, repeating the process in Step 4.

Measure from the inside of the rail on the right to the inside of the rail on the left and from the back wall of the cabinet (or the back edge, if your cabinet does not have a rear wall) to the front edge of the cabinet. Subtract 1/2 inch from the measurement so the shelf will not extend beyond the front edge. Cut a piece of laminate or melamine board according to your measurements to use as the shelf for the television.

Attach the slide to the shelf by drilling holes 1 inch from the left and right edges and in the center and screwing the slide onto the shelf.

Insert the shelf into the rail pieces and push the shelf all the way into the cabinet. Give the shelf a firm but careful push when you reach the back. This will lock the sliding piece onto the rail to complete your television sliding shelf project.