Drawer runner choice for 'normally open' use?

You can get industrial slides - Accuride is a popular make:

They aren't necessarily cheap but they're designed for things like having a

The only thing they aren't always good for is side-to-side forces - they're designed to be attached to two rigid objects, but there can be side-to-side wobble when the server/etc is fully pulled out. It's not a problem when say 90% pulled out.

Theo

The standard kitchen roller bearing runners from such as Blum and Hettich can now be found with 30kg and 50kg ratings, they're not all that expensive either, typically £5 to £10 per pair.

I was going to say, many moons ago when VCRs were big and heavy beasts there were lots of cabinets with pull out shelves with runners that were really solid and durable, and these were flatpack furniture. looking back they used a lot of nylon rollers in the main, in a metal pressed steel section. No obvious problem when mechanical keys were pressed or top loading covers shut either. Brian

A keyboard shelf hardly needs to be engineered by Harland & Woolf.

You'll find roller bearing ones to do the job in most sheds.

There are 3 main types

1. Plastic bar. Not at all robust. Very cheap.

1. Metal strips with a wheel on, mount to underside. Not robust.

2. 2 Metal bars with ball bearings between. They can & do fail, but are at least a good bit more robust than the other types. As someone advised, go for high load rated ones, anything less doesn't last well long term. They normally run in slots, but I expect they could be mounted under if one had to.

NT