How to Install Equalizer Slides for Pedestal Tables

December 24, 2019 Osborne Office Table Slides & Hardware, Pedestal Bases, Videos, Gallery, How To

Things you will need to install your equalizer table slides:

Phillips screwdriver
Measuring tape
Pencil
Carpenter’s square
Power drill
Drill bit set
Phillips screwdriver bit

Attaching the Slides to the Table Top

Step 1 - Place your table top on a flat surface

It is crucial to lay your table top on a flat surface as the slides will not be aligned properly if the table top is not sitting flat.

Tip: Note: Your table top should NOT be mounted to your pedestal. If it is, remove the screws in the mounting hardware and set your pedestal aside

Step 2 - Install your slides with an equal distance in from the long sides of the tabletop

Be sure to install your slides so that they are set an equal distance in from the long edges of the table top. Additionally, be sure to place them to where they won’t contact the pedestal, and where the pedestal mounting plate will overlap the center board of the slide. (The slide will be attached to the mounting plate after being installed on the table top.)

Tip: Equalizer slides have either 3 or 5 boards in each half of the pair, so the center board will have an equal number of boards on each side of it.

Step 3 - Mark the location of the slide's center board

On one side of the table top, use a tape measure or carpenter’s square and a pencil to make a mark far enough from the edge of the table for the slide’s center board to overlap the mounting plate but not contact the pedestal. Repeat this procedure on the opposite side and on the other half of the table top. Then push the table top back together.

Step 4 - Push the slide together most of the way

Push the slide together as if you are closing it, but leave it open approximately ¼ inch. Leaving the slide open a small amount provides plenty of room for the slide to operate properly once installed.

Tip: If slides are fully closed when they’re installed, you may be prevented from closing the tabletop completely if humidity causes the table top to shrink.

Step 5 - Make sure the two table top halves are perfectly aligned

Make sure that the two halves of the table top are perfectly aligned next to each other along the seam, with the reverence lines on each half lining up to form a continuous line. Place one of the partially opened slide sections with the gears facing down and the large, round screw holes facing up. Align the center board of the slide with one of the reference lines marked during step 4. Using a power drill and a drill bit that is either the same size or slightly smaller than the screws you’ll use, drill pilot holes through the large, round screw openings and into the table top.

Tip: Do not drill all the way through the table top.

Step 6 - Insert mounting screws

Using a power drill and a Phillips screwdriver bit, insert screws through each of the large, round, pre-drilled holes and screw them into the table top, taking care that the screw doesn’t pierce the table top. Align and mount the other slide along the measured line the same way. Carefully close and open the table top to make sure the slide opens and closes easily.

Tip: Mounting screws are not provided. We suggest you use wood screws that are long enough to fit through the slide and fasten approximately halfway through the table top, but are short enough not to pierce the top of the table. Measure the thickness of your table top and the length of the neck in the large screw hole to determine how long the screw should be.

Attaching the slides to the mounting plate of the pedestal

Step 1 - Center the mounting plate

Position the mounting plate on the bottom of the table slides so that it is perfectly centered over the pair of slides. It is critical to find where the exact center of the center board in each slide lines up with the mounting plate. Mark a corresponding pencil line on the mounting plate for each slide section. Double check everything to ensure accuracy.

Step 2 - Pre-drill pilot holes

With the lines drawn on the mounting plate perfectly positioned above the center of the center board of the slide, pre-drill at least 3 pilot holes through the mounting plate and into the slide board below.

Tip: The number of holes you drill will depend on how long your mounting plate is. A good rule of thumb is one hole every 6 inches. Additionally, the holes should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the screws you’re using. Carefully measure the thickness of the mounting plate and the height of the slide board. The holes should extend through the plate and approximately halfway into the center portion of the center board of the slide, avoiding the tracks on either side of the center board. Be careful not to drill deep enough to go all the way through the slide board, or to interfere with the metal equalizing gear in the center of the board.

Step 3 - Check the slide condition

After drilling the pilot holes, open the slide to determine if any part of the tracks on the sides of the center board were pierced.If so, the slide will not properly open and close when the slide is mounted with the screws. You may need to re-position the placement of the holes and re-drill.

Step 4 - Insert screws into the pilot holes

Screw each of the screws into the pre-drilled holes you created in Step 2. Use screws that are long enough to extend through the mounting plate and at least halfway through the center board of the slide.

Tip: Take care not to use screws that are long enough to reach the equalizing gear in the center of the board.

Step 5 - Turn the table assembly over & attach mounting plates

Open the table assembly about a foot, then turn it over and position the bolts extending from the top of the pedestal through the corresponding holes of the mounting plate. Attach the nuts over the bolts and tighten completely.

Once all these steps are completed, you’ll have a completed pedestal table with extending slides to accommodate all your guests!

For additional instruction, you can view our video tutorial below. Check out our selection of equalizer slides here.

equalizer slide, how to install table slides, slide, slide installation, table slides, tutorial