Made control panel door a slider on 3790RD-no more headache

[nremtp143]

Ok guys and gals, this is a mod I've been thinking about and researching for quite a while. This is the way the 3790/3791s should have come from the factory. How many of you have been in the door of the control panel, walked outside and came back in to nearly knock yourself out on the control panel door that you or someone else had left open???? I do it all the time, so I just remedied that problem. It took a long search but I finally found the correct drawer slides at Home Depot dot com that are long enough.
I went shopping and bought a 1 3/4" x 36" square dowel at HD for around $8(I bought a 1.5" but the slides would not clear the corner trim at the hutch) KEEP IN MIND please that they aren't stained yet. I decided to cut the full piece at the top (13 1/8") and then at the bottom I cut the two pieces 5" in length so as not to interfere with the surge protector monitor I put in. I counter sunk all of the screws into the square block. Then carefully measured the placement of the drawer slides and centering of the door(as you have to remove the hinges and latch). Lots of measuring and lots of help from my dad holding things up, got it into the correct position. Here's the final product. Instead of the door opening into the hallway, it now slides. Snap to be put into place to stop it from opening when the slides get broken in.
EDIT: The model number for the drawer slides I used are 39115014 at HD dot com and the description is 14" Full Extension Ball Bearing Side Mount Drawer Slides

[westend]

Good work, those ball bearing slides are more than enough to hold a cabinet door.

[TNGW1500SE]

good idea

[nremtp143]

TakingThe5th wrote:
I would maybe replace the handle with a stained block of wood that used the same screw holes? Nothing that you could wrap your fingers around to pull but something that could easily be used to slide the door sideways.

If I can match the stain, that would be a nice touch. It wouldn't match the cabinet below it and would let you know that the door is different. Thanks!

[jplante4]

[TakingThe5th]

Very good idea and nice implementation. What I would need to do is to replace the handle with a smaller handle that could not be easily pulled. There are people in my life who would try to pull it off the wall. I would maybe replace the handle with a stained block of wood that used the same screw holes? Nothing that you could wrap your fingers around to pull but something that could easily be used to slide the door sideways.

[jplante4]

Nice work, and no more headaches. Winner winner chicken dinner.