Urgent - Drawer Removal

[Old_Geezer]

Time critical question here. Does anyone know anything about sliding drawers/runners and how to remove them ?

All jokes aside; I am trying to move a writing bureau from one upstairs room to another. On my tod as usual, it is probably a 2 person job but I'm taking it steady.

I recalled when I first got it, that the top was removable and I eventually found the screws that were stopping my just lifting it up, so I have now moved the top.

Then I see the base pedestals are not separate but joined by a backboard piece. I started to try to walk the lot as one piece but on getting it half way through the door it became clear that I was never going to get it around the corner.

Looking further I spotted 4 bolts that joined a backboard piece to the two pedestals. Removed those; but the drawer that's screwed into the top of the pedestals, joining them, did not just come away. Worse, in order to open the drawer (as it was partly in the doorway) I had to gingerly move all the bits carefully a bit further out, which I managed.

But I'm now stuck with the thing blocking everywhere, and fear I may have to redo all I have done so far and get it back into the room having achieved nothing. (Assuming it doesn't break on route.)

The issue is that I can not seem to remove the drawer. The screws holding the runners to both the pedestals and the drawer itself, seem unreachable. With the drawer fully pulled out I can unscrew the back 2 screws holding the runners to the pedestals, but not the front screw which is still hidden between the drawer and pedestal.

I can see no obvious button or clip to press. Does anyone know the secret of these runners that I can remove the drawer and get on ?

Thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

This question by way of panic prior to Googling. I see entries one of which may have the answer. We'll see.

[Buenchico]

Have you tried pulling the drawer outwards but (while still keeping it horizontal) pulling it upwards at the same time? With some systems you'll find that the drawer will then be released as you get it close to being fully withdrawn.

[Old_Geezer]

One of the first things I tried, but thanks anyway. The Net, at least the places I've checked so far, refer to a non-existent lever, or a spring. I took a picture of the back of the runner where it looks as if a tang on the bit fixed to the pedestal is over the bit fixed to the drawer. I'm unsure if I'm supposed to take a mallet and screwdriver and knock seven bells out of that to release something. It sounds rather crude if so. And what if I try it, bend things up, and it isn't the answer ?

Never rains but it pours, I can not find my data cable to connect the mobile which I used to take the picture, to the PC. No idea where it is. And I plug in a bluetooth dongle only to find WIN7 doesn't know a driver for it ! So the picture is a bust I guess.

[Old_Geezer]

What is weird is that the mobile has paired with the PC but the PC doesn't know what to do with it ! (But that's another, and minor issue.)

[TWR]

If your in our area OG BB7 I'll come around and give you hand, where are you?

[Old_Geezer]

Ah panic over.

Turns out there was one particular small screw on each side of the drawer/runners which if removed stopped both parts of the runner being fixed to the drawer, and thus being unpartable.

After that the black plastic things at the front ceased to just be end stops. This time when I pressed the top of them the drawer could actually rise, whereas before it steadfastly refused to move. And on rising it pulled away.

There is an outside chance I may be able to get to bed tonight then after all.

Phew !

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks for the offer TWR. No longer needed. I'm in Herts so it would be an outside chance you were in the same county :-)

[Psybbo]

I just love this post, picturing all the different angles you were in OG x

[The Builder]

I feel your pain. OG ;o(

It sounds like a modern desk if it has a metal drawer runner system. With the drawers out I'm sure you'll see any screws that connect the back to the two drawer units. I'd be very surprised if the whole thing didn't dismantle to three main sections. Easy to move then.

[TWR]

Glad you got it sorted.

[Old_Geezer]

:-)

Thanks all. Still got the bedroom full of moved stuff (most of it on the bed) to sort out later, and I'll do the re-construction bit tomorrow. But it was a bit hair raising there for a while. Images of sleeping on the living room carpet !

[Old_Geezer]

Just an ironic footnote.

The next day, due to the large sort out I'm doing, I came across the construction details for the bureau showing the screw that needed to be removed ! Of course finding it the next day would not have solved the problem that evening/night, but if only I'd found the instructions BEFORE I moved the bureau.

I keep more "important papers" than most would, the issue is finding the relevant one when needed ! Still in a week or two things should be much better filed.