Internal Drawer as an Alternative to Grass — Compatible and Suitable

An internal drawer is a drawer located behind a cabinet door or a front pull-out panel, ergonomically organising the storage space inside a base unit.

Anyone looking to upgrade an existing kitchen or replace defective fittings often searches for suitable replacement hardware for furniture construction. When planning an internal drawer to serve as an alternative to Grass, success depends on exact installation dimensions, runner technology, and the hole pattern. furnica offers fittings that are compatible with Grass and other established systems, provided the technical parameters within the carcass match.

What to Consider for Compatibility in the Base Unit

To integrate an internal drawer seamlessly into an existing kitchen cabinet, the dimensions of the hardware must match the furniture piece precisely. The brand name alone is secondary; measurable parameters are what matter.

• Internal carcass dimension: The clear width of the cabinet determines the width of the drawer system. For a standard carcass with 18 mm thick side panels, a kitchen cabinet pull-out 60 cm typically requires an internal dimension of 564 mm.
• System 32: Most industrially manufactured kitchen cabinets use System 32. This means the drill holes in the side panels are spaced 32 mm apart, with the first row of holes positioned 37 mm from the front edge. A replacement for Grass must support this hole pattern so it can be fitted without drilling new holes.
• Nominal length: This is the depth of the cabinet runner. Common dimensions in kitchen base units range between 450 mm and 500 mm.

Runner Types and Mechanics for the Internal Drawer

The choice of runner mechanism determines the convenience and accessibility of the cabinet contents. A full extension runner pulls out 100% from the carcass, allowing items at the very back to be reached without hassle. In contrast, a partial extension runner leaves about 25% inside the cabinet. For deep kitchen cabinets, drawer runners full extension are the technical standard.

Regarding the mounting position, a distinction is made between side-mounted runners and undermount systems. Undermount drawer runners are fitted concealed beneath the drawer base. They offer high lateral stability and protect the running mechanism from dirt.

Movement support is also relevant. Soft-close dampens the drawer upon closing and pulls it shut smoothly. This must be strictly distinguished from push-to-open, a mechanical ejection mechanism for handleless fronts. Combining both requires specialised, synchronised fittings. If you store heavy pans or groceries, using drawer runners with soft close rated for a load capacity of 30 kg or more is recommended.

Suitable Drawer Systems by Cabinet Width

Retrofitting internal drawers is possible in virtually any cabinet width. Complete drawer systems containing drawer sides, back brackets, and front fixings simplify assembly because all components are harmonised with one another.

Depending on the existing base unit, choose the appropriate system width:

• Narrow larder units or alcoves: kitchen cabinet pull-out 30 cm or kitchen cabinet pull-out 40 cm.
• Standard base units for pots and crockery: kitchen cabinet pull-out 50 cm up to 60 cm.

When planning, check whether the drawer will be fitted behind a hinged door. In this scenario, the door hinges must be designed (e.g. wide-angle hinges with a 155° opening angle) so that the opened door does not obstruct the path of the drawer.

Installation and Retrofitting: Technical Execution

The precise installation of a drawer runner works like a finely meshed gear system — if the runner alignment deviates by even a single millimetre, the entire mechanism can jam.

Required tools:

• Tape measure or folding rule
• Carpenter's square
• Cordless screwdriver
• Suitable driver bit (usually PZ or TX for chipboard screws)
• Bradawl or 5 mm wood drill bit (if no system pre-drilled holes exist)

Installation steps:

1. Measure and mark: Determine the desired height inside the carcass. Use existing hole series or mark the position completely level using the square.
2. Mount carcass runners: Screw the runners to the side walls. Ensure the correct setback from the front edge of the carcass (usually 37 mm).
3. Assemble the drawer: Build the internal drawer according to the technical drawing. For metal drawer systems, the base and back panel are cut to size from 16 mm thick chipboard and screwed together.
4. Insert and adjust: Place the drawer onto the runners and slide it in until the locking catches audibly engage. Using the integrated 3D adjustment on the drawer sides or clips, you can fine-tune the tilt and height in millimetre increments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding Compatibility

Can I combine a furnica carcass runner with an existing Grass drawer? Generally, no. Carcass runners and the locking clips on the drawer (or the profile of the metal sides) are system-specific. Mixing components directly from different manufacturers does not work mechanically. If you need a replacement for Grass, you must replace the complete system (runner plus drawer). However, the new runners are suitable for Grass hole patterns and can be mounted directly into the cabinet carcass.

What runner length do I need for my kitchen cabinet? Measure the internal depth of your carcass (from the back panel to the front edge). Subtract a tolerance of about 10 mm to 15 mm. For a carcass depth of 510 mm, choose a nominal length of 500 mm. For reduced-depth cabinets, such as in front of pipework, use shorter variants such as drawer runners 400 mm.

When is a heavy-duty runner necessary? For standard cutlery or pantry drawers, a dynamic load capacity of 30 kg is sufficient. However, if you are planning a wide internal drawer for heavy stacks of plates, cast-iron pots, or beverage bottles, you should select heavy duty drawer runners with a 45 kg to 50 kg specification to prevent sagging or premature wear of the ball cages.