I've always told people MARBLE ROLLERS but they have always thought I was being silly. You've done an excellent job on design and video explanation, as well as the relief hole for dust!! so clever. Love this a lot!!
Just because he’s an old man doesn’t mean he has lost his marbles. LOL This is one of the best out of the box tricks I have seen in woodworking yet! I can’t wait to try it myself.
This is great, i had wondered about using metal ball-bearings but i have a bag of kids marbles here, all the same size, you have answered all the aspects i had been wondering about. Thank you!
Thanks Jason. FYI, you can use 1/2" steel ball bearing instead of glass marbles. Then use furniture wax on the wood surfaces to get a smoother sliding drawer.
This is just what I was looking for. I have a ton of ball bearings for no reason and I figured I could use them for this especially since I don't have drawer slides. I think so far you're the only one with this idea.
the releif hole was really interesting! what a great idea! I've never thought of using marbles for drawere slides. I think it would be great for really large drawers
Hey Dylan, been a while since I've heard from you :>) Thanks for the comment. the drawer I made here is 30" x 27.5". I put 30 lbs in it and it glides with one finger. I'm thinking maybe peewee marbles for smaller drawer?
I have an old shop cabinet I made 20 years ago with cheap drawer slides. I am planning on upgrading it (all 5 drawers) to marbles, maybe this year sometime. Thanks Tim
I can go crazy (loose marbles :>) by thinking about marbles. lazy suzy, a pully, now a track saw. this would make a great challenge for everyone. make a shop project using marbles :>) I can't stand it . . . I got to stop thinking. thanks tony
@@russveinot5754 I guess in my mind I’m thinking of putting marble sliders on the bottom of the doors that would engage against the “keeper track” attached to the floor. ...though as I think about it, the marble sliders could just as readily be designed to operate in such a track mounted to the lintel or transom above the door.
Another great idea Russ! These would probably work well on your overhead TV track too, if you ever wanted to try something different down the road. Drawer slides get expensive quick when you have a ton of drawers to make, this is a great alternative solution. Thanks.
Wow, you noticed :>O. thanks. it's been 2 years. I have been trying to keep it small but, the cat is out of the bag. I am making a video (tomorrow?) about doing a marble project challenge. 2 rules, must use marbles and it has to be a shop project or let me know before making. I would like to avoid marble mazes as an entry. I hope you can participate. All I ask is give me a link to your video and I will add it to the playlist on my channel. details tomorrow. ssshh, don't tell anyone, it is suppose to be a surprise.
I think it's a great idea. Lots of potential! I especially like the sideways mount, since it would avoid debris/dust from causing the drawer to become bumpy (or jammed). The next time I make a drawer, I'll play with the idea. Here's a follow-up that I would want to experiment with. Lots of old drawers used no hardware at all; they just slid on hardwood, and one could use soap as a dry lubricant. This makes me wonder: why let the marbles roll at all? I you were to press the marbles in tight, (but still proud by 1/3) they should gently slide with very little friction, and because they are spherical, they would wear a little channel to ride in. The more weight in the drawer, the deeper the indentation would become. Round glass, on hardwood, with soap lubricant. Could that glide like a breeze?
thanks for taking the time. interesting idea of non moving marbles. it would seem to me that if stationary low friction material works, one could use PVC cut in half as rails too. back to marbles, I have (with this video) had several other marble project ideas so I am doing a video today challenging others to make a shop project with marbles (no marble mazes please) and send me the link and I have created a playlist of these videos so others can see other ideas for using marbles. Again, thanks for your interest and input.
I have used just wooden runners and bees wax and the drawers slide pretty good the marble idea is genius. Do you install a stop of some sort to keep the drawer from accidentally coming all the way out?
Rusty Guy: I was thinking of that, but wondered how you prevent the drawer from rising when you pull it out, or do you have another board above the runner? Thank you.
KM Writes - yes I usually have the drawer against the inside of the cabinet or against the bottom of the drawer above. This marble idea would work great especially for drawers that have a lot of weight in them.
Nice. Bulky but cheap and useful. Plenty ok for a workshop. I'm wondering if I would have the marbles contacting a nylon runner-strip for drawers carrying heavy loads to prevent the wood from indenting. These marbles might be good to make Table-saw sleds more friction-free. I can visualize a couple ways to incorporate pvc pipe into this marble system. Dang! My brain did NOT need something else to think about.
Definitely need something smoother than OSB to ride on. I was thinking a hardwood with several coats of polyurethane would work nicely. I think a lube in the marble hole would be a good thing too.
BTY, I like the idea of using pvc. any ideas you have there is worth discussing. I also thinking of making rollers with pvc that would work under the drawer. then you would need 4 marbles to get an easy glide drawer.
Thanks Jeff. I actually saw this done on an old bench drawer built back in the forties that I took apart a few years ago. The drawer worker well even though the bench was a mess I finally decided to try to use the idea and found it worked pretty well (and cheap) :>)
this idea came from an old bench made in the forties with a single drawer using marbles. it was a mess, smeared and soaked with years of oil and grease ( & who knows what else). the drawer had marbles and it still worked fine. I used construction wood and think any solid wood would last for decades. thanks Andy
Thanks Russ, I been wanting to see this. It's a good idea. I was just trying to think of a way one could use the marbles in a drawer extension design? Have to give that one some thought. Do you have other drawers that you have done this on a few years back? What is the condition of the wood the marbles run on? Do they still work well?
The idea came from an old bench made in the forties with a single drawer using marbles. it was a mess, smeared and soaked with years of oil and grease ( & who knows what else). the drawer had marbles and it still worked fine with no signs of wear and tear. I think any solid wood would last for decades. I am making more drawers soon (this was my first) and am sure we will see more new & improved methods. thanks Kevin
if you do a video, send me the link, please. if you don't do videos, you can send pics to my otb e-mail. I am interested in other people's projects :>) thanks for the comment Gene.
thank you Deborah. it is much cheaper than drawer slides. Oh, thanks for subbing. BTY, I looked at your channel and I see you like to watch several of the same "van life" type channels I do. Small world :>)
@@russveinot5754 check out my facebook page too Russ. Been kind of lax lately in detailing my travels, but lots detailed over the years. I get out to the Carolinas or wherever your at we can do some carpentry work on my rig. I will have to take a look and see who those in common vandweller channels are!
I found mine on ebay. do a search on "marble lot" or "marbles bulk". I bought 5/8" marbles. you can buy by the lb. Thanks for your words of encouragement.
stop by anytime. I'm in the shop everyday and I enjoy visits :>) BTY, Lots of unique ideas in the shop, kinda like going to an amusement park :>) thanks Murph
so it's really just like a ball bearing drawer slide, just way cheaper, or the way the old computer mice worked , awesome, and i think you can supersize the drawers you could use them with, i have some 4' wide pullout shelves under my rack of shelves, and the stuff on it is very heavy, and they just drag across the cement floor, (they keep breaking castors )i'm gonna mess with this idea abwhile and see how many rows i need to make it work , my mind is racing now, i wonder how it would work with a saw fence,,or mitre sleds, or on circular saws, overhead gantry crane for camera and lights
Interesting background MARBLES 🇬🇧 : they a are made made of glass so why are they called MARBLEs ? Because originally they were made from marble 🇬🇧 ( stone ) .I assume as children's toys, as they have been for centuries. In Yorkshire 🇬🇧 they are called Allies but I don't know why. They usually have a twist of coloured glass in the centre but some can be clear . The normal size is around half an inch but some double that size are available . There are several types of games of " marbles " played by children all involving winning some of the oponents marbles . Love the videos. I hope you read this Russ, and find it of interest. From Staffordshire, England
Thanks for the interesting lesson. I did enjoy it. I saw once an old workbench (70+ years old) all beat up but the drawer worked well. after taking apart, i found the marbles still worked. I doubt if any modern rails will still work after 70 years :>) Stay safe & well over there across the pond, James :>)
Question about this Mr. Russ - when you drill the hole for the self-contained piece's marbles, do you drill the hole on the edge of the board along a carefully placed straight line? Or do you drill the holes all at the same measurement across the board and then cut it off to expose the marble for contact? Or what? Do you recommend one method over the other? I need to make a jig, or a drill press table, or a jig for the drill press table, for this...I think. I picked up another "marble project" today but hit a snag with this. I know, how basic, but I underestimated repeatable precise hole drilling. lol Or maybe I just haven't stared at it enough, bc I've got an idea on the brim of my thinking cap...waiting for it to fall now... :)
I drilled mine on the drill press with a fence on the edge with the drill bit overhanging the edge. You could drill all holes on a scribed line and cut on TS. Either way seems to work in my brain :>) BTY, staring always helps me :>)
Hi Russ, I found 1/2” marbles at Wal Mart in the sports dept. as Daisy slingshot ammunition. The mables are a bit larger than 1/2”. A 9/16” bit works okay. I tried them out on an old home made computer desk in my shop. Works pretty good for first attempt.
Interesting. I made a lazy-susan by putting marbles in rings routed in the top and base with a bolt to hold them together. I put my computer monitor on it. This was back in the 80's when monitors were big and heavy , and the center of gravity was not centered on the base. It worked fine for a while but the monitor wobbled and the marbles kept coming out. I figured needed a better pivot and deeper grooves but by then I was all about work and didn't pursued it.
Thanks Larry. I agree, there are so many ideas for marbles. I have started a playlist about marble projects and am putting out a video challenge announcement today. Your participation would be exciting news :>) BTY, lazy-susan is an excellent idea for a marble project. I hope you come back. Lots more to come :>)
come to think of it you could probably steer a vehicle like the PC mouse , i think i may have seen something like that befor , i'm not sure, the balls definitly rolled on out of the box with this one
I've always told people MARBLE ROLLERS but they have always thought I was being silly. You've done an excellent job on design and video explanation, as well as the relief hole for dust!! so clever. Love this a lot!!
Just because he’s an old man doesn’t mean he has lost his marbles. LOL
This is one of the best out of the box tricks I have seen in woodworking yet! I can’t wait to try it myself.
Sharp as a marble, I always say :>) thanks for the compliment Buck. Send me pics and/or comments when done.
What a fantastic video. You have a gift for explaining things clearly and thoroughly. Subscribed.
Thanks for your input, Sam.
This is great, i had wondered about using metal ball-bearings but i have a bag of kids marbles here, all the same size, you have answered all the aspects i had been wondering about. Thank you!
Thank you, Carol, for the kind words. I am glad it helps.
This is genius! I have about twenty drawers to build and the cost of the drawer slides was giving me a headache. Awesome solution!
Thanks Jason. FYI, you can use 1/2" steel ball bearing instead of glass marbles. Then use furniture wax on the wood surfaces to get a smoother sliding drawer.
This is just what I was looking for. I have a ton of ball bearings for no reason and I figured I could use them for this especially since I don't have drawer slides. I think so far you're the only one with this idea.
I think you're right. I haven't seen one either. I actually have several videos that are unique. Thanks Michelle.
This was great. I never considered it before but it makes sense and obviously it works. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos.
You brought my thoughts to life. Well done. Thanks for the great explanation. Really clever 👏.
Slick idea...pun intended! I'll definitely be trying ths on my next project.
Thanks for sharing!!!
the releif hole was really interesting! what a great idea! I've never thought of using marbles for drawere slides. I think it would be great for really large drawers
Hey Dylan, been a while since I've heard from you :>) Thanks for the comment. the drawer I made here is 30" x 27.5". I put 30 lbs in it and it glides with one finger. I'm thinking maybe peewee marbles for smaller drawer?
Nice thinking as a way to save a bunch of $$$ and still have smooth drawer slides. Thanks Buddy!
Thanks for the kind words, Andy.
What an excellent idea. Building drawers and will use your idea. Thank you
I would love hearing how yours come out. Thanks Paul.
@@russveinot5754 Hi Russ I am still working on my cabinet. Been so busy. Will keep you up to date..Paul
Good idea. I have never thought of using marbles.
Yes I did that to my cabinet once,worked good
Sure would like to see an install, or finished product. Thanks for the idea.
I have an old shop cabinet I made 20 years ago with cheap drawer slides. I am planning on upgrading it (all 5 drawers) to marbles, maybe this year sometime. Thanks Tim
Awesome ideas, well done!!!
Thanks Sylvain
full extension drawers with marbles. You made a video about that too? Great idea, and just what I was looking for
No extension marble drawer slides yet. Thanks for the kind words, Johan.
Brilliantly done indeed! Thanks for this tip! 😃
Russ super idea. I was looking for draw slides for set of draws for my tools. Thank you.
Glad to help. Let me know how they turn out.
Neat idea Russ! Seems like the idea may also work well in a track system. I was thinking of a ceiling mounted setup.
I can go crazy (loose marbles :>) by thinking about marbles. lazy suzy, a pully, now a track saw. this would make a great challenge for everyone. make a shop project using marbles :>) I can't stand it . . . I got to stop thinking. thanks tony
BTY, your overhead track is an awesome idea, too :>)
Solid idea,Perfect explanation! Good video my friend!
Thanks
Love the ingenuity of this idea! I’m wondering about modifying the idea to make a bottom runner track for a sliding barn style door?
I've been thinking about your question. Inherently, a barn door only has rollers on the top rail. Not sure what you are saying here
@@russveinot5754 I guess in my mind I’m thinking of putting marble sliders on the bottom of the doors that would engage against the “keeper track” attached to the floor. ...though as I think about it, the marble sliders could just as readily be designed to operate in such a track mounted to the lintel or transom above the door.
Another great idea Russ! These would probably work well on your overhead TV track too, if you ever wanted to try something different down the road. Drawer slides get expensive quick when you have a ton of drawers to make, this is a great alternative solution. Thanks.
thanks Dave.
Keep em coming, Russ. Great idea.
Very innovative... I will def. try this idea
Thanks Gary. Let me know how it works for you.
Great video Russ! I may end up using this idea in a camera gantry, Thanks for the idea!
And Congrats on 1000 subscribers!
Wow, you noticed :>O. thanks. it's been 2 years. I have been trying to keep it small but, the cat is out of the bag.
I am making a video (tomorrow?) about doing a marble project challenge. 2 rules, must use marbles and it has to be a shop project or let me know before making. I would like to avoid marble mazes as an entry. I hope you can participate. All I ask is give me a link to your video and I will add it to the playlist on my channel. details tomorrow. ssshh, don't tell anyone, it is suppose to be a surprise.
Killer sir love it! Keep em rollin!
Your videos are keeping me awake! Don't seem to get enough. Now, I am going to have to order some marbles. Hummmmmm!
Thanks Jim. Now go to bed & get some sleep. I will try to wait till morning to do another video :>)
Thankyou sir for this, i have had this idea for a while and you have just done exactly what i had planned.
I am looking forward to hearing about your version when done. maybe even pics :>)
@@russveinot5754 It may be a short while but once i start i will try and remember etc
I think it's a great idea. Lots of potential! I especially like the sideways mount, since it would avoid debris/dust from causing the drawer to become bumpy (or jammed). The next time I make a drawer, I'll play with the idea.
Here's a follow-up that I would want to experiment with. Lots of old drawers used no hardware at all; they just slid on hardwood, and one could use soap as a dry lubricant. This makes me wonder: why let the marbles roll at all? I you were to press the marbles in tight, (but still proud by 1/3) they should gently slide with very little friction, and because they are spherical, they would wear a little channel to ride in. The more weight in the drawer, the deeper the indentation would become. Round glass, on hardwood, with soap lubricant. Could that glide like a breeze?
thanks for taking the time. interesting idea of non moving marbles. it would seem to me that if stationary low friction material works, one could use PVC cut in half as rails too.
back to marbles, I have (with this video) had several other marble project ideas so I am doing a video today challenging others to make a shop project with marbles (no marble mazes please) and send me the link and I have created a playlist of these videos so others can see other ideas for using marbles.
Again, thanks for your interest and input.
Thank you! This is a great idea!
Good job! Would have liked to watch you do it. And thumbs down people are just jealous lol. But you hardly have any 👍
I have used just wooden runners and bees wax and the drawers slide pretty good the marble idea is genius. Do you install a stop of some sort to keep the drawer from accidentally coming all the way out?
yes. some kind of stop is needed to keep from sliding all the way out.
Rusty Guy: I was thinking of that, but wondered how you prevent the drawer from rising when you pull it out, or do you have another board above the runner? Thank you.
KM Writes - yes I usually have the drawer against the inside of the cabinet or against the bottom of the drawer above. This marble idea would work great especially for drawers that have a lot of weight in them.
Nice. Bulky but cheap and useful. Plenty ok for a workshop. I'm wondering if I would have the marbles contacting a nylon runner-strip for drawers carrying heavy loads to prevent the wood from indenting. These marbles might be good to make Table-saw sleds more friction-free. I can visualize a couple ways to incorporate pvc pipe into this marble system. Dang! My brain did NOT need something else to think about.
Definitely need something smoother than OSB to ride on. I was thinking a hardwood with several coats of polyurethane would work nicely. I think a lube in the marble hole would be a good thing too.
BTY, I like the idea of using pvc. any ideas you have there is worth discussing. I also thinking of making rollers with pvc that would work under the drawer. then you would need 4 marbles to get an easy glide drawer.
Shear genius!
Thanks Jeff. I actually saw this done on an old bench drawer built back in the forties that I took apart a few years ago. The drawer worker well even though the bench was a mess I finally decided to try to use the idea and found it worked pretty well (and cheap) :>)
Interesting idea as usual Russ
Thanks a lot!👍👍
neat idea but how long it will last until the marbles digging into the wood? or you using hard wood?
this idea came from an old bench made in the forties with a single drawer using marbles. it was a mess, smeared and soaked with years of oil and grease ( & who knows what else). the drawer had marbles and it still worked fine. I used construction wood and think any solid wood would last for decades. thanks Andy
Thanks Russ, I been wanting to see this. It's a good idea. I was just trying to think of a way one could use the marbles in a drawer extension design? Have to give that one some thought. Do you have other drawers that you have done this on a few years back? What is the condition of the wood the marbles run on? Do they still work well?
The idea came from an old bench made in the forties with a single drawer using marbles. it was a mess, smeared and soaked with years of oil and grease ( & who knows what else). the drawer had marbles and it still worked fine with no signs of wear and tear. I think any solid wood would last for decades. I am making more drawers soon (this was my first) and am sure we will see more new & improved methods. thanks Kevin
Good idea, I'll have to try it.
if you do a video, send me the link, please. if you don't do videos, you can send pics to my otb e-mail. I am interested in other people's projects :>) thanks for the comment Gene.
simply genius :)
Great tip. Thanks a lot.
thank you Dan
I love these!
thank you Deborah. it is much cheaper than drawer slides. Oh, thanks for subbing. BTY, I looked at your channel and I see you like to watch several of the same "van life" type channels I do. Small world :>)
@@russveinot5754 check out my facebook page too Russ. Been kind of lax lately in detailing my travels, but lots detailed over the years. I get out to the Carolinas or wherever your at we can do some carpentry work on my rig. I will have to take a look and see who those in common vandweller channels are!
I like the way you think!
Thanks Sherrie :>)
Just looking for a way to avoid buying those drawer slides. I'm going to try this. Thank you.
Let me know how it works for you and all improvements are welcomed here too. Thanks KM.
THANK YOU now to start finding marbles and Thanks cant wait to fine them and get started
I found mine on ebay. do a search on "marble lot" or "marbles bulk". I bought 5/8" marbles. you can buy by the lb. Thanks for your words of encouragement.
@@russveinot5754 NO THANK YOU and i love your videos keep them coming Thanks again
Not sure, but when looking for bench casters in Harbor Freight a while ago, I think I saw a bag of marbles. I'm going to check there for mine.
Hey Russ, Nifty idea, like the gray goatee and the apron, interesting stuff in the background, some of it familiar, subbed you, later Murph
stop by anytime. I'm in the shop everyday and I enjoy visits :>) BTY, Lots of unique ideas in the shop, kinda like going to an amusement park :>) thanks Murph
@@russveinot5754 hey guy, I think I'll stop over sometime this weekend! BTW how do you pronounce your last name Russ later, Murph
so it's really just like a ball bearing drawer slide, just way cheaper, or the way the old computer mice worked , awesome, and i think you can supersize the drawers you could use them with, i have some 4' wide pullout shelves under my rack of shelves, and the stuff on it is very heavy, and they just drag across the cement floor, (they keep breaking castors )i'm gonna mess with this idea abwhile and see how many rows i need to make it work , my mind is racing now, i wonder how it would work with a saw fence,,or mitre sleds, or on circular saws, overhead gantry crane for camera and lights
WHOA !!?! Take a breath and let me catch up with all these great ideas :>) Thanks Jake
Great idea. I can see mdf rails having a benefit. 😆
Great idea 🥰
thanks, cheap too :>)
Interesting background MARBLES 🇬🇧 : they a are made made of glass so why are they called MARBLEs ? Because originally they were made from marble 🇬🇧 ( stone ) .I assume as children's toys, as they have been for centuries. In Yorkshire 🇬🇧 they are called Allies but I don't know why. They usually have a twist of coloured glass in the centre but some can be clear . The normal size is around half an inch but some double that size are available . There are several types of games of " marbles " played by children all involving winning some of the oponents marbles . Love the videos. I hope you read this Russ, and find it of interest. From Staffordshire, England
Thanks for the interesting lesson. I did enjoy it.
I saw once an old workbench (70+ years old) all beat up but the drawer worked well. after taking apart, i found the marbles still worked. I doubt if any modern rails will still work after 70 years :>) Stay safe & well over there across the pond, James :>)
Question about this Mr. Russ - when you drill the hole for the self-contained piece's marbles, do you drill the hole on the edge of the board along a carefully placed straight line? Or do you drill the holes all at the same measurement across the board and then cut it off to expose the marble for contact? Or what? Do you recommend one method over the other? I need to make a jig, or a drill press table, or a jig for the drill press table, for this...I think. I picked up another "marble project" today but hit a snag with this. I know, how basic, but I underestimated repeatable precise hole drilling. lol Or maybe I just haven't stared at it enough, bc I've got an idea on the brim of my thinking cap...waiting for it to fall now... :)
I drilled mine on the drill press with a fence on the edge with the drill bit overhanging the edge. You could drill all holes on a scribed line and cut on TS. Either way seems to work in my brain :>) BTY, staring always helps me :>)
I love this.
Thanks :>)
Great idea
Thanks that's a great idea.
Hi Russ,
I found 1/2” marbles at Wal Mart in the sports dept. as Daisy slingshot ammunition. The mables are a bit larger than 1/2”. A 9/16” bit works okay.
I tried them out on an old home made computer desk in my shop. Works pretty good for first attempt.
Brilliant
By the way nice vid
Thanks Jim, and welcome to my channel
Interesting. I made a lazy-susan by putting marbles in rings routed in the top and base with a bolt to hold them together. I put my computer monitor on it. This was back in the 80's when monitors were big and heavy , and the center of gravity was not centered on the base. It worked fine for a while but the monitor wobbled and the marbles kept coming out. I figured needed a better pivot and deeper grooves but by then I was all about work and didn't pursued it.
Thanks Larry. I agree, there are so many ideas for marbles. I have started a playlist about marble projects and am putting out a video challenge announcement today. Your participation would be exciting news :>) BTY, lazy-susan is an excellent idea for a marble project. I hope you come back. Lots more to come :>)
All I see is Uncle Jesse, but I'm trying to see more but I just can't.
come to think of it you could probably steer a vehicle like the PC mouse , i think i may have seen something like that befor , i'm not sure, the balls definitly rolled on out of the box with this one
Похож на Санта Клауса с похмелья
You are half correct. I don't drink but I am jolly :>)
11:22 do I hear you whining? 🤣🤣🤣
Just a little . . . I have to practice now and then :>)
He really did lose is marbles