aidan_m, As with the first pair of slides, IâÂÂve been using a stick to make sure that the distance between the two front brackets was equal to the distance between the rear two brackets. After confirming this, I put the drawer box in. As usual, it felt tight as I slid it in and out. And it did not self-close. I decided to get a little more aggressive. So I slid the box all the way in, then would pull it out a few inches and push it to the right and left, then pull out a few more inches and push it to the right and left. I repeated this pattern till it was fully extended outward. After repeating it for a while, I noticed that the box was getting looser each time. At some point I got a little more aggressive but had to be careful not to break the front brackets. After a certain point the box got loose enough that it began to self-close! I had employed the same method with the first box but forgot about it when I wrote my previous post. Eventually, I got it to self-close as well. But it was not a very smooth close. Then I noticed something. I had removed the first drawer box that I fixed yesterday to compare its slides with those of the second. But when I put this first box back into the slides it was self-closing really well. I mean really well. I looked at its slides and noticed that I had accidentally placed one of its slides flush with the cabinet face. Suddenly a light bulb went on in my head! I seemed to recall from the YouTube video, on the KV soft-closing side-mounted slides (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149d_tBJTEQ), that the slides have to be flush with the cabinet face. I looked at the video again and sure enough I was right. I was placing the slides right where the face frame edge ended! I therefore adjusted the slides on the second drawer box and voila! It was now self-closing really well. Basically, in my frustration with the slides, I had forgotten this detail. I went to the other cabinet that I had completed a while ago and which had four drawer boxes. Sure enough, the slides were not flush with the cabinet face. They too were right behind the face frame edge. I adjusted them and they now self-close really well! I mention all this in case there is an unfortunate soul out there making the same mistake. Slides are now done. Next step is the drawer fronts. What an adventure! Below is the cabinet that really tested my patience with the slides.(As you will notice from the photo, my condo is still undergoing an electrical renovation. I have gotten all new wiring but the the outlets and light fixtures have yet to be installed. Then the walls have to be patched. IâÂÂm juggling a couple of things at the moment.)

Soft close drawers were a must for me. Our old drawers and doors from 1988 slammed mercilessly and our reno involved removing walls to open the kitchen to the living/dining area. The last thing I wanted was any more noise emanating from the kitchen into the more open space. Our cabinets happened to come with a free upgrade to soft close doors at the time we ordered, or else we would have gone "after market" with those since they can be had much more inexpensively and installed very easily as others have noted on this thread. Another good point others have mentioned is they are probably essential when storing dishes or glassware in drawers. So my answer is, yes, I love them on both doors and drawers. Could I live without the...sure. But I could have "lived" without remodeling my kitchen too. LOL

As someone who has been actively involved in the cabinet industry for more than 40 years, I find this discussion interesting. Blum is certainly a well-known brand for good reasons - good quality, innovation and gererally a good competitor in the marketplace. But, Blum's product is nowhere so superior to several competitive brands to command the premium price they do. Don't be misled because of extensive trade advertising - someone has had to pay for each ad after all. Yet there is one question I have yet to find well answered - WHY should a homeowner want to have soft-closing slides or hinges installed? Maybe that is a question for another forum. There are some facts designers, cabinetmakers and consumers need to consider: 1. Soft-close and self-close action are two totally different mechanisms. Be sure you know the difference and are not confusing them. 2. There are major differences between under-mount and side-mount soft-close drawer slides in terms of weight capacity, installation and adjustability, and price. Some applications clearly call for one type of slide versus another - but one type of slide may not be well-suited for every application. Also, know the true difference between slides referred to as "full extension" and "full access" - big difference in function and price/value. 3. Realize there are major differences when evaluating the required pull-force, closing speed, dampener length (at what point does the closing mechanism take over), and dampener design. Look for hydraulic dampeners,they are superior to air-filled dampeners as they eliminate drawer bounceback much better. 4. Finally, acknowledge many cabinetmakers have been experiencing hardtimes for the past several years and have sought opportunities to get something that looks and works like the quality brands. Buyer beware still rules - slides may look alike but have vastly different quality aspects. From a competitive point of view I'll give credit where credit is due, in my opinion the two soft-close slide programs that merit equal consideration are Blum and KV. They have many of the same design charactistics, both companies have drawer slides as a core competence, and both companies have reputations for superior quality and excellent service. Hope this helps the discussion with specifics.

How long have you had this drawer? Because it does take a while to get used to it. If all your drawers are soft close, you get in the habit of giving them a big ol' shove, secure that they won't ever slam. I think I'd have a hard time with only a couple soft closers. I wouldn't remember which was which without stopping to think about it, and that would make it far more of a burden than a convenience. On many Blum slides, the soft closer can be easily removed. It's possible your drawer has one on each time [most come from the factory that way], and removing one would allow it to close without so much force on your part. The gang at Ikea fans advise using a single soft closer on the smallest upper drawer or any with only very lightweight contents. And if your slides are of that type, you can add soft close to your other drawers for only a couple bucks and couple minutes each.