Are the soft close drawer slides worth it?
Brandy5
12 years ago
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Buehl
12 years agodesertsteph
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Installing side-mounted soft-close cabinet drawer slides
Comments (5)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.)...See MoreSoft Close Drawer Slides?
Comments (1)The most popular brand of these are called BlumMotion; googling that should get you some sources. However, these are undermount slides, and it's my understanding that they require the length of the drawer to be fairly precisely matched to the slide. Chances are good (or bad, actually) that they won't work on your drawers, since those drawers weren't designed for them. There are other brands available, though; perhaps one of them will work....See Moresoft close drawer won't close
Comments (6)You need to remove the drawer from the rails on the cabinet. Most well made cabinets have handles of various types that unlock the drawer from the rails. Once removed you will see a plastic like device that slides up and down the rail in front of the gas piston. You will notice that one or both of the plastic peices are not locked in the forward position. If you do not understand this when the drawer is removed. Remove another drawer that is working and you will see the differrence quickly. The springs must be in the forward postion to pull the drawer shut while the gas piston slows it down. If the problem persists the rail that slides with the drawer does not engage the spring correctly and you need to bend the tab that engages into the spring mechanism....See MoreBlum soft close drawer hinge problem!
Comments (46)I'm guessing that place in Santa Ana was Austin Hardwood? If so, I seriously doubt they were mis-packaged intentionally by Austin, but still hard to understand how K-Vs came out of Blum packaging? I buy all my glides and hinges there, one of the best selections in Orange County, and a reputable old time family business. As others have mentioned, to accommodate Blum bottom mount glides, drawer boxes must be ordered and made specifically with the proper recessed bottom. Your drawers have the 1/2" side clearance to accept side glides, and very unlikely have the bottom recess to enable the use of bottom mount glides no matter what mfg. FWIW, I've liked and used Accuride side mount glides for dozens of years with great results. Especially for extra heavy large drawers, pantry pull outs and file cabinets......See Moredavidro1
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