Advice from long time users of Blum Soft close drawers?
Gemcap
9 years ago
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9 years agoRelated Discussions
Help! Soft Close Full Extension Drawers Are HORRIBLE!
Comments (44)Stpindell, Thank you for your post and Ia m glad your problem was solved by your cabinetmaker. I just picked up a coffee table that I had made from a customer to fix this very problem- I had used self closing side mount slides due to the fact that the drawers are so small in height Blumotion wouldn't work. It is being used by an older person and I agree that it is hard to pull the drawer open. The work great the other way. This is the first time this has happened to my in over 35 years and thousands of drawer installs. So, I am going to try and "fix" this my grinding off that catch tab on the slide mechanism to "soften" the pull without risking a total malfunction. If it works I will post how I did it. Otherwise I am going to replace them with regular slides. All on my dime and time. No one should have to fight to get their drawer open. Yes and it is our responsibility as pros to communicate and do a great show and tell with the customer. Note: Although the home owner is the final customer--I did this for a designer here in Scottsdale Arizona-she being a pro has given me time to fix before the home owner sees it and moves in. That is a great designer to plan in her project management risks and small fixes in her timeline....See MoreAre the soft close drawer slides worth it?
Comments (66)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....See MoreSoft Close and Drawers
Comments (37)Thanks for the great feedback! My wife is totally on board for drawers. I think we were both surprised at the volume and emotion this topic inspired. I was able to call the cabinet guy (I LOVE SKYPE) and talk. His concern was for the way the kitchen would look with drawers. He doesn't like pull outs either! So, we are good and headed the same direction. I didn't ask what brand of soft close he used, but we will have Blum in our new house! Several suggested getting a different cabinet guy. While we'll get a second opinion, I realized our guy was actually trying to make sure my wife would be happy with the way the finished product looked. Once I told him we were fine with how drawers would look, he was all on board. I think doing this from 7000 miles will have more challenges in communication that most, but we'll get there. I'd love to be at all the meetings, but I'm happy to serve where I am. I've got a great wife who is doing a wonderful job staying within budget and still getting great things for our house. Thanks for all the input. I'm sure we'll have more questions along the way. We are just about to go to contract and this was the last budget item to figure out! Turning dirt soon... Ray...See MoreFeedback from long term users of Hettich drawer runners
Comments (3)Not sure where you are seeing that Blum is 2X the price? Ah Turf has the 21" blum slides for $18.00pr and locking clips for $2pr And Hardware hut has the Hettich for $21.00pr and locking clips for $2pr I do not buy from either, but the Blum price is right in line with what I pay on a wholesale account I looked at a couple online places that had Hettich and this was the cheapest that I found with a quick look Here is a link that might be useful: Hettich...See MoreUser
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