Edit for 2014: this article is now nearly 4 years old, and nowadays there are soft-close kits by Blumotion and others that make this process much simpler and cheaper!
In this instructable I will teach you how to retrofit the Blumotion soft-close drawer system (from their TandemBox line) to almost any drawer! Most people prefer to retain a consistent appearance in their kitchen, so replacing the drawers entirely is out of the question (not to mention very expensive.) The Blumotion system is one of the best, however it only works with the corresponding drawer system from the same company... or so they thought :)
:strip_icc()/102326027-c240150e2d95420a85bc45f473f98644.jpg?strip=all)
Before this project I attempted to use these to damp my drawers, but they didn't work well (drawers wouldn't self-close, or still slammed shut.) The Blumotion system with its long throw and spring+latch mechanism overcomes these issues. Thanks to adamazing for bringing this up in the comments.
How To Adjust Kitchen Cabinet Hinges
Purchasing the Blumotion drawer damper can be very expensive, if you can find it at all. However they mass-produce a custom version of their drawer damper mechanism for IKEA which is sold under the RATIONELL sub-brand. Thus the cheapest way of obtaining the mechanisms is to purchase the IKEA RATIONELL 40 x 35cm damped drawer kit, which at the time of writing costs AU$45. Each kit contains 2 damper mechanisms, which is enough for 2 drawers, so essentially you're damping each drawer for AU$22.50 and you still have a perfectly usable drawer left over! (Another way to look at it, given that the non-damped drawer kit sells for AU$40, is that each pair of dampers costs $5 and thus $2.50 per drawer.)
WARNING #1: IKEA also sell an AU$10 RATIONELL damper add-on kit. This will NOT work as it contains only the damper and not the spring-latch mechanism which is so crucial to the system.
Obtaining this kit from IKEA is relatively straightforward. If you need a salesperson's assistance when ordering the kit(s), you will probably be asked if you have the correct RATIONELL cupboard in which to install the drawer - a lot of people have obviously tried to screw their existing drawers onto the RATIONELL rails with little success.
Mm X 3 Internal Drawer Pack (tandembox)
As you can see in the picture, there is a spring mechanism running parallel to the damper mechanism. There is quite a lot of force in this spring, so wear eye protection if you are not confident.
The spring is the key to the Blumotion system. It provides a closing force just stronger than the damper, resulting in a consistent closing motion every time, nearly regardless of the drawer load.
Using a small screwdriver, pry up the metal tab holding the small end of the spring mechanism down. You don't need to bring it up all the way, just loosen it up as far as the screwdriver will naturally go. Once this is done, use a finger to hold the mechanism where it meets the spring (see note in pic.)
Soft Close Mechanism For Wooden Drawers
Keeping your finger there, turn the rail over and use the screwdriver to disengage the plastic tab. Release the small end of the spring mechanism by pushing down with your finger (i.e. towards the end of the rail) and you can then lift it off the metal tab. Gently let it come to rest against the large end of the spring mechanism.
Now we disengage the large end of the spring mechanism in a similar fashion. There are 2 tabs to disengage, after which you once again place your finger at the end of the mechanism (see pic) and press down whilst pushing in the tab on the underside of the rail. Give it a shake and the whole spring mechanism will fall out.
IMPORTANT: do NOT let the slide close when the large end is loose, or you will likely jam the whole thing up. Fixing that is not hard, but beyond the scope of this instructable :)
How To: Install Drawer Pullouts In Kitchen Cabinets
Unfortunately this step is not as elegant as extracting the spring mechanism - you need to bring out the hacksaw. However the plastic succumbs quite easily so even a cheap $15 saw like mine will be more than enough.
First, we need to trip off a protruding tab on the damper housing (NOT the one on the damper itself, we need that!) If we don't trim off the tab then the damper will not sit flush against the side of the cabinet later on. It is MUCH easier to trim this off while the damper is still attached to the rail, so do this first!
Then saw off the whole damper mechanism, taking care not to damage the tab on the damper itself. If you cut just next to the ribbed section (see pic) it will be over very quickly.
How To Install Soft Close Drawer Slides
TIP: don't hold the rail where I'm holding it, as the saw will go straight to your hand after cutting through the damper!
The only Blumotion component missing is a simple yet critical one - the pin on the rail which engages the spring mechanism.
Before drilling a hole in the drawer, you need to know exactly where to drill not only here but also in the cabinet, which is where we'll be mounting the Blumotion springs and dampers. The easiest way to do this is to remove a rail from the cabinet, fit it to the drawer and mark your mounting points on the drawer (use masking tape) and measure your offsets from the cabinet front and bottom edge of the rail.
How To Install Cabinet Drawers With Ball Bearing Slides
Note that if your existing drawer system closes itself under gravity for the last 5cm (2) of travel, then your Blumotion system will need to be installed at the same angle. In my case, this angle was 2.5mm (0.1) down for the last 5cm (2) of travel, or a gradient of 1/20. The pictures in the next step will make this clear.
Once you know where to drill, installing the bolt is quite simple. I recommend using a split ring washer or a lock nut to ensure the bolt does not come loose over time.
As for the length of the bolt, the aim is to miss the cabinet wall by about 2mm (0.08). Choose a longer bolt and cut/file away as necessary.
Drawer Slides Demystified
I prefer to keep the bolts as hidden as possible, so I've installed mine on the far side of the kitchen. Note that the second and third pictures in this step are of drawers on opposite sides of my kitchen.
Using the measurements obtained in the previous step, measure off from the drawer rail and front of the cabinet and mark, drill and install your Blumotion spring mechanisms with the spring guts facing the cabinet. I used screws where there were tabs on the original rail, and recommend you do the same. Note that the spring mechanisms are tilted down at a gradient of 1/20 to match the downward action of the drawer as it closes.
After installing the spring mechanism, pull the clear plastic piece forward until it locks into place - this primes it ready for the pin and the drawer.
Kitchen Drawer Designs To Elevate The Look Of Your Modular Kitchen
For the damper, the angle does not matter so much, as long as the tab is facing outward so as to catch the drawer when it closes. Note that the distance from the front of the drawer must be sufficient otherwise it may stop the drawer from closing prematurely. There will be more than enough plastic ribbing on the damper housing for 2 screws which will hold the damper in place nice and securely.
That's it! If your measurements were correct it should work first time. As you can see, we maintain the original appearance of the drawer fronts whilst reaping the benefits of the Blumotion soft-closing system!
The great thing about this method is that you will now have a number of perfectly fine drawers left over, and you can install these wherever you like as per the IKEA instructions. They just won't soft-close/auto-close anymore :) (Although if you only take one Blumotion mechanism out of each drawer, they will)This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and by staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.
Internal Blum Tandembox 3 Kitchen Drawer Pack
If you're tired of drawers that slam closed, it's time to install soft-close drawer slides. These mechanisms attach to the sides of the drawer to slow them down, so they close quietly and gently. Fortunately, they're easy to work with, so you don't need a lot of DIY experience. If you're ready, grab your materials and keep reading—we'll show you how easy it is to install your soft-close drawer slides.
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about working on your home, check out our in-depth interview with Ryaan Tuttle.
This article was co-authored
0 Comments
Posting Komentar