Michael Seifert
04-28-2014, 2:43 PM
We currently have completely custom kitchen drawers and cabinets with cheap side mounted slides that need to be replaced. We want a high end feel both for our own pleasure and for resale and the Blum Tandem plus Blumotion seems the most raved about.
Cabinets are panel install (flush on sides to face frame) with overlay front. The drawers have 9/16" thick sides and have 1/2" clearance between drawer side and cabinet (left to right). Bottom recess is 3/8" (instead of the 1/2" Blum asks for). There is no back to the cabinet to work with (open to the wall).
Making the Blum work in this retrofit will therefore take some work:
The drawers are 22" deep - I've been told I can use the 21" Blum slides if I mount them and the locking device one inch back.
To make side to side opening work, I'd have to install blocking of 5/32" on either side of the frame (e.g. 26 1/8" opening minus 9/16" = 25 9/16" outside drawer width. Actual outside width is 25 1/4" which is off by 5/16" total or 5/32" on either side)
To make the 3/8" bottom recess work, I am hoping to do nothing - presuming this will raise the drawers 1/8" up. The drawer overlay fronts have 1/2" of overlap to the cabinet face, so this should be no issue.
First, will retrofitting for the Blum undermounts be straightforward or am I asking for a nightmare? While I am not a cabinetmaker, I have a shop with a planer and enough tools to be dangerous.
Second, (in your opinion) is going for the Blum Blumotion worth all the work? Based on much reading, none of the other brand soft close solutions seem worth the risk.
Lastly, for my situation (Blum 563H), would the more expensive BT51.1901 locking devices (offering side to side adjustment) be important? Or is the cheaper BT51.1801 sufficient /recommended for my installation?
Thanks for your input.
Cabinets are panel install (flush on sides to face frame) with overlay front. The drawers have 9/16" thick sides and have 1/2" clearance between drawer side and cabinet (left to right). Bottom recess is 3/8" (instead of the 1/2" Blum asks for). There is no back to the cabinet to work with (open to the wall).
Making the Blum work in this retrofit will therefore take some work:
The drawers are 22" deep - I've been told I can use the 21" Blum slides if I mount them and the locking device one inch back.
To make side to side opening work, I'd have to install blocking of 5/32" on either side of the frame (e.g. 26 1/8" opening minus 9/16" = 25 9/16" outside drawer width. Actual outside width is 25 1/4" which is off by 5/16" total or 5/32" on either side)
To make the 3/8" bottom recess work, I am hoping to do nothing - presuming this will raise the drawers 1/8" up. The drawer overlay fronts have 1/2" of overlap to the cabinet face, so this should be no issue.
First, will retrofitting for the Blum undermounts be straightforward or am I asking for a nightmare? While I am not a cabinetmaker, I have a shop with a planer and enough tools to be dangerous.
Second, (in your opinion) is going for the Blum Blumotion worth all the work? Based on much reading, none of the other brand soft close solutions seem worth the risk.
Lastly, for my situation (Blum 563H), would the more expensive BT51.1901 locking devices (offering side to side adjustment) be important? Or is the cheaper BT51.1801 sufficient /recommended for my installation?
Thanks for your input.