To date everything we have done is frameless, in using this package and its link to CNC parts cuttting, so this is indian country for us.
Blum is our preferred hinge, and it looks like we will use the halfcranked one with 9mm plates. We like and use the 3-way adjustability all the time, when tuning fronts at final.
Blum Tandem is our preferred slide, and this model has the cab sides inside faces flush with the inside faces of the FF stiles. No sideblocks required, and the CNC will drill the 5mm holes for slide mounting.
Two questions for you inset cab pros.
1. What perimeter door and drawerhead margin works best for you? I was thinking 2mm all around.
2. For door close, do you prefer freeswing hinges and some kind of catch, or selfclose hinges and bumper blocks? If bumpers, do you do top and bottom corners, or something else?
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Whass A matter Gene, couldnt sell em those ugly euro cabinets! :)
I use a margin of a slight 3/32 for my insert doors, you'll have to make the conversion to metric. 1/8 is preferred by some but to me it looks to big, too easy to!
I also mount the FF so that the ff hangs off the cabinet, like you mentioned, FF flush on the inside to avoid the issue with the hinges.
I have installed regular hinges(see pic) but that's if someone wants then for a certain look otherwise good ole Blum hinges. the hinges in this picture are a little different as they lift off, dont have to take a pin out or unscrew them, sorta pricy but nice other then there is no adjustment on them so you have to get them right to start with.
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I have used FF on cabinets where there was a divider between drawers and doors, between stack drawers and without the in-between ff, you do loose a lot of space if you go with the ff between the drawers. (pic attached)
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Doug
Edited 1/13/2008 11:56 am ET by DougU
Thanks, Doug. I'm just trying to get ready. So far we have stuck with frameless cab work.
We gotta be ready to compete on all fronts, and if someone wants their doors and drawerheads inset, we gotta go with faceframes. If it is overlaid fronts they want from us, they're gonna get frameless.
Since posting this thread, I went to the Woodweb archives where there is a pretty good discussion of inset fronts margins, and the consensus seems to be at 3/32".
That is a little less than 2.5mm, so if I work the whole scheme in metric, and keep cab widths, FF element widths, and cab heights all in even millimeters, all my fronts parts will be sized at 5mm under opening sizes.
That's perfect for what I do, because the door and drawer folks will all make in metric sizes, and hold tolerance to the mm.
Here is a hint for you if you are buying doors and drawerfronts from all the usual suspects. If you order in English inches and fractions, they will call out their tolerance as plus or minus 1/16", which is 0.063" decimal.
If ordering in metric, they will say their accuracy is +/- 1mm, which is 0.039" decimal, and a really big tightening in tolerance.
Now, we all know that they don't really get any better at getting things right depending on the units in which you order, but you've got their own claims on your side if you are arguing furnished versus ordered, if you ordered in mm.
If ordering in metric, they will say their accuracy is +/- 1mm, which is 0.039" decimal, and a really big tightening in tolerance.
Nice tip, one to remember and pass on at work.
Doug