Can Someone Lead Me To A Post On Cabinet Door Supports?

Sgtjohn

I've spent the greater part of an afternoon and it's into the evening trying to find the post about installing "struts" or supports which keep the cabinet doors open above the sink in the Max S.  Please help me find the post.

Spruce1

Here's a video from YouTube showing how to use springs to keep cabinet doors open. http://youtu.be/ULAJAGy3i2M

ChanW

No problem, Sgtjohn...

These are the ones I installed, and they work great.

In the Yahoo group Files section titled Cabinet Springs Mini Workshop.

I've attached the file here.

Verna

Sgtjohn, I found my springs at Ace Hardware.... it's on my list of things to install soon. 

Dave28

I installed the springs as per Richard Lewis's video. My spouse is very happy.

Sgtjohn

i'm afraid I'm looking for the post that describes installation of spring loaded struts-purchased on Amazon.

Verna

Sgtjohn, only $2 per door for the spring and the eye hook. It really does work. I even saw some heavy duty springs holding up the galley hatch on a homemade teardrop. 

Sgtjohn

I've already bought the struts and I'm running into some problems but....the springs are far more reasonable than the struts so guess what I'm going to do?  I'll be making a trip to HD tomorrow to pick up those springs.  The struts are hard on the hinges of the cabinet doors!  Thanks!

mash2

I have struts everywhere except the front overhead cabinets and they are fine.  what power did you get?  I wanted struts on the benches and back cabinets so went that route for everything else, but didn't bother with the upper front door (used brass cabinet hardware to hold open).    

Verna

Sgtjohn said:

I've already bought the struts and I'm running into some problems but....the springs are far more reasonable than the struts so guess what I'm going to do?  I'll be making a trip to HD tomorrow to pick up those springs.  The struts are hard on the hinges of the cabinet doors!  Thanks!

I was told to put the springs at a 45* angle and they would work fine. Too many things in the Verna-do list and I haven't gotten "round-to-it" yet. 

ChanW

I'm not sure if a round tewit would help with this Verna. It wasn't mentioned in the instructions... :-)

Verna

  

Sgtjohn

I'd like to thank all who assisted me in keeping the cabinet doors open.  This is what transpired:  My HD didn't have the 4.5" she springs and i remember buying  a screen door spring (I don't have a screen door but at the time I bought the spring it was important).  Anyway I managed to locate the spring and cut it to 4.5" x 2 and have the springs fashioned to what I need.  Now, I have to find the eye hooks.
Again, thank you to all for the information!

irvingj

Very clever idea, those springs! I bought a few strut-types, but ones that were spring-operated, not gas-operated. Not too expensive, maybe $5 for a pair, but it did take a bit of finagling to get the anchor points down correctly. They do work well, however. (Wish I had seen the spring-thing before!) I'd post a pic of the product I used, but the T@B went into storage this morning and won't come out until springtime.  :(

Sgtjohn

I installed the springs and I opened the door and closed the door without having to touch or bend the springs-and they keep the door open.  Wife is well pleased!

ChanW

You don't need to bend the spring to close it? How'd you manage that, Sgtjohn? A special way of installing them? Got enny pictures?

mickietucs

I put some in (thanks to Wanderoo for those details) and love them as well.

TABaker

My eye hooks won't stay in place any longer.  Maybe I need to go up a size.

Verna

TABaker said:

My eye hooks won't stay in place any longer.  Maybe I need to go up a size.

Crystal, if your hole is large enough to hold a wooden toothpick, put some white glue or super glue on the toothpick and push it into the hole. Wait a while for the glue to dry and break or saw the toothpick to the correct length. Then drill a smaller hole than needed in the toothpick and screw the screw eye in. It works. 

mash2

The glued toothpick approach works (though I ususally switch to a slightly longer screw to get some extra bite).

Sgtjohn

I dunno why I don't have to bend the springs before I close the cabinet door, I thought I would have to but didn't happen.  I think maybe it's the distance from he hinge etc.?

ChanW

Well that's interesting. Might be that I used shorter springs, or mounted them differently.

If you have a chance, can you post a picture? I'd be interested to know the difference.

Sgtjohn said:

I dunno why I don't have to bend the springs before I close the cabinet door, I thought I would have to but didn't happen.  I think maybe it's the distance from he hinge etc.?

KyBawpaw

I had to bend the spring too but now I don't! I think the eyelet got bent to a slightly different angle. BTW, Don't use a spring that's too hefty. Thinner dia and gauge is better. 

Mouseketab

When we were taking the factory tour, we were in the area where the cabinets for the new truck campers were. Somebody opened one of the cabinet doors, and the tour guide couldn't get it closed back up. Turns out they had those springs as door supports. I bent the spring and the door closed right back up

Tabaz

I tried the springs without success. Went to these at Amazon ($9.35 a pair). RV Designer H279 Cabinet Door Support Plastic 6.25".  Be very careful to insure the strut has enough travel to compress when the door begins to close! If not, it will pop the hinge off that side of the door which could possibly damage the wood ceiling above it. Once installed, they are a great mod.

KyBawpaw

I initially had prob with the springs. They wouldn't give unless I remembered to give them a tug to bend them. One of the eyelets the spring was attached to bent almost flat. I tweaked them to a slight angle on purpose and now they "break" easy when I pull the door down without bending the eyes. Happy with them now, no more busted knuckles from falling doors!

Sgtjohn

OutbackAZ said:

I tried the springs without success. Went to these at Amazon ($9.35 a pair). RV Designer H279 Cabinet Door Support Plastic 6.25".  Be very careful to insure the strut has enough travel to compress when the door begins to close! If not, it will pop the hinge off that side of the door which could possibly damage the wood ceiling above it. Once installed, they are a great mod.
I bought the springs also and for the life of me couldn't mount them properly so I went to the springs and had success for less.  I cut a common screen door spring down and used it x2 on each door and it works great.  I asked Amazon for a refund and they gave me a refund  and let me keep the supports!!!  I'd like to send them to someone and would if they'd pay the postage...send me a msg and I'll respond.

Tabaz

Here is a photo of the RV Designer H279.

jkjenn

OutbackAZ said:

Here is a photo of the RV Designer H279.

Do these take up space inside of the cabinet?

ChanW

From the pic it looks like it would stay pretty much up next to the door when closed. Maybe stick into the cupboard a half-inch or so.

jkjenn

ChanW said:

From the pic it looks like it would stay pretty much up next to the door when closed. Maybe stick into the cupboard a half-inch or so.

That's what I thought. Not too bad.