Metal hardware is one of the most vulnerable small items in the home, such as the hardware in our drawers, wardrobes, cabinet doors, etc. Once broken, it will greatly affect the sense of use.
So how to choose the hardware in these places to be durable? Today I will help you analyze it comprehensively.
01
What are the common hardware for the cabinet
Hinge: It is what we commonly call "hinge", which is responsible for the important responsibility of connecting the cabinet body and the door panel.
The hinges on the market today are basically detachable, divided into two parts: the base and the buckle, which are convenient for future replacement.
Because it has to withstand more than 10 or even 20 times of opening and closing times every day, and also bears the weight of the door panel, the hinge can be said to be the hardware with the heaviest mission. If you don't have a "reinforced iron frame", it is difficult to take on this important task.
The current hinges will be equipped with dampers, and its main function is to prevent shock and shock absorption.
Damping hinges are also called "hydraulic hinges". The principle is to use the cushioning properties of liquid to adapt to the closing speed of the door.
To put it simply, you use a lot of force to close the cabinet door, but when it reaches about 45 degrees, the impact force of the door will automatically weaken, and the closing speed will gradually slow down, and finally achieve a perfect and silent closing effect.
Generally, a door has only one hinge and one damper, and it is not necessary to add damper to each hinge.
▲ Add damping to the lower hinge, and there is no need to add damping to the upper hinge
The choice of drawers mainly depends on the type of guide rails. Now the common ones on the market are: side slide rails (two/three-section rails), bottom rails, horseback drawers, etc.
①Side slide rail (two/three rails)
Side slide rails, as the name suggests, are guide rails installed on the side of the drawer. The guide rails can be seen directly from the side, and the aesthetics is not high.
▲Three-section guide rail
The side slide rails currently on the market are generally three-section rails. The three-section rail has poor load-bearing capacity and is generally used in wardrobes.
②Bottom rail
The bottom rail is also called "invisible rail". When installing this kind of guide rail, the thinner side is fixed on the side panel of the cabinet, and the other side is installed on the bottom of the core-pulling bottom. After the installation is completed, the guide rail cannot be seen from the outside, which is more beautiful.
③ Horseback riding
The riding drawer is placed directly under the drawer. One of its biggest advantages is that it is easy to install and disassemble. Each part is connected with a special buckle. When disassembling, you only need to press the corresponding buckle.
Basket: mostly used in cabinets.
①Corner basket
Because it is unavoidable that two planes intersect in L-shaped and U-shaped layouts of general cabinets, in order to prevent the space at the corner from being abandoned, it is a good choice to install a corner basket.
The corner basket is supported by the side panel of the cabinet to open and close at a large angle. The built-in space in the corner can be used to the maximum.
Corner pull baskets generally have 180-degree rotation, 270-degree rotation and damping linkage. The basket with the corresponding rotation range should be selected according to the specific situation.
② Seasoning basket
Condiments are generally the "culprit" of messy cabinets and countertops. And a seasoning basket can keep the knives and various condiments in their respective places, which is hygienic and clear at a glance.
③Pot and bowl basket
Baskets are generally made of stainless steel, chrome-plated and baked paint. It is best to choose stainless steel, which is sturdy and durable, with strong corrosion resistance and load-bearing capacity.
But remember not to mistake chrome-plated for stainless steel. Regarding the difference between the two:
Chrome plating is silvery white, stainless steel is grayish silvery white;
Chrome plating generally has hook marks and dew points, and there are scratches on the bends, while stainless steel does not.
Generally, the welding points of good baskets are touch welding without welding marks. Basket guide rails are generally with damping effect, which can buffer the impact of pulling the basket and reduce the impact between the basket panel and the side panel of the cabinet.
Handles There are many types of handles on the market, including plug-in, built-in, and concealed.
Our common one is the plug-in type.
Its materials are zinc alloy, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, logs, ceramics and so on.
Generally, the materials of copper and stainless steel are better, those of zinc alloy and aluminum alloy are poor, and those of plastic are on the verge of being eliminated. It is best to choose a handle that has been electroplated and electrostatically painted, which is wear-resistant and anti-corrosion.
Generally, families with children tend to install built-in handles in order to prevent the children from bumping into the leaking handles when they are mischievous.
▲Embedded handle
There are also some cabinets and wardrobe doors that do not have handles, but dampers are used, and the door can be opened by pressing it. Its simple and labor-saving features are very popular with everyone. However, if you press it frequently, the service life may not be long.
02
Hardware installation
Hardware installation should pay attention to the following points:
① Drilling is required for the installation of hardware such as hinges, gas supports, handles, etc., and the drilling should be completed before the painter works.
②Be sure to confirm the hole distance before drilling. The hole distance generally refers to the distance between the two screw holes of the hinge, handle and other hardware bases. The general specification is 32mm, otherwise it is a multiple of 32. The depth of the hole and the screw must fit tightly. If the installation is not firm, the hinge will slip off within a few days.
③The installation of the handle should conform to ergonomics. Simply put, it's effortless. It is necessary to use the lower handle without bending over, and use the upper handle without using a ladder.
④Wrap and install the painted hardware with a thick rag, otherwise the paint will be scratched off easily.
⑤ Pull baskets are generally customized strictly according to the size of the cabinet. If you buy the pull basket by yourself, the size of the cabinet provided to the merchant must be accurate.
⑥The drawers and pull baskets should be installed as low as possible, so as to make full use of the space and load more things. When installing, pay attention to check the level of the slide rail, so that one side is high and the other is low.
⑦ When installing the pull basket, some expansion plugs are generally required to ensure that the screws are fixed more firmly. If the screws are not installed tightly, it is easy to cause the basket to fall off.
▲Plastic expansion plug
⑧The seasoning basket is best placed on the right side of the stove, so that it is more convenient to take the seasoning when cooking. The panel of the pot and bowl basket is best also plugged with a plug, because the basket and the panel are front and back, and the screws are easy to be pulled off after a long time.
Hope this article can let you get more hardware knowledge! Good hardware can not only prolong the service life of the cabinet, but also give the cabinet a soul like an elf. When we choose cabinets and wardrobes, don't turn a blind eye to these elves!
