I'm trying to figure out some details for our kitchen remodel and I'm wavering on drawer slides.
I used full extension side mount ball bearing slides on the last kitchen remodel. I'm familiar with them and they are easy to install and adjust. But, I don't like the look and we want soft close. Soft close are available for the side mounts but then they are almost as much as the blum tandem with blum option as near as I can tell.
my questions on the Blums.
1. Which ones do I need? I'm either going with 1/2 or 5/8 boxes so I think I need the 563H or the 563.
2. The cabinets will be frameless do I need any other mounting brackets?
3. It looks like there are options for the locking brackets. I'm thinking more adjustment is better even if it costs an extra buck or two a drawer. Any downside other than cost with the more expensive locking brackets?
4. How tight are the tolerances for building drawers? I see measurements to the 32nd in the Blum literature and while strive for that is there a little give in the mounting? With side mounts as long as the drawers aren't too wide I could always shim the mount on the cabinet with a washer. Plus, any drawer to long or two short was ok with side mounts as long as it fit in the cabinet.
5. I searched but couldn't find any drawer width maximums. The boss wants all drawers on the lower cabinets and some of those are 24" wide. I even have a few that are wider. Do I need to go to a 569 or 569h or add some other Blum accessory on drawers more than a certain width?
6. Do I need a bunch of installation tools? Drilling jig? Can I make a plywood jig to drill the holes on each side to mount the slides?
7. And finally..... Why don't they make a 23" model so people could get the full usable depth of a 24" cabinet? Seems kind of dumb to me. I'm sure there is a good reason but I just don't see it. Just curious on this one.
Mike