Replies

1. 
   ChipTam | Jan 13, 2005 11:11pm | #1

   Gene,

   I did a kitchen 12 years ago using Blum tandem drawer slides and I'm just now starting on another kitchen which will also incorporate these sldes.  I think the slides are very nice and they have held up well over the years.  I have Blum's current catalog but I'm not sure I really understand their concept of "Blumotion" so I'll also watch for feedback from others regarding your question.

   Chip

1. 
   gdavis62 | Jan 14, 2005 12:41am | #2

   You have got to see it to believe it. 

   From full extension, give the drawer a hard shove home.  The Blumotion device, and it is a little thing that rides along the edge of the fixed part of the Tandem slide, catches the moving slides, not with a thunk, but with a soft landing, then softly closes the drawer.  Self closing drawers, always with a super-soft landing.  Never a slam.  Cool.

   It is essentially a liquid-damped shock absorber spring strut.

   I became a Blum fan when I bought a whole-house cab job that had all Tandem full extension slides.

   But what really got me totally on their side, was using their "inserta" tool-free hinges on the last job I did.  For both door cup and cab bore, just insert the hinge or base, and flip over the cover.  No screwgun.  Full three way adjustment.

   My last job used all Blum Metabox drawers, and I really liked the way the drawer heads can reposition to dial in the margins, using the way the metabox clips fasten to the heads.

   But the next one will be all wood drawer boxes, and we'll use the full extension Tandem slides.  I want my client to see the Blumotion dampers, though, to see if they want the upgrade.

1. 
   macalex | Jan 14, 2005 06:38am | #3

   I've been sold on blumotion ever since seeing a demo, but can't find an on-line source who  will ship international. Can anyone help?

   MNew Zealand | New Thinking

1. 
   dondownunder | Jan 14, 2005 08:16am | #4

   Malcolm

   Try http://www.lincolnsentry.com.au Lincoln Sentry carry the Blum range & have a branch in Auckland (21 Porana Rd., Glenfield, ph 444 6357, Fax 444 6517).   The blumotion doova requires the drawer base to be drilled to a specific pattern to house the action so 16mm bases would be required. These are pretty much standard here anyway as is the use of full extension runners. Expect blumotion to add about $Au12 to the cost of each drawer.

   Don

1. 
   macalex | Jan 14, 2005 01:23pm | #7

   Thanks Don

   My ideal is a slide that fits under the drawer, so I can build a drawer that fills the cavity full width and the slide is invisible. I think Blum do one, but it's incredibly hard to discover this on line!

   MNew Zealand | New Thinking

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jan 14, 2005 07:13pm | #8

   Yes, the Blum Tandem does exactly what you say.  The slide is under the drawer, and the drawer is almost the full width of the opening.  However, there's no free lunch.   The slide requires a little more than an inch of space under the drawer.  That turns out to be a big percentage if you're doing shallow drawers.

3. 
   dondownunder | Jan 15, 2005 04:07am | #9

   Malcolm

   Tandem 560H code 1-229-(length of drawer in mm from 270-600), eg 1-229-400 for the 400mm drawer. About 20mm required to fit runner under slip but what you loose in height you gain in width compared with side mount runners.

   Depending on application I think Blumotion is not required on say a chest of drawers in a bedroom but I'd stick them in the kitchen where heavier loads & more frequent use are the order of the day.

   Hafele  (0800 HAFELE in NZ)  also have them, e-mail me if you want part no's. 

   Hettich (0800 438 8424 in NZ) Quadro is similar to the tandem.

   Don

4. 
   macalex | Jan 15, 2005 06:38am | #10

   Thanks Don, much appreciated, I'll let you know how I get on

   MNew Zealand | New Thinking

2. 
   mudman | Jan 14, 2005 08:39am | #5

   Gene,

   I just installed them on my last project. I didn't really tell the client about it as my instructions were simple "make it nice". So I used the tandem/blumotion set up. They were floored when they used it the first time. The wife wants me to retrofit the WHOLE KITCHEN!

   Mike

   please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   gdavis62 | Jan 14, 2005 12:42pm | #6

   Guy at the store where I saw the display, said it's a $60 per drawer upgrade.

   I didn't tell him I knew it was a little part that snaps onto the slide and costs less than $10.

1. 
   mudman | Jan 15, 2005 06:25pm | #11

   Did the drawers already have tandem slides? Also I think that most of my customers who are willing to pay for that level of quality are not going to balk at $60. Also remember you are talking about retail.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

1. 
   gdavis62 | Jan 15, 2005 07:03pm | #12

   Yes, they were drawers with Tandem slides. 

   From some reviews I've made of Blum's specs, the make two Blumotion devices.  One works with Tandem slides, and the other with the Tandembox system of drawer and slide.

   For wood box drawers fitted with Tandem slides, it looks to me as if the Blumotion device snaps onto the slide, tool-free.  Real simple.

   For Tandembox, the bottom of the box is machined almost like what you do to a door for a hinge, then the Blumotion Tandembox thingy is installed.

   I've a whole house full of cabinets that have Tandem slides.  I want to see if a three-year-old model of Tandem can be outfitted with Blumotion.  If so, I will buy some from my supplier (under $9 each drawer), and try them out.

   I'm certainly aware of how these nifty little touches of luxury can be marked up at retail.  Blum Tandem is at or near the top of drawer slides, in terms of price and quality.  It follows that they would be used only on high end cabinetry.  And as we know, the people buying at the high end, will pay for expensive extras, if they can perceive the value.

   The action of a drawer fitted with Blumotion certainly speaks quality.

   Do you know of anything competitive with Blumotion?

1. 
   nikkiwood | Jan 15, 2005 08:43pm | #13

   <<"Do you know of anything competitive with Blumotion?">>yeah -- Grass has a similar system, which I saw in a demo at my local supplier.

2. 
   khacker | Jan 19, 2005 12:21am | #18

   Mepla-Alfit Dynamic slides (http://www.mepla-alfit.com/english/starte.html) offer a full-extension slide with built-in self-closure feature. These are a very high quality slides available at a reasonable price.  Depending on drawer length and quantity ordered, price range per pair is $16-$20.  They're available from Custom Service Hardware in Wisconsin (http://www.cshardware.com), a company that truly puts  "service" back into "customer service".

3. 
   mudman | Jan 16, 2005 02:25am | #14

   Gene,

   Your right about how it attaches to the tandem box and slides. I doubt that your old slides will have the cutouts for the Blumotion. There are a couple of rectangular cutouts on the slides that it snaps into. However you can buy just the half of the slide that it device mates to, that'll save a little.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   wrudiger | Jan 16, 2005 10:55am | #15

   Mike,

   Quantity price (case of 6) for full extension Tandem slides is $24.50.  Blumotion adds $8.75, or about a third more. 

   http://www.wwhardware.com/catalog.cfm/groupid/Cabinet%20Drawer%20Slides

   Still, total price of under $34 per drawer for a high end job seems well worth the cost - for the clean look, extra space and smooth action.

   Wayne

1. 
   mudman | Jan 18, 2005 09:16am | #16

   You aint gotta sell me on them! I'm all about the Blumotion. Also for the doors.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   wrudiger | Jan 18, 2005 11:07pm | #17

   Yea, I just discovered the door closers yesterday - very fine!!