Making a fitted kitchen-Questions.

[skipdiver]

After having a price for my new kitchen, i've decided to make it myself and save a fair few bob. My local Howarth timber can get me 2070 x 2620 x 18mm cream MFC sheets for £44 each and can also supply the MR MDF i'm using for the doors, so i'm already half way there.

It's the fixtures and fittings that i'm unsure about. Hinges, drawer runners and the like.

It seems most of the kitchens i fit now come with Blum hinges and Blumotion drawers, which are good but i didn't realise how expensive they were 'til i had a look online. I'd like good quality runners, but are there cheaper alternatives to Blum or anyone know of a supplier who can give me what i want without me raising a second mortgage to pay for them? Do i need the all singing, all dancing soft close systems, or is it just as effective to use any good quality runner on a home made box. What do you kitchen makers use? Any other storage solutions like wire pull outs and such worth having a look at? I am looking for 2 x 600 and 2 x 800 pan drawers and 1 x 800 for a cutlery draw. The 800 ones will be for storing food with a divider type system with heavy pans in the 600 ones, so they need to be strong.

Also any advice would be welcome on paint finishes for the doors which will be simple flat slab types with just a small radius on the corners. Luckily, this is what SWIMBO wants after having a trip to Howdens and that suits me as they are a doddle to make. Thought for sure she would want high gloss but she prefers a satin type finish, which i think can be achieved with a little care and patience.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pond]

Hi,
In my experience, there seem to be two types of kitchen fittings and hinges. Cheap and rubbish or BLUM. There are other makes of quality fittings, but these are not significantly cheaper than Blum.

I've always bought cheap kitchen furniture and expensive hinges and fittings. IMHO it's these that make it 'quality'.

Speak to MickCheese on here, he works for a Blum retailer, he may give you more info!

 

[skipdiver]

Hi,
In my experience, there seem to be two types of kitchen fittings and hinges. Cheap and rubbish or BLUM. There are other makes of quality fittings, but these are not significantly cheaper than Blum.

I've always bought cheap kitchen furniture and expensive hinges and fittings. IMHO it's these that make it 'quality'.

Speak to MickCheese on here, he works for a Blum retailer, he may give you more info!

Thanks.

Think you are right, you get what you pay for and Blum do seem to be the best. Will have to do a bit more searching for a supplier.

 

[ProShop]

Have a look at Grass runners etc, the next thing since Blum.

 

[mickthetree]

Speak to MickCheese on here, he works for a Blum retailer, he may give you more info!

Did you mean me? Or does MickCheese also work for one? He does live near to where I work, but I'm sure he doesn't work there ;-)

You will find that a lot of suppliers of Kitchen fittings work on quantity breaks as they deal with trade, the more you buy the cheaper it gets so don't take prices at their face value.

Feel free to ask any questions you have (or indeed mickcheese if he does work for one!)

Cheers

 

[Lons]

I'd echo what's already been said. Don't buy cheap fittings or you'll regret it.

You should be able to do a deal for quantity with any of the multitude of suppliers and there are even a few dealers on ebay selling various quantities of Blum gear.

Same for the handles. If you want "D" type there are lots on the bay in different sizes. I bought 40 handles for much less than I could get trade from my usual suppliers.

Bob

 

[Chems]

Get yourself over to woodworkuk.com they will be able to answer your questions better I think as they are more day to day woodworkers who do kitchens etc. Also have a look here:

kitchen-refurb-t64150.html

Shultzy has just started a kitchen build and its got some great tips and tricks for people without all the specialist kit.


I do have to say though that you could probably get the units made just as cheaply as buying the materials. There are lots of CNC companies out there who will build cabinets to spec cheaply.

 

[johnf]

Take a look here everything you need just open an account and deal direct

http://www.hafele.co.uk/Hafele35a1/temp ... first=true

 

[sawdust1]

Hi skipdiver, Have you looked at Double Extension Ball Race Runners, I use 450mm on all my bespoke kitchens they cost £7 from Ironmongery Direct. I make a dovetailed draw box then screw a draw front to this. As for your doors have you looked at buying in vaneered mdf panels, you can get matt coloured ones, you can cut to size and iron on some edge banding in the same finish. Done a few kitchens and office furniture this way and they have looked good.

 

[skipdiver]

Thanks for all the replies folks. Some very useful information that i will look into further. Will post pics when i decide which way to go and get started.

 

[Shultzy]

Skipdiver, I've used Blums for all the hardware in my new kitchen and I find the adjustments to the hinges and drawer runners to be well worth the extra money.

 

[Pond]

Speak to MickCheese on here, he works for a Blum retailer, he may give you more info!

Did you mean me? Or does MickCheese also work for one? He does live near to where I work, but I'm sure he doesn't work there ;-)

You will find that a lot of suppliers of Kitchen fittings work on quantity breaks as they deal with trade, the more you buy the cheaper it gets so don't take prices at their face value.

Feel free to ask any questions you have (or indeed mickcheese if he does work for one!)

Cheers

Sorry, whichever one of you works for Isaac Lord!! I get confused as I think he lives in Wycombe and you work there, if you works at 'Saacys anyway!!
I'll get me coat #-o

 

[beech1948]

I no longer make my own panels or at least I no longer cut and finish panels for kitchens/office/wardrobes etc.

I create a cut list, choose my finish and get them cut by http://www.wrightscarpentry.com/. Given where I live in relation to them they even deliver. They have created panels, drilled holes, drill hinge holes etc tc as well as providing finished mdf frames for shaker door styles with mdf panels.

IU simply paint and screw in the fittings.

They are cheaper than I could be and of high quality.

Maybe there is a similar company nearer to you

Al

 

[Steve Maskery]

Re the Hafele account.
I found that having an online account with Hafele was expensive. I was being charged list price. If I bought from a local ironmonger I could get 15% off. That was because they buy 2 or 3 time a week and get a bigger discount, passing some of it onto me.

S