Which closers are best for the kitchen?

Aesthetics, good quality materials and thoughtful ergonomics are the three main criteria for choosing any furniture. The type of fittings used to equip the cabinets and drawers is also of considerable importance. Almost all modern furniture of a higher than average class is produced with closers - special soft closing mechanisms. However, not many people know that furniture closers for cabinets can be installed on finished and purchased furniture, for example, after updating it yourself. And they are not that expensive. But using furniture in which doors silently open and close is much more pleasant.

Selection and installation of closers - so that kitchen cabinets close quietly

Closers for kitchen cabinets are a whole family of modern furniture fittings. Such mechanisms ensure smooth closing of facades without noise or unnecessary effort on the part of humans. Naturally, their use makes the use of kitchen furniture more comfortable and increases its service life. This is especially true for doors with glazing, for which sharp impacts are strictly contraindicated.

Kinds
Oil closers with spring mechanism
Gas closers for the kitchen
Manufacturers and prices
Installation

The classification of closers distinguishes them by the type of working fluid (oil or compressed gas), as well as the scope of application. Naturally, different mechanisms are needed for hinged, folding facades and drawers.

Oil closers with spring mechanism

No, we are not talking about Soviet tight springs that slammed the doors shut with all their might. Modern kitchen closers are a spiral in a sealed sleeve filled with viscous oil or liquid silicone. Special valves on the mechanism body allow you to adjust the resistance of the medium to the movement of the spring, which in turn affects the speed and force of closing the door. These models are quite reliable, but they are not cheap.

Oil closers are designed in such a way that even if they fail, the working medium cannot leak out of them. This type of mechanism is used for both kitchen fronts and drawers. The latter usually come already built into the system of guides along which the box slides, and are completed with a supporting bar - a trigger.

Gas closers for the kitchen

These are inexpensive mechanisms that only operate at the end of the door closing cycle. They are installed directly into a loop of a special design, where they are simply fixed in a separate groove. For flaps, gas lifts are used - rather primitive hydraulic systems, where the immersion of the rod slows down the resistance of the internal environment in the sleeve. The deeper it sinks when closing, the higher the resistance to its movement, which prevents the door from slamming sharply.

The disadvantage of gas mechanisms is that the pressure inside remains maximum the entire time the cabinet is closed. Because of this, the service life of such fittings is usually short.

Also for kitchens, various electric drives are produced that open/close the doors themselves, responding only to pressure. But it’s no longer possible to call them simply closers.

Alternative solutions

Choosing a mechanism for the kitchen and its installation

To understand the basic principles of choosing mechanisms, you need to take into account some features. At its core, a closer is an ordinary spring, which is hidden in a metal capsule with oil .
The door closing speed can be adjusted using valves. Even a novice master can handle the process of installing the mechanism. The most important thing is to choose the right mechanism for the desired type of furniture, and make sure that there are instructions for it. You can also consult with a specialist in the store.

The closers are attached using self-tapping screws. There are three places where the mechanism can be installed:

on the furniture body;
on the loops themselves;
and between the loops.

To install the mechanism on hinges, these hinges must be equipped with special sockets, which is quite rare. In the absence of such sockets, closers are installed using euroscrews . Using these screws, the mechanism can be installed directly on the body of the kitchen furniture.

Main types of accessories

Oil closers - produced as a set with hinges for swing doors, or with just a button - it is possible to attach them to any part of the body. Closers are made with a bend, with a straight arm or for angular and inclined hinges.
Standard four-hinged with built-in closer. They are used for doors whose opening angle is from ninety-five to one hundred and seventy degrees.
Mechanisms for drawers with a load of up to 25 kilograms without height restrictions. Full-fledged fittings that create full or partial extension of drawers and their soft closing. Withstands loads of up to thirty kilograms.
German door closers for swing doors with overhead, semi-overlay, and inset hinges. The opening angle is about two hundred and seventy degrees.

How to install a door closer yourself

The instructions for installing gas point shock absorbers are so simple that there is no need to talk about any technique. You just need to place the shock absorber against the edge of the cabinet and screw in a couple of screws with a screwdriver. But with drawer closers everything is a little more complicated.

Point shock absorbers are easy to install.

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Tool and material:

First, measure the dimensions of the box;
Further, according to the table in the instructions, we find a suitable parameter indicating the installation point of the main mechanism.

In the table, similar sizes are indicated by different letters, so it is easier to find the desired diagram, in our case it will be the letter “M”.

Stage 1.

When everything is marked and the holes are drilled, we take the main mechanism and fasten it with self-tapping screws.

The mechanism is attached with the narrow side to the edge.

The activator is a small plate with a tongue, which during operation clings to the response part of the mechanism.

The activator is installed clearly according to the diagram, so that the tongue looks beyond the edge of the box.

The technology is the same:

We mark according to the diagram;
We drill the marks;
We fasten the activator with self-tapping screws.

Hinge closers

There are 3 categories of closers here.

This applies to the following designs:

Built directly into the shoulder
. This is a standard type of element that connects to the bowl. The shoulder has a special spring shape, which makes it clear that there is a closer in the loop;
With built-in shock absorber
. Makes it possible to adjust the degree of force due to the integrated special screw. Allows you to select the speed at which the door closes. Cancellation can be partial or complete;
Invoices
. They are purchased separately from the hinges themselves and installed as needed. Each manufacturer has its own overhead door closers designed specifically for their hinges.

In this case, the overhead can be screwed onto the bowl, snapped onto it, or snapped into place, but on the shoulder of the loop. These are 3 types of overhead door closers.

Now you know what types of door closers are designed for kitchen furniture and what you can install in your kitchen.

Plane adjustment type

The process of adjustment along the plane makes it possible to change the location of the front part of the kitchen unit along the plane. Such adjustment is necessary when there is weak pressure on the door to the body, or when the door moves in the other direction when pressed.

Adjustment in this way is carried out as follows:

Tighten the bolt located in the loop.
Turn the bolts towards yourself, do not force it, 2-3mm is enough.
Make sure there is a gap between the facade and the door.
If this is not enough, you need to tighten the bolts a little more.

Here it is better to over-tighten than under-tighten. It is this fastening element that is responsible for the performance of the doors, on which the ease of use of the kitchen set depends. So a simple Phillips screwdriver can save your nerves and make the kitchen truly comfortable.

A little advice: calculate the force, otherwise you will break the thread and have to change this element.

Furniture closers

Furniture manufacturers have long begun to use special mechanisms called closers in production. With their help, kitchen cabinets will close slowly and silently, which will help keep the furniture in excellent condition. They have come to occupy an important place among other pieces of furniture fittings . If not all the furniture in the house is equipped with such a convenient and practical mechanism, it is possible to do everything yourself. To do this, you need to know what a door closer is for kitchens and cabinet furniture.

In essence, the closer is a spring hidden in a metal capsule with oil. Special valves allow you to regulate the speed at which the cabinet door closes. The process of installing the mechanism is simple, so almost anyone can handle this task. It is necessary to select a product according to the type of furniture, and also have instructions supplied with the device. Closers are installed using self-tapping screws. You can attach them to furniture cabinets in the kitchen in certain places:

frame;
loops;
between the loops.

To install door closers on hinges, they must be equipped with special sockets. Sockets in hinges are rare , so due to their absence, the part can be installed using Euroscrews. When using them, closers are installed on the furniture body.

Experts recommend that when choosing a mechanism for cabinets, pay attention to their depth. This factor will determine which product should be selected.

Varieties

There are several classification principles, thanks to which furniture closers can be divided into groups.

Based on the mechanism of action, there are 2 types:

Gas
. There is a special gas inside the structure. It is placed in a sealed capsule and acts as a working medium to ensure smooth closing of the doors. The same principle as furniture gas lifts;
Oily
. This is a symbol, since not only oil, but also other special liquids can be used here. They are more affordable. But oil may leak.

There is another important sign by which door closers are distinguished.

Lifting mechanism with closer

These are design features or arrangement of elements.

Here it is worth highlighting 4 main varieties:

Invoices
. They are mounted (screwed) from the inside directly onto the body of the kitchen furniture;
Mortise
. A hole is drilled at the end side of the kitchen cabinet body into which a special closer is inserted;
Hinged on loops
. They are mounted on already installed hinges in the kitchen cabinet. Moreover, here you will probably have to look for a closer from the same manufacturer as the hinge itself. The design includes an elasticity regulator;
Built into hinges
. These are initially special furniture hinges, which are equipped with a closer. Objectively this is the best option. Therefore, if possible, I strongly recommend buying hinges with a closer, so that you don’t have to install or look for anything separately later.

It is worth noting that there is already a separate material on hinges with a closer on our website. This issue is discussed in detail there. And how to install them on the door, see the article Forstner drill for furniture hinges.

So go ahead and read. But first, let's finish this question.

Furniture door closer

How to install

At any furniture or hardware store you can purchase hinges with a special place for closers. This is a very convenient invention - the mechanism is hidden in furniture hinges.

To install the closer on the modules, you will need special self-tapping screws or furniture euroscrews, a screwdriver and instructions for the mechanism. Installing the finishing element is an easy process, even an inexperienced builder can handle it. It is necessary to strictly follow the instructions included with the closers.

When installing large closers for massive doors, the piston always remains on the immovable part of the wooden shelf. The rest of the closer is attached to the cabinet door. Just like large closers, any compact mechanism is installed on a fixed part of the cabinet.

Internal gas closers that are inserted into a hinge are the easiest to install. After fastening the hinges, you need to insert the closer into a special hole in it until it clicks - the mechanism is installed.

The closers are screwed onto the furniture body with euroscrews or self-tapping screws.

How to adjust after installation on the doors

After the mechanism is installed, it must be adjusted. It is worth paying attention to the following factors:

Sliding speed.
Closing speed of the base cabinet door.
Closing tightness (fit).

The mechanism is adjusted using a screw on the body. By tightening the screw, the speed at which the door (or drawer) closes increases.

When weakened, it decreases. This is explained by the capacity of the piston outflow channel. The liquid flows at different speeds through the capsule into the sleeve and back, controlling the movement of the doors.

Correct installation of the closer is a guarantee of its long and trouble-free service.

Review of furniture fittings:

Operating principle

The door closer operates quite simply, which is due to its standard and simple design. The features of its action include:

the main mechanism is a special spring located in a metal capsule, and it is filled with a special liquid or oil;
the product is equipped with special valves that make it possible to adjust the speed of closing the doors;
due to the closer, pressure is applied to the front of the door, which guarantees its smooth and silent closing under the influence of its own weight;
this leads to the fact that the door acts on a special stop, which acts as part of the closer;
the liquid covering the spring is lowered into a special capsule sleeve;
it is held in the sleeve by a special system of seals;
the adjusting part of the product ensures a narrowing or expansion of the outflow channel, therefore control and regulation of the door closing speed is ensured;
in the process of closing the door, it begins to exert a stronger influence on the closer;
the adjusting part of the product expands quite strongly, so the piston outflow channel decreases;
this causes the piston to slow down, so the door closes really slowly, without sudden movements, and there are no knocks or other extraneous sounds.

If you choose high-quality hinges and closers, they are guaranteed to protect facades from various damages, and will also be durable and easy to use.

Gas closers are often installed on inexpensive cabinets. They work in such a way that the door closes as quickly as possible until a specific moment, after which it begins to act on the closer, which uses gas located in a special capsule for operation. This principle of operation ensures silent and slow closing of the door at the end, but the product itself is considered quite fragile and short-lived.

The best manufacturers

Closers are produced by many manufacturing companies; the fittings are available with different characteristics and prices. If you do not want to change door closers in 2-3 years, it is recommended to immediately choose a reliable manufacturer. You can read reviews on different sites and learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model. You should not save money on this part of the furniture, because repairing door closers can cost a considerable amount. Most often, foreign fittings are used, but Soviet companies also produce high-quality furniture products.

The highest quality door closer manufacturers:

Bloom. The Austrian company has been producing high-quality furniture fittings for more than 70 years. All door closers are manufactured using advanced technologies and are distinguished by their durability. In the catalogs you can find products from different price segments from 150 to 3,000 rubles.
Siro. The Italian brand is very popular in Russia due to its reasonable cost and production of high-quality products. Each part goes through several stages of control and verification according to certificates of conformity.
Hafele. The main feature of the German company is the production of environmentally friendly furniture fittings.
Hettich. Another German manufacturer of fittings, in whose catalogs you can find luxury and economy class door closers. It is possible to place an individual order. The minimum cost of accessories is 300 rubles.
Boyard. The country of origin is China, but closers are distinguished by their quality and reasonable cost, and therefore are popular in Russia.

Closers from these manufacturers are of improved quality and are easy to maintain. When breakdowns occur, these mechanisms are rarely repaired; the old closer is often replaced. But to prevent the mechanism from breaking down quickly, it is necessary to regularly care for them, tighten the fastenings and get rid of rust.

Silence is the key to peace of mind and health

Constant noise that haunts almost every person at work, at home and anywhere else has a negative impact on the psyche. In a noisy environment, you will not be able to concentrate, think and fully perform certain types of work. You won’t be able to rest and completely relax either. All this leads to a stressful state. What is an indirect cause of exacerbation of chronic diseases and the emergence of new health problems.

Modern construction and finishing technologies using soundproofing materials help minimize extraneous noise from the outside. But how to maintain this silence in the room to ensure peace and comfort?

When choosing household appliances, first of all, study the technical passport and hygiene certificate. For equipment that will operate for about 1 hour, the noise characteristics should not exceed 75 dB. For household appliances operating for a longer period of time, or even around the clock, the reproduced noise should be no more than 40 dB during the day, and no more than 30 dB at night.
Equip each piece of furniture with high-quality fittings that close the doors silently. We are talking about furniture closers for kitchen cabinets, various shock absorbers and dampers that soften the impact when closing.

How to choose

In the process of choosing a set for the kitchen, few people pay attention to such elements as door closers. Basically, people think about this at the moment when cabinet doors lose their functional qualities. Therefore, it is important to understand that the safety and service life of furniture depends on the choice of elements.

When purchasing closers, you need to consider the type of kitchen cabinets, their features and size. For large furniture, it is necessary to select high-quality and durable elements that can withstand weight and constant load. Mechanisms that are too weak can lose their functionality quite quickly, so you shouldn’t skimp.

The next point worth paying attention to is the type of placement. Basically, most buyers purchase mechanisms that are attached directly to the door. Their advantage is the absence of complex loops. Such door elements do not require lengthy installation.

An important criterion is the manufacturer of the mechanisms. Many experts recommend purchasing parts from companies that have already proven themselves and shown high quality. Today the best fittings are Blum.

During purchase, the main attention should be paid to adjusting the elements. If you do not want to spend time on this process, you can purchase systems with automatic mode. In this case, the models are regulated independently.

Criteria for choosing drawers

Usually, when purchasing a kitchen set, everyone first of all pays attention to its appearance, that is, whether it is beautiful or not, whether it will fit into the interior of the kitchen or not. It is immediately checked whether all the furniture will fit in the planned place. Next, functionality is considered.

But no less important will be the installed fittings, which include door closers. After all, they are the ones who make kitchen furniture easy to use and increase its functionality. It is necessary to indicate that drawers are divided into two types: metaboxes and tandemboxes.

Metaboxes

This type of drawer is a design in which the side walls are made of durable metal (steel), usually painted with white enamel. Their design includes rollers that rest on the guides of the closer. Plus, manufacturers make it possible to properly organize the space due to the metabox function, such as raising it to a certain height. For this purpose, special elements are used in the design of the box.

The metabox system already comes with kitchen closers, so it is a ready-to-use item. It closes silently and very smoothly. You just need to push him a little.

Tandemboxes

This is still the same drawer, only its side walls can be made of either steel or glass. At the same time, it is equipped with a special tubular railing, which ensures extension of the structure. By the way, tandem boxes extend to their maximum length, which is very convenient. By default, they are equipped with automatic closers. It should be noted that there is a variety in the group of tandemboxes, the design of which includes an electric motor. With its help, the opening and closing of drawers occurs. You just need to press the front panel of the drawer or pull the handle lightly, and it will open. Push it lightly and it will begin to close.

Gas lifts - what are they and what are their features?

Gas lift is a shock-absorbing mechanism whose purpose is to open doors and hold them in that position. Thanks to him, this does not require much effort. The design is completely sealed - nitrogen is placed inside during the production of the product, and if it is damaged, it cannot be repaired. The advantages of gas lift include:

reliable fixation and smooth movement;
easy opening even in the absence of a handle;
long service life;
compatibility with any door material.

They give kitchen cabinets a stylish look, allow them to be used quietly, while maintaining the integrity of the elements and extending the life of the furniture.

How are they installed?

The gas lift is installed in strict accordance with the instructions, which is the key to its uninterrupted operation. It is important to understand:

each facade will require 2 gas lifts, which avoids its distortion;
the 100N marking indicates the need to mount the cabinet to the wall and is used only for heavy and massive doors;
installation of products is carried out at the very end, when other fittings are already installed.

How to choose a door closer

When choosing a furniture closer, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors, the most significant of which are:

device type;
method of installing the door closer;
furniture fittings manufacturing company.

Types of furniture closers

There are the following types of door closers installed on furniture:

gas. Inside the sealed housing of the device there is a gas into which the rod is immersed. Gas closers operate according to the following principle. After exposure, the door begins to quickly close to a certain position. Then the closing process slows down and goes into a smooth state. The main advantage of a gas closer is the low cost of the device. However, the service life of the fittings does not exceed 5-7 years;

Gas closer for folding drawers

oil Accordingly, the oil closer housing contains oil, which allows the cabinet door to close smoothly throughout the entire operating cycle. The working element is a spring. Oil closers are relatively expensive, but they can also last a longer time (10 years or more).

Closer with spring and oil filler

Methods for attaching door closers to furniture

The furniture closer can be installed:

on the body. Typically, such systems are used on drawers or folding and sliding doors;

Fittings attached to the furniture body

on the hinges. Hinges with a closer are modern and reliable fittings, characterized by low cost and a long period of use. The main disadvantage is the impossibility of installation on doors or drawers that are not equipped with door hinges.

Furniture hinges equipped with built-in closers

Popular manufacturers of high-quality furniture fittings

In order for the closer on kitchen furniture or other cabinets and drawers to last for a long time, it is necessary to select a reliable manufacturer of furniture fittings, which include:

The Austrian company Blum is the most popular manufacturer on the Russian market. The company produces a wide range of furniture closers, which allows you to choose the optimal device for any consumer. Depending on the type and model, the cost of products can vary from 150 rubles to 1,500 rubles;
The German company Vauth Sagel is a recognized world leader. The company specializes in the production of systems with drawer closers. The excellent quality of the fittings allows you to use the devices in any conditions. The only significant drawback is the high cost (up to 2,500 rubles);
German company Agoform. It produces high-quality furniture fittings at a relatively low price (from 200 rubles).

Conclusion

The kitchen closer has long moved from the category of luxury to the sector of mandatory fittings. Based on the recommendations given above and the tips in the video in this article, you can now easily select and install this hardware yourself. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

When choosing a door closer for kitchen cabinets, it is advisable to give preference to adjustable models.

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April 6, 2022

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