Do-it-yourself shock absorber for kitchen furniture

Device and installation

A gas lift is a bracket that raises and lowers the door of a wall cabinet and locks it in the open position. This kitchen mechanism consists of the following elements:

• housing, with nitrogen;
• a rod moving along the body;
• bearings that ensure uniform movement of the rod;
• parts that maintain tightness: bushing, oil seal, boot, sealing element;
• fastening parts.

The rod is attached to the door using all the auxiliary elements. There are different versions. If installed incorrectly, distortions may occur. In this case, not only aesthetics are lost, but also the functional mechanism will not provide its purpose. Before installation, you need to mark the fasteners. The mechanism must match the design of the cabinet. So, if its internal space has a height of 365 mm, then the gas lift should have a length of 355 mm.

When installing a gas lift, the base of the device is fixed in the side of the cabinet in a pre-designated location. The bracket is screwed into the marked location and the elevator head is snapped into the bracket.

In some designs, the base is a plate with a hole, installed on screws in the side so that the center of the hole coincides with the applied mark. Next, the hinge head is inserted into this hole and secured. The plate must not be deformed to avoid malfunction.

Installation on the inner surface of doors is carried out in the same way. The angle of inclination of the hinge should be approximately 8 degrees. The correct direction is checked with the rod extended to its maximum.

How to check the work?

After installing the gas elevator, the surface of the bed is raised and lowered several times to check the operation of the device. When the mechanism is installed correctly, lifting and lowering occurs easily, smoothly, silently, without jamming.

If difficulties arise with operation, the cause should be sought in faulty fittings or installation errors.

The gas shock absorber is simple in appearance, but requires careful attention to installation and operation. It should be installed extremely carefully and competently. Correct installation of the mechanism will allow you to use the furniture for a long time without worrying about safety and reliability.

Choosing a gas lift

When choosing a gas lift, you need to know the weight of the doors on which it will be installed. The heavier the door, the greater the holding force must be. There are mechanisms that are set to automatic mode: when the doors are open, after a certain period of time, the operation occurs and the closing begins. This is convenient when the housewife forgot to close the cabinet, or when they hang very high.

When purchasing a gas lift, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer. The best are German and Italian mechanisms. You can choose Polish options from the available assortment. Recently, Chinese enterprises have also improved their quality. Selection criteria: material of manufacture and the force applied to close the door. A high-quality gas lift will serve for a long time and flawlessly if used correctly; you can order it from the Mebrestavratsiya company.

Types of gas shock absorbers

There are the following types of furniture gas lifts:

1. Direct-acting gas lift, that is, this device works to compress the rod (the rod is in full extension);
2. A reverse-acting gas lift device is triggered by the extension of the rod (the rod is in a recessed state).

Most often, shock absorbers of direct action are used in the manufacture of furniture.

By installing the device in different ranges, it is possible to ensure that the door opens at different angles. This is especially true for cabinets that are located very high, or, conversely, low.

What are the main advantages of using gas elevators over other fastening fittings?

1. Firstly, gas furniture lifts use compressed nitrogen, which does not lead to corrosion of the device, unlike ordinary oxygen. In addition, nitrogen is not capable of damaging the rubber parts of the shock absorber. We can say that this gas greatly extends the service life of the elevator.
2. Secondly, using such lifts you can ensure smooth closing of doors even in budget furniture.
3. Thirdly, modern hardware manufacturers have launched shock absorbers on the market, the installation of which does not require the use of any tools.
4. Fourthly, the large selection of loads that can be used when installing lifts on cabinet fronts allows you to choose the most suitable fittings to open the door silently and with minimal effort.
5. Fifthly, gas furniture shock absorbers have a fairly wide temperature range, thanks to which they can be used in any room.
6. Sixthly, the material used to make gas lifts (steel) makes these devices reliable and strong.
7. Seventhly, the warranty period for these fittings is from ten to one hundred thousand closing and opening cycles, which indicates the high quality of these lifts.

Repair of gas lift for kitchen furniture

The gas lift is a sealed structure. Gas is pumped into the cylinder of the mechanism during manufacture. This device cannot be repaired, so you should not open it yourself. The entire system is under pressure. If the seal is lost, the gas lift will not cope with its functions. To avoid unpleasant phenomena, it is better to invite a specialist for repairs. A sealed system may even explode.

However, there are minor defects during operation: gas lift fastenings may become loose during operation. The doors begin to creak when opened. To eliminate the defect you need to tighten them. Another option for getting rid of an unpleasant squeak: lubricating the parts. In conclusion, it should be noted that the gas lift must be treated very carefully, since the mechanism cannot be repaired, and if it breaks down, you will have to throw out the expensive device and install a new one.

Specifications

Gas lifts are unique mechanisms that are used in various fields. Almost all types of systems work on the same principle.

Several technical parameters of these systems should be highlighted:

• The gas lift can be compressed by physical force.
• The systems can operate at temperatures from -30 to +80 degrees. But this characteristic affects the power of the device. A change in temperature of 10 degrees will result in a decrease in this indicator by 3%.
• The operation of the gas lift should not include its movement to top dead center. This can quickly damage the system. Therefore, it is very important to install this structure correctly.
• The rod can move at a maximum speed of up to 300 mm/s. In this case, the pressure inside the cylinder does not exceed 160 bar.

Gas lift device

A bracket used to raise or lower a drawer door and fix it in this position is called a gas lift. The gas lift mechanism for the kitchen shown in the photo includes:

• a housing filled with gas, most often nitrogen;
• rod moving in the body;
• sliding bearings ensuring uniformity and smooth movement of the rod;
• components that ensure the tightness of the structure: bushing, oil seal, boot, seal.

There are fasteners in the body and at the end of the rod. With their help, the body is attached to the inner surface of the furniture wall, and the rod is attached to the door. A different design is possible, but the principle of operation remains the same everywhere.

The main advantage of such fittings is its reliability, durability and aesthetics. These qualities explain why gas lifts for kitchens have become so popular lately. How to install it is well known to any furniture assembler. To do this you will need: a ruler, a screwdriver, a screwdriver and a drill. The gas lift lifting mechanism for the kitchen is attached using a spring bracket, which allows you to simply snap the mechanism or plates onto it, fastening to it using screws.

The upper end of the gas lift is fixed on the side wall of the inside of the cabinet at a distance of 29 mm from the bottom edge of the top shelf and 37 mm from the edge of the side wall. The length of the gas lift is determined by the dimensions of the furniture as follows: when the door is opened downwards, with the upper part reinforced as described above, the lower part is attached to the door at the following distance from its inner end:

• with an internal cabinet height of 190 mm - 50 mm;
• at a height of 264 mm - 84 mm;
• at a height of 365 mm - 128 mm.
• Thus, in the first case, the length of the entire bracket when open is 164, in the second - 244, in the third - 355 mm.

Do-it-yourself gas bed lift repair

Modern double beds are most often equipped with a lifting mechanism.

This system is called a gas lift; it ensures a smooth lifting of the bed along with the mattress into a vertical position. This feature of the beds makes it possible to remove them if necessary, which significantly saves space during the day. If the bed is in the bedroom, then with the help of such a mechanism access to the linen drawer is provided.

Cautions

Installing kitchen furniture fittings is a responsible process. It's not just that improperly installed lifts will cause doors to open and close incorrectly and unevenly, kitchen cabinets store fragile and expensive items.

Incorrectly assembled furniture can lead to broken dishes and injury. A person unfamiliar with this work and without the necessary tools will have a hard time. That is why, to install and repair furniture in the kitchen, it is always better to use the services of specialists who have the necessary knowledge and skills in this field and own all the necessary tools.

How to repair it yourself

If the gas lift has stopped working and the mechanism needs to be repaired, to do this it is necessary to establish the true cause of the breakdown.

1. First of all, you need to pay attention to the weight of the structure, since with a small load the mechanism will not work. The spring is compressed in the structure only under full load conditions.
2. Elimination of errors made during the assembly process is carried out by dismantling the entire structure. Re-installation is carried out taking into account the correct selection (adjustment) of parts to each other.
3. The quality of the fittings influences the good functionality of the bed. Therefore, for gas lift installation, it is better to purchase spare parts from trusted manufacturers.

Important! When installing and repairing, you should use the manufacturer's instructions.

In order to make repairs yourself, certain skills and knowledge are required, the absence of which can lead to poor quality work. To ensure that basic repairs do not spontaneously become major repairs, you need to contact experienced craftsmen to do the repairs.

Types of gas lifts

Let us highlight three main characteristics by which gas elevators can be classified:

Depending on the power load

The lifting force of gas shock absorbers is determined in Newtons, which you can see by the markings on the gas lift body. In order for this value to be understandable and tangible, the following correspondence is given: to lift a facade weighing 1 kg, a lifting force of 10 Newtons will be required.

It turns out that if the lift says 60 N, then it will lift the facade 6 kg, and even in one copy. But the reality turned out to be different, as we will show in our video at the bottom of the article.

For kitchen furniture you can find lifts from 50N to 140N, although the upper and lower load limits are sold much less frequently due to low demand.

Sellers and manufacturers provide interesting plates on the selection and calculation of gas lifts , we will provide them for you.

Selection of gas lift depending on the size of the facade

The first table, in fact, there are a lot of variations of such tables, shows how you can choose a gas elevator depending on the width and height of the facade.

In our version, the width of the facade is 800 mm and the height is 400 mm. It turns out that we need to install two gas lifts at 80 N. We installed two gas lifts at 60 N, and there were no problems with fixing the facade in the upper position.

In the second cabinet of the same size in height and width, we decided to install a shelf and reduced the size of the section in height so that only a mini gas lift could be installed. To raise the façade, we also used two 60N gas lifts, but only of a smaller size. But in the end, the power of the gas lifts was not enough and the facade lowered and did not lock in the upper position.

Here the way out of this situation is obvious - to cut the shelf in depth so that it does not interfere with the installation of a standard-sized gas lift, or to buy much more powerful mini gas lifts, if there are any. And why this happens, perhaps the formula for calculating the force of a gas elevator will give us the answer.

Gas elevator force calculation

For our cabinet, the gas lift calculation will be as follows:

With standard gas lifts:

F1 = 3.5*0.2/2*0.08+15%=4.4+15%=4.4+0.66=5.06 kg

With mini gas lifts:

F1 = 3.5*0.2/2*0.05+15%=7+15%=7+1.05=8.05 kg

So, from the calculation we get that for a cabinet 800 mm wide and 400 mm high with a facade made of MDF 16 mm thick and weighing about 3.5 kg, gas lifts with a lifting force of about 50 N (5.06 kg * 9.8 m/s2) are suitable = 49.6 N), we have 60 N, which exceeds the calculated one.

In the second option, the value of L - the distance from the center of the axis to the gas lift attachment point is equal to 0.05 m and with this value we need gas lifts with a lifting force of about 80 N (8.05 kg * 9.8 m/s2 = 78.9 N), we We used mini gas lifts 60 N and they really no longer fix the façade in the upper position.

The conclusion is that both schemes for selecting gas lifts are suitable, although for mini gas lifts it may be necessary to shift towards gas lifts with a higher power load.

What will happen if you install gas lifts of obviously higher power?

Yes, but really, what will happen? We were once visiting a friend and noticed that the facades on the gas lifts were skewed.

It turned out that the owner of the kitchen bought gas lifts with greater power than previously, and so much more that it became difficult to open the facades. I found a way out: I left one gas lift per cabinet, everything would have been fine, but the facades began to warp. In addition, the counter strips from the hinges began to gradually break out of the horizontal lines.

The conclusion is obvious - carefully select gas lifts according to the power load so that the facades do not fall down when opening or, on the contrary, open with difficulty.

Gas lift dimensions

As you already understood from the previous section, there are standard size gas lifts, and there are mini gas lifts , which are used if our cabinet is small in height. But the concept of small also has its limit - at least 170 mm on the inside - this is the height distance between the upper and lower horizontals of the cabinet.

Gas lifts by type of action

, direct and reverse gas lifts can be distinguished .

Direct action is the type of lifting of the facade that we are used to, that is, up. The reverse action is that the facade opens downwards, that is, according to the bar principle. Take a closer look at the photo of this gas lift and you will see its difference from an ordinary gas lift.

Repairing broken cabinet hinges

Hinges can often be torn out when they try to open the sash to a greater angle than the hinge design allows.
The same breakdown often occurs in kitchen furniture and bathroom cabinets, where humidity is high and laminated chipboard quickly loses its properties. There is often advice: the places where screws are screwed in can be strengthened by sealing them with a mixture of sawdust and wood glue. In practice, such cabinet door repairs will only help for a short time.

It’s easier to fix the damage permanently, spending about 100 rubles. For the job, purchase a Forstner drill of a suitable diameter. Stepping back about 5 cm from the old hinge hole, drill out a new seat . Mount the hinge and screw its second part to the cabinet wall.

Andrey Peregubsky

Furniture handyman

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Before drilling, carefully measure the distance from the center of the recess to the edge of the door. Work carefully to make a hole of the required depth without drilling through the door.

Another simple repair method is to purchase and install a door hinge that does not require drilling the seat . To work, you will need a screwdriver and self-tapping screws no longer than 15 mm. Close the door, apply the hinge in the folded position, mark the attachment points.

How to install a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet?

Gas lifts are shock-absorbing mechanisms designed for horizontal opening doors. The mechanism refers to brackets. The main essence of the gas lift is depreciation when opening and closing doors and holding them.

The mechanism helps you open and close cabinets effortlessly, and open the doors completely to see what is inside the cabinet.

The gas lift is completely sealed. Nitrogen is pumped during manufacture, so if it breaks during operation it cannot be repaired.

The list of advantages of an elevator can be compiled from the following properties:

• self-regulation of smooth running;
• reliable fixation when open;
• frictional and automatic opening;
• fastening to any furniture material;
• The door opens even without a handle.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main purpose of gas elevators is the correct, free, silent and easy opening of the top drawers of the set, in which the door opens upward. The positive parameters of installing such a device in the kitchen include:

• the doors are always held at the top when they are opened;
• there is no possibility for spontaneous opening of the door;
• installing a gas lift is quite simple, so if you understand the instructions in detail, you can perform the procedure yourself;
• long service life of the structure due to its high-quality design;
• cabinets open without the need to exert significant effort, and there is no unpleasant sound or noise;
• cabinets get rid of unattractive handles, which guarantees a stylish and modern interior;
• Opening the door is incredibly simple, for which you need to press it with your hand with a little force.

If you order such fastenings from special companies, then the same materials that were used to make kitchen furniture can be used to create them.

The disadvantages of the products include their rather high cost, so they are often inaccessible to potential buyers. If they break for any reason, it will be impossible to make repairs due to the sealed housing, so you will only have to replace the structures.

Gas elevator design

It is a structure consisting of the following components made of plastic and metal:

1. Sleeve.
2. Elevator cone.
3. External and internal cavities.
4. Lifting rod.
5. Landing, outer and inner cones.
6. Button.
7. Sealing element.
8. Gas valve.
9. Bearing.
10. Gas bypass channel.

Start of work on installing gas lifts: marking

It’s good that I knew what pitfalls there are in installing such devices. Therefore, along the way, a template for marking was also purchased. When I arrived at the workshop, the furniture makers chuckled, believing that I had not even thought about it, but when they saw the template in their hands, the joy in their eyes diminished.

The work began with markings. It, of course, could have been done without such a plate, but in this case it would have taken a long time to take measurements, and it is not a fact that they would have turned out correct. And so I spent about 5 minutes marking. I even laughed a little at the way their expressions changed. Still, two years of work in a furniture shop was not in vain for me.

Marking using a special template takes a minimum of time

How to properly install a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet?

At the beginning of work, you need to select a tool and make markings, purchase gas lifts and components. Gas lifts are characterized by different parameters and the force at which the spring is compressed. The device must match the size of the furniture. Typically, the dimensions of furniture are standard and there are three main options for gas lifts in size. You need to know the maximum extension of the rod and the length of the folded mechanism.

The compression force is needed when calculating the design for doors of different weights, taking into account the entire coating and fittings. The amount of compression of the spring is standardized and indicated in the technical data sheet of the mechanism, measured in newtons and can be 60, 80, 100 and up to 140 N. Based on the weight of the door, the gas lift is calculated based on a kilogram of door mass per 10 newtons of compression force.

There are many ways to attach. Flat platforms are often used, mounted on the sides of the cabinet with screws and self-tapping screws. Screw-in holders are used for wooden furniture.

What tools will be needed during installation?

You need a set of tools - one is not enough. If you want to install it yourself, you will need:

1. Meter, ruler or tape measure.
2. Hammer and pliers.
3. Drill (preferably electric).
4. Screwdriver or screwdriver (the latter is preferable).

Step 1. Marking before installation

Before installing the device, markings are made in the cabinet niche and calculations necessary for installation are made. The centers of the mounting points are also marked on both sides of the niche and on the door.

Step 2. Installation work

Installing a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet is carried out as follows:

1. First, the bases are fixed to the sides of the cabinet in the places marked earlier.

2. Plates and brackets with springs are installed. The bracket is screwed in and the gas lift head snaps directly onto it.

3. The center of the fastening must coincide with the marked one; the base is fastened in different versions with 3 or 4 screws or self-tapping screws. The head of the structure is fixed in the holes.

Important! If the plate is bent, the elevator does not work.

4. The same steps are taken to secure it to the furniture door. The hinge angle should be 8 degrees.

Gas lift installation diagram

5 installation tips

In connection with mounting the device yourself, we can provide some useful tips:

1. The mechanism must be fixed to the sides of the niche - otherwise the fastening will be skewed.
2. The door in the cabinet must be firmly secured with two additional furniture hinges.
3. It is better to choose elevators with a force of up to 80 Newtons; doors of greater mass are not available in practice.
4. Door fittings must be installed before gas lifts are installed.
5. When installing a kitchen cabinet, it should not hang on the wall.

The upper cabinets are equipped with a gas lift.

Gas lifts are very convenient and expand the functionality of cabinets and other furniture. The low price and the ability to buy and install them yourself from the facade give them advantages over other structures. The disadvantage of the device is the inability to repair an already installed gas lift for the kitchen. There are many videos on the Internet and complete instructions on how to attach the device. You can place it on a cabinet made of any material.

Preparation of tools and materials

To restore the integrity and working condition of the cabinets, you will need a simple set of tools, most of which are in the arsenal of a home craftsman.
For some purposes you will have to buy something in addition. To work you will need :

• screwdriver with a set of bits and drills;
• screwdrivers with straight or Phillips slots;
• tape measure, corner, ruler;
• marker or pencil.

To independently install mortise hinges in laminated chipboard doors, purchase a Forstner drill of the required diameter.

Supplies you will need:

• confirmations (euro screws), self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws;
• hinges and corners of the required size and configuration;
• installation kit for sliding wardrobe;
• guides for drawers.

If necessary, purchase glue and mounting strips.

Sometimes repairs require carpentry tools: a mallet and a chisel.

What is a gas lift and how does it work?

A gas lift for a kitchen façade is a lift consisting of a piston and a cylinder. Its main purpose is to lift and hold doors that open upward at a 90-degree angle. The cylinder contains an inert gas, which creates a shock-absorbing effect, that is, preventing the spring in the lift from sharply compressing and decompressing.

Thanks to this, the doors open smoothly and clearly, eliminating their backlash. As a result, kitchen cabinets will last for a long time and look perfect at the same time. And you can forget about skewed facades (a problem that everyone had to face before) forever. And what’s most convenient is that there is no need to constantly hold it with your hand when opening the cabinet.

When to contact specialists

You need to contact professionals in two cases:

• If there is no desire or time to identify the malfunction using your own resources and resources.
• If you were unable to identify the defect yourself.

With the first option everything is clear. As for the second, we are most likely talking about incorrect distribution of gas in the piston. Its excess or deficiency often leads to problems in work. There are two possibilities here: the base of the bed either lowers too slowly, it has to be pushed down, or it “shoots out,” which can also lead to rapid wear of the part.

It is unlikely that an unprepared person will be able to cope with this problem on his own. To do this, you will need to replace the gas cartridge in the furniture unit using special tools that are available only to repair team workers.

Bed Furniture

Gas lifts for the kitchen - types and features

The design of such systems can be different, depending on their scope of application. Depending on the direction of action, gas lifts can be:

• Direct acting (i.e. compressing the rod). Initially, the rod in such systems is extended to its full length. This system has found wide application in the furniture industry.
• Reverse action. The rod, initially recessed, extends during use; it extends.

Based on the level of pressure in the cylinder, these devices are divided into:

• High pressure. The design of such lifts includes two main elements - a rod and a cylinder, inside of which there is an inert gas. When the rod is immersed in the cylinder, the volume of the latter decreases and the pressure increases.
• Low pressure. It consists of two hollow cylinders containing compressed gas. When a gas is compressed, its volume increases and the pressure level inside the spring increases. The lifespan of a gas lift for a kitchen cabinet of this type is practically unlimited. In addition, their maintenance and adjustment can even be carried out on their own.

Advantages of lift-up beds

Gas lifts are installed in various types of beds. Some models are complex transformable systems. In others, the piston is used only to lift the frame on which the mattress rests.

Several advantages of such products should be highlighted:

Practicality. The space under the bed is perfect for storing things, bed linen, and blankets.

Durability . Gas lifts not only reduce the load on a person, but also protect the bed frame from rapid destruction.

Simplicity. To activate the mechanism, significant effort and special skills are not required. Even a child can do this.

Variety of designs. This type of furniture is very common on the market, which allows you to select products to suit every taste and color. You can find both rectangular-shaped beds and options with a round bed.

Economical. This is achieved due to the fact that the space under the bed can be used as a locker.

Adjustment

After high-quality and correct installation, it is necessary to adjust the correct opening of the facade using a gas lift. It is taken into account that the distance from the top of the wall cabinet to the ceiling of the room must be greater than the dimensions of the door, since it will open upward, so it is not allowed to touch the ceiling.

After installing the structure, the gas lift begins to be adjusted so that the opening and closing of the doors is carried out quite slowly and silently. To do this, the main fastening elements of this product are tightened.

Thus, gas lifts are considered an interesting solution for kitchen cabinets. They have many advantages and are easy to install. Their use significantly increases the service life of the furniture, and it will be really pleasant to use. Constant opening and closing of doors will not cause destruction or damage to the facades or the drawers themselves. The disadvantage is the high cost of gas lifts, but this is due to their high quality, protection of expensive furniture, stylish appearance and long service life.