side mounted vs undermounted soft close drawer runners

[simo.b]

Good Morning
I'm building a 60cm width 4 drawer cabinet for a kitchen, mainly for storing lightweight cutlery and utensils and would appreciate some advice on choosing the drawer runners. Ideally I'd like to have these as soft closers.

The Blum tandem ones look great and get the thumbs up in all my searches but seem to need much more accuracy when building the drawer. In particular, I note that the max side wall width is 16mm. I was hoping to build these out of 18mm birch ply, so it would mean rebating the lower edge of the side walls in addition to all the other precise work involved.

All the web searches tend to favour the more expensive blum tandem undermounts, but I've also seen soft close side mounted versions as well from Screwfix and IronMongeryDirect etc.

Are these any good ?

 

[chippy1970]

I use blum tandem runners . I normally use m&d online, much cheaper than anyone for blum and next day delivery.

You can get 30kg or 50kg runners and don't forget to add the locking devices to your basket. You can get a jig for drilling two 6mm holes in the drawer rear and some holes for the screws on the front for the locking devices. You don't really need one if you're just doing a few.

Download the tandem pdf from blum it gives you measurements.

The drawers I just made are 18mm thick and worked fine. You just have to trim the inside of the sides on the underneath which doesn't show. I trimmed 2mm off so it was then like having 16mm sides.

 

[simo.b]

Thanks for the advice. Great looking work.

You just have to trim the inside of the sides on the underneath which doesn't show. I trimmed 2mm off so it was then like having 16mm sides.

I had come to the conclusion that was the best way to proceed.

And did you use a butt joint for the drawer construction ?

 

[chippy1970]

Here you go I've done a quick sketchup. This is a drawer viewed from the rear and the red bit is the bit you need to reduce on both sides. I butt jointed with domino tenons.

If you have time can I get your votes today and tomorrow below thanks

http://www.festool-sysrock.co.uk/?m=28

 

[simo.b]

got it, thanks for the help

 

[chippy1970]

got it, thanks for the help

No worries good luck with the drawers