question about kitchen wall cabinets - fixing to wall

[benpost]

they are the standard ones with a plastic thing that screws into the top corners from the inside, and has 2 screws for adjustment. the sticking out bit is right next to the side panels of the cabinet. my question is, do you have to position the wall brackets exactly, so that they will not get in the way when you adjust the cabinet position back against the wall. ie level it up, bring the top into the wall instead of sticking out. this seems strange to me as it would be hanging the cabinets on the outside edge of the brackets.

if anyone know what im talking about please reply!

[George]

Are you talking about the the type bracket that is affixed to the wall...its about 1.3/4" long by about an 1" wide and has two securing holes were its fixed by screws? If so it needs to be fixed about 1mm away from the cupboard corner sides.

[George]

This type?

[George]

code 96483

[Rod]

I think you mean fixings similar to these:

They are called "cabinet suspension fittings". Most of the ones I have fitted have been, as you describe, very close to the end of the wall plate. So, yes, they do have to be pretty accurately mounted (at least, in the left/right direction).

The link shows a type that has separate Left and Right parts. On these, the bit that "hangs" on the wall plate is slightly offset so would usually attach several millimetres along from the end. This means that there is a little more tolerance of inaccuarate wall fixing.

In reality, I have not found it difficult to mount the wall plates sufficiently accurately but I am sure that depends at least partly on the walls. Nice, true, easy to drill - not a problem.

[benpost]

hi - yes they are the ones. the problem is do the wall brackets have to fit inside the side panels see this crappy drawing i did:

the brackets have to be in this position - so that when you use the adjuster screw and pull the top of the cabinet back into the wall (so that the whole thing is level and not tilted), the side panels do not hit the brackets and stop it coming back all the way to the wall? the plywood back of the cabinet sits recessed to the side panels....

[George]

do the brackets have to be in this position - so that when you use the

Thats the way, they have to sit inside the sides of the cabinet sides.

[benpost]

thanks george, glad you understand my question! it just seems a bit strange why the brackets are so wide when its only possible for the hook thing to sit a bit right at the end.

also regarding the height, i've got my s/s splashback and chimney sitting above it. should i aim to have the top of the chimney hood in- line with the top of the wall cabinets?

[Rod]

do the brackets have to be in this position - so that when you use the

Yes - they do. Yes - it is "odd". That is why I prefer the ones I linked to! :-)

If you didn't do this, the cupboard could never sit flat against the wall and, assuming the wall is truly vertical, the cupboard front would lean out.

Of course, if you could sink the wall plates into the wall by their total thickness, you would be able to fit them so that their outer edges were behind the cupboard edge.

Or you could place a small piece of, say, hardboard under the cupboard part as you fit them. That would give you 3 or 4 mm extra to play with. (Be careful about how much of the screw is in the cupboard wall. You might have to use the next screw size up.)

[benpost]

thanks for the tips, now i know the theory i will have a go at fitting them correctly and lining them up in the next few days!!

[The Medway Handyman]

These are standard with most kitchen units, the plasitc fitting has a two pronged 'claw' that hooks over the brackets. All the units I've fitted had instructions with the right measurements & offsets. You have about 6mm sideways play each side and about the same up & down.

Essentially they need to go just inside the side panels. Turn the adjusting screws so that the claws protrude as much as possible, hook the cabinet over the brackets, then turn the screws so its pulled back almost flush with the wall. Use the other adjusting screw to level it, then finally pull it right back to the wall.

[Simon Stroud]

Not quite "finally" (at least on my MFI Schreiber ones) - after you have sorted out the brackets and adjustment, don't forget to whack some sturdy screws through the bottom "rail" into the wall as well!

Regards, Simon.

[The Medway Handyman]

Good advice - assuming the units have a bottom rail - cheaper ones dont.

[benpost]

no i dont think there is a bottom rail. another question, the bottom screw allows the claw to pull in or out, and the top screw seems to just tighten up the claw and reduce play, but what is it meant to do?

[Rod]

Top and bottom screws do not always wrok the same way round.

One will pull the claw in/let it out. That is, moves the cupboard in the horizontal plane.

One will pull the screw down/let it go up. That is, moves the cupboard in the vertical plane parallel to the wall. Often the claw will not move if you do this when holding the bracket in your hand. Try pushing upwards against tha claw to see what happens.

[benpost]

thanks i'm pretty sure i can now complete the job. cheers guys