What is the difference between soft close and self close drawer slides?

Author: Mrs. Rhea Lynch  |  Last update: Sunday, June 19, 2022

The "self" element means that the hinge or slide has a built-in element that pulls the drawer or door closed, sometimes with a tap or bang. "Soft"-closing means just that it glides.

Are soft close and self close drawer slides the same?

Generally speaking, the terms "soft close" and "self close" drawer glides are interchangeable. The feature stops drawers from slamming, and gently pulls drawers closed the last few inches. This pulling motion is where the "self close" term comes from. Soft close or self close drawers are a kitchen feature many request.

What are soft self close drawers?

Soft-close -- just as the name says -- closes softly when the drawer is pushed back on the slide. The self-closing drawer, on the other hand, shuts with more conviction. It glides back on the slide, then shuts quickly and firmly.

Do I need soft close drawer slides?

Soft close hinges are a must for all drawers in environments where children our present. And it's not just safer for the kids. The soft close feature extends the life of your cabinet or drawers by protecting them from blunt force trauma. It puts minimal stress on the hinges, drawer rails and drawer stops.

Are soft close slides worth it?

They lessen the stress on the hinges and hinge plates over the years. In turn, you will extend the life of your beautiful new kitchen cabinets. If you're going to spend a little extra money on a new kitchen, adding soft close hinges is definitely something you should consider.

Soft close vs self close

Can I convert my drawers to soft close?

It is absolutely possible to convert existing kitchen drawers into a soft close upgrade. Rather than purchasing an entirely new set of drawers, you can simply buy and install the hardware alone. This way, you can keep the paint and style of your current set of kitchen drawers.

What are soft close slides?

Soft close is a premium feature that is available on certain types of drawer slides. It allows drawers to close silently and smoothly. When you close a drawer or cabinet with this feature, just before it's completely shut, the soft close mechanism takes over and closes the drawer or cabinet the rest of the way.

What is a soft close?

A soft close is defined as closing the books using an abbreviated closing procedure. By using a soft close, the accounting department can issue financial statements very quickly and then return to its normal day-to-day activities.

Are soft close drawers hard to open?

Soft close drawers can often be difficult to open, and this comes with the technology. However, there are sometimes other issues that can make it even more difficult. If you are having trouble with your soft close drawers, these steps should make things quite a bit easier on you.

What are soft closing cabinets?

Soft-close cabinets use a special type of hinge system that slows the cabinet door as it's closed. Doors with soft-close hinges will never slam shut. If you've never tried soft-close cabinets, it can be a strange feeling, at first. You don't have to be careful about slamming cabinet doors.

How do soft close hinges work?

How Do Soft Close Hinges Work? Soft close hinges have a mechanical device built into the hinge that prevents a cabinet door from slamming. It slows down the door and shuts it 'soft'. These devices are also sometimes called self closing hinges.

How can you tell if a slide is Accuride?

With Accuride slides, you'll notice the embossing on the inside of the slides. These embossing are for production date only and do not provide any information the type of slide but is there for traceability.

Are Accuride drawer slides good?

These particular drawer slides have been the industry standard in cabinet shops for many years, due to their good quality , reliability and ease of adjustment. There are other less expensive brands on the market that are of good quality such as Beeco and Fulterer.

Are soft close drawers more expensive?

Soft-Close Drawer Slide

The soft-close feature usually costs about $15 to $23 per drawer, plus the cost of the drawer itself.

What is the difference of hard close vs a soft close?

A hard close is more accurate. Flexible accounting and soft closing are more ambiguous during the period the books are left open and more prone to errors when entries are added at a later date. Under hard closing, the books are closed so there is no possibility of future financial data changing the numbers.

Do you need 2 soft close hinges per door?

In general one soft hinge is sufficient on majority of the door and closing habits. Two would provide more dampening and thus you can slam the doors harder with more satisfying effect.

How thick are soft close drawer slides?

Soft-Close Undermount Drawer Slide (Pair) Up to 5/8'' or 3/4'' Material Thickness in Zinc Finish.

Can I put soft close to existing cabinets?

It is possible to convert a cabinet with a soft close to stop the loud noises associated with opening and shutting your cabinets. You can often purchase a small adapter and install it within minutes to fix the problem, but you must know which model to purchase and how to install it.

How do I upgrade my cabinets to soft close?

Attach spacer, by clipping to adapter. Start wood screw through the adapter before placing. Place soft close hinge damper adapter butted up in the top corner of the cabinet against the side wall and top of cabinet. Close the door to see if it closes completely and in the time you desire.

How hard is it to install soft close drawer slides?

Installing soft-close drawer slides is a simple DIY project that only requires a few tools. You will need to clear out the drawer and remove any existing hardware first. New slides are made up of 2 pieces. Screw 1 piece onto the drawer and the other piece onto the cabinet to set up the slide.

Do soft close cabinet hinges wear out?

When a soft-close hinge has stopped working, it's most likely due to one of the screws becoming loose. This will cause the hinge to come out of place or allow the door to sag down. To repair this, all you need to do is find the loose screw and tighten it with a screwdriver.

Do I need soft close hinges?

When drawers and doors are closed in a gently way, it helps minimize stress placed on the cabinet. In addition to this, soft close hinges prevent marks, cracks, and dents from forming on cabinet frames due to slammed doors.

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