replacing Blum drawer-front adjuster?

10 years ago

I posted this in Woodworking as well--sorry if that's confusing, to have two posts on That home Site/Houzz with the same topic, but I'm thinking there might be a different crew of people.

My drawer fronts are attached to the box w/ the Blum drawer-front adjuster.
http://woodworker.com/drawer-front-adjusters-mssu-135-992.asp

Two of them are broken; one cracked, and the metal part inside slips out; the other one (I think) came out of the wooden drawer front.

I can buy the adjusters; but is it possible to replace them?

http://www.amazon.com/Blum-Drawer-Front-Adjuster/dp/B0006HFBGU

I don't know if they're simply hammered into the holes, and held in place by the pressure, as a nail is. (it doesn't look like they screw in)
If that's the case, is it possible to get them out of the hole and put a new one in the same hole?

Any advice?

(I suppose I could try to find a cabinetmaker and see if they'd drill a new hole in the drawer front and the drawer box, in a new position...)

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Comments (3)

PRO
Spaceform Design Build Interiors
10 years ago
talley_Sue, hopefully not too late. You should be able to replace them. Typically they are just knocked in with out fasteners or adhesive. They would be difficult to just pry out from the center as there is no room for movement. Being that you seem to be pretty handy, I would recommend taking a couple of nails and tap in at two opposite sides into the wood at edge of adjuster and start to pry up with equal pressure. Keep prying until it comes out or you can grab the adjuster with pliers. Hope this helps, Tony
User
10 years ago
don't bother you'll drive yourself nut. - what you need is a brad point drill bit just a bit smaller than the diameter of plastic plug which is 20 mm.

3/4" ought to be easy enough to find and you can just eat away the plastic plug with a battery drill.
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PRO
Spaceform Design Build Interiors
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
xedos, IMO that's bad advise. For the following reasons. For the homeowner/non professional it would be best to suggest something with tools and methods most likely on hand and least chance of damage and or injury. 1st a 3/4" brad point drill bit is not a common item for a homeowner. I don't even have one. Instead I have a 3/4" Forstner bit. Your drill method poses many potential problems. It can be dangerous in inexperienced hands, you would absolutely need to clamp the drawer front down before drilling. There is a real potential with that type of bit and non solid uniform plastic to get a kick back/wrist twist if it grabs the plastic/metal unevenly (i.e."just eat away the plastic"). Also the center hole of the Blum adjuster is too wide for the center of the brad point to even work. The bit will swim around making the situation even worse. Then there is the issue of accidentally drilling through the drawer front and into the surface underneath.

Rather than two nails as I suggested, two thin blade regular screw drivers should work. Far less time, expense and risk of damage/injury.