How to Layout Gas Springs on Metal Cabinets

Installing gas springs on metal cabinets is an excellent way to make the doors open and close smoothly with little effort. Gas springs counterbalance the weight of the door so that it opens slowly and gently when unlatched. They also prevent the doors from slamming shut or drooping open.

With some simple tools and proper planning, you can install gas springs yourself on new or existing cabinets. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to layout gas springs for metal cabinets for smooth and easy operation.

Choosing the Right Gas Springs

The first step is selecting the appropriate gas springs for your cabinet doors. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Door weight – The gas spring must be rated to handle the weight of your particular cabinet door. Estimate the door weight by measuring it and multiplying length x width x thickness x material density.
• Door size – The gas spring stroke length should match how far your door opens. Standard stroke lengths are 2″, 3″, 4″. Measure open door angle and calculate needed stroke.
• Mounting style – Gas springs come in different mounting styles like ball stud, threaded stud, pin type. Choose one that fits your installation location.
• Force rating – The gas spring force (lbs or N) should be 20-50% more than actual door weight for good control. Don’t use too much force.
• Brand – Reputable brands like SUSPA, Dictator, AVM ensure consistent high quality and long product life.

Once you know the specifications needed, search online or at hardware stores for gas springs matching those criteria. Purchase high quality units from reputable brands.

Mounting Location Basics

Proper gas spring mounting location is critical for correct door control and smooth motion. Follow these basic principles:

• Mount near top and bottom of the door to distribute load evenly.
• Position in line with door pivot axis for optimal effectiveness.
• Keep stroke fully compressed when door is closed and fully extended when open.
• Ensure mounting plates are rigid and robust enough. Use backing plates if needed.
• Allow 2-3 inches of clearance for full extension and compression.
• Orient the gas spring body horizontally or with piston rod facing down.

Take measurements and use a template or cardboard mock-up to visualize the mounting locations before drilling and installing.

Mounting the Gas Springs

Follow these steps to mount the gas springs properly:

Prepare the Door

• Remove door from cabinet and lay it on a flat surface for easy access.
• Check inner door surface for any dirt, grease. Clean it thoroughly for good adhesion.
• Determine and mark the exact mounting hole locations per your measurements.

Drill Holes

• At the marked locations, drill holes slightly larger than the gas spring stud diameter. Clean up any burrs.
• For threaded stud type, drill appropriate clearance hole for threads. For ball stud type, drill ball socket diameter hole.
• Place masking tape on drill entry side to prevent scratching door surface during drilling.
• Optional: Widen holes on inner surface so that stud heads can recess flush.

Mount Gas Springs

• Extend each gas spring fully and insert stud end into its hole in door inner surface.
• On other side, slide washer and nut over exposed stud and tighten down securely.
• For ball stud type, place socket over ball and attach retaining clip or circclip securely.
• Ensure stroke is aligned with door pivot axis when fully retracted. Adjust if required.
• Verify smooth motion from fully closed to fully open positions. Adjust mounting if needed.
• Use threadlock for added security on threaded connections. Avoid over tightening.

Finish Installation

• Clean up all metal debris, dust andfingerprints from drilling and installation.
• Touch up any scratches or damage to visible surfaces using appropriate paint.
• Reinstall door on cabinet and test operation repeatedly to verify smooth motion.
• Make any final adjustments to spring force, positions for optimal door control.

Following these steps properly will result in perfectly controlled doors that open smoothly with minimum effort!

Helpful Tips for Gas Spring Cabinet Doors

Here are some additional pointers to keep in mind:

• Use fixed cabinets for gas springs. They don’t work well on movable cabinets.
• Adjustable gas springs allow tweaking spring force if needed after installation.
• Extend stroke length by adding spacer washers between spring and mounting surface.
• Lubricate studs periodically with silicone spray for smooth piston rod motion.
• Open doors fully at least once a week to keep gas charged and springs working optimally.
• Replace gas springs if they start to lose force or don’t open fully after a few years.
• When removing doors, detach gas springs so they are not overextended.

Proper layout and mounting of gas springs will lead to many years of smooth and practically effortless operation of your cabinet doors. Just follow the guidelines given above. Let us know if you have any other questions!

Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Spring Cabinet Doors

Here are answers to some common questions about installing and using gas springs on metal cabinet doors:

How are gas springs better than regular springs?

Gas springs provide consistent force through the entire stroke as the gas compresses and expands. Regular springs exert maximum force when fully compressed. Gas springs also dampen motion for controlled opening and closing.

Can I adjust gas spring force after installation?

Some gas springs come with adjustable valves that let you tweak the force by turning with an allen key. This allows fine tuning the spring force after installation if needed.

How long do gas springs last in normal use?

High quality gas springs from reputable brands will easily last over 25,000-50,000 open/close cycles if used properly. This translates to 5-10 years of typical everyday household usage.

Should gas spring force be more than door weight?

Yes, the gas spring force rating should be 20-50% more than the actual door weight. This provides a smooth and controlled motion when opening the door. Too much extra force can slam it open harshly.

Why do my doors droop or drift down sometimes?

This indicates that the gas spring force is too low for the door weight. Replace the springs with ones rated for 20% higher weight capacity to prevent drooping.

How do I know if a gas spring needs replacing?

Signs that a gas spring needs replacement are doors feeling heavy or needing to be pulled open, slow or uneven opening motion, doors drifting down when left open, and loss of damping out of the open position.

Can I use one long gas spring rather than two smaller ones?

It is better to use two shorter gas springs, one near the top and bottom of the door rather than one long one. This provides stability, even weight distribution and less leverage flexing the door itself.

Conclusion

Installing gas springs on metal cabinets for the doors is an easy DIY upgrade that makes operating the doors practically effortless. By selecting the proper strength gas springs, mounting them at the right locations, and following the installation guidelines, you can add this convenience to your cabinets. periodically lubricate and check the gas springs to keep them working perfectly for many years. With buttery smooth cabinet doors, your kitchen experience is made much more enjoyable.