Gas furniture elevator: installation on furniture, how to install on a kitchen cabinet, fastening to a bed, instructions for installing a gas lift

What is a gas furniture lift?

A gas elevator is a lift that consists of a cylinder and a piston. This mechanism is part of the group of brackets. Its main purpose is to lift the upward-opening element and hold it at a right angle. An inert gas is placed in the cylinder, which creates a shock absorption effect.

This does not allow the spring located in the lift to suddenly and arbitrarily compress or expand.

Note! A gas lift is a sealed structure into which nitrogen is pumped during the production process. For this reason, if the mechanism is damaged it cannot be repaired.

Follow the instructions when installing the gas lift.
The mechanism ensures smooth and precise opening of doors, eliminating backlash. This allows you to create conditions for a long service life of opening elements while maintaining an ideal appearance.

When opening the door upwards, gas lifts must be installed on both sides.

At the same time, when opening the cabinet, there is no need to hold the door, since the position is fixed.

Comparison of the presented accessories

Speaking about the fittings presented in our article, it must be said that gas lifts are especially popular today

It is no coincidence that we paid the most attention to them in this article.

The fact is that these products, in comparison with the other parts considered, have several advantages that are not characteristic of other representatives of this category, namely:

closers can be built into them;
their price remains affordable, and everyone can afford such accessories;
the service life of these products is very long;
Gas lifts are very convenient to operate; they glide smoothly and operate quietly when installed correctly:
The product is quite easy to install yourself, and also dismantle it yourself, if necessary.

Gaslift is a sales leader

Prices for furniture gas lift

Spring, bar and “click-clack” brackets are characterized by low cost and reliability, however, they are inconvenient to use and most often unpleasant due to noise, the need for effort, etc.

Mechanisms with closers, folding ones with remote control, as well as fittings that allow facades to open in a vertical plane - work well, look nice and also last for many years. However, their cost is quite high.

Where is it used?

Gas lifts can be used for:

parts of the kitchen set that are constantly used, when opening and closing must be done silently, without damaging the integrity of the products;
spacious drawers located in the living room, bedroom, hallway and other rooms;
bar facades;
offices where the combination of versatility and style of each element is important;
making poufs.

These mechanisms are quite in demand. They vary in size and shades, depending on their purpose.

How to install a door closer yourself

Installation of complex, expensive shock absorption systems such as electric lifts should be done by professionals. Any home craftsman can handle the installation of simpler and more common structures.

The easiest way is to attach special loop closers to furniture hinges.

The arm or bowl of the hinge must have special grooves, the closer is placed on top and snaps into place.

If the hinges are not suitable for fastening shock-absorbing devices, use cabinet or mortise closers.

Installation of a cabinet closer

The cabinet closer is installed in close proximity to the furniture hinge. Placement in the middle, between the loops, is allowed.

For convenience, remove wall cabinets from the wall. Place the piece of furniture on the floor or table.
Mark where the device will be fixed, put dots in the places of the proposed holes.
Drill holes for the mounting bolts. For self-tapping screws, puncture the surface with an awl.
Screw the base of the closer with self-tapping screws or bolts.
Check if there is any interference when opening and closing the doors.
Hang the cabinet in place.

Surface-mounted body closers can be equipped with a limiter. It is applied to the edge of the part and the device is immediately secured with self-tapping screws without preliminary marking.

Mortise devices

Mortise closers are mounted at the end of the side part of the cabinet opposite the door. For wall cabinets, choose the top or middle part of the part, for floor cabinets - the bottom.

Installation proceeds as follows:

Mark the installation point of the closer at the end of the part. Make a small hole with an awl.
Using a drill corresponding to the length and thickness of the closer rod, drill a hole to the appropriate depth.
Insert the mechanism into the hole.

It is better not to use glue or sealant for fixation. They will create difficulties during dismantling in case of breakdown. The closer will not move or fall out without additional means of fastening.

Gas lift installation

Mark with a pencil the installation locations for equipment fastenings.
Pre-drill holes for mounting bolts. If you use self-tapping screws, you don't need to do this.
Having attached the fasteners to the intended places, secure them with screws or bolts.
Insert the closer mechanism into the fastening holes and click into place.

Existing types of gas elevators

Depending on the application, the design of gas lifts varies. According to the direction of action they are:

Direct action. In such systems, the initial position of the rod is to be extended to its full length. The direct action system is widely used in furniture manufacturing.
Reverse action. Here, the initial position of the rod is recessed, but during operation it extends.

There are 3 positions of the facade when open - 90°, 70°, 110° relative to the side of the cabinet.
According to the level of pressure in the cylinder, devices can be:

High pressure. These lifters consist of a rod and a cylinder filled with nitrogen. When the rod enters the cylinder, the volume of the latter is reduced, and the pressure in it increases.
Low pressure. This design consists of a pair of hollow cylinders filled with compressed nitrogen. During compression, the volume of gas increases, and the pressure inside the spring increases.

Note! The lifespan of the low-pressure mechanism is almost unlimited, and its adjustment and maintenance can be done independently.

Gas lifts can come in different sizes.
According to the design of the mechanism, gas lifts for furniture are:

Frictional (step-by-step). This is the simplest option that operates when the door is opened. In order for the sash to open independently and lock at the required level, you need to pull it a little. A similar force should be applied to close the door, after which the mechanism will lower the door.
Automatic. These are mechanisms of more modern and effective technology, making the furniture very comfortable to use. To open the sash, you need to lightly press it. After a fixed time, the door will close automatically.

Gas lifts are blocked as follows:

Standard (elastic). The system is blocked at a specific point along the movement of the piston.
Note! This mechanism allows for the possibility of voluntary movement.
Ambivalent. They are elastic when pressed in and rigid when pulled out.
Combined. Such locks can firmly fix the device in both directions. In this case, spontaneous displacement of the spring is excluded.

What is a kitchen gas lift?

Gas elevators used in kitchen furniture are in the form of a lifting mechanism, the main function of which is to hold and open cabinet doors. Thanks to the gas dumbwaiter, the doors of wall cabinets can open upward without any extra effort
. This device is widely used in furniture production due to the following advantages:

Reliable fixation of the open door in the upper position. Due to this, you can open several cabinets at once with one effort;
Smooth door opening with the ability to independently adjust the mechanism;
Complete absence of noise during operation of the mechanisms
;
There is no need to install handles on the doors;
The mechanism is activated by light pressure of the hand.

The operation of this device is based on a fairly simple principle, ensured by the operation of a gas spring and a hydraulic shock absorber.

When the door moves relative to the initial position by 10°, the furniture gas lift mechanism is activated, which automatically opens the door to a working radius of 90°. The door control mechanism itself has a complex structure and includes the following elements:

cylindrical body;
piston;
bushing;
valve;
stock;
plain bearings;
stuffing box;
anther;
compaction

Thanks to a well-thought-out design, the cylinder is completely sealed

, which is filled with nitrogen in the manufacturer’s workshops, providing the required pressure at the moment of clamping.
The device has a non-demountable design, so it cannot be repaired. The installation of a furniture gas lift begins with preparing a set of tools and making markings for precise fastening.

Installation Rules

Before installing a gas elevator, the following features should be considered:

It is worth installing two gas lifts on one front so that when opening there is no great tension, which can cause distortion;
due to the high level of liquid, using gas elevators with a force of 100 Newton is in most cases impractical;
Note! This mechanism is suitable for installation on large and massive doors.
adjustment of the front with the lifting mechanism is carried out by hinges securing it to the box;
the assembly of the box in which the fittings will be mounted must be preceded by the installation of fasteners;
by moving the installation location of the fasteners to the front part of the side, you can increase the angle at which the door will open;
Installation of automatic elements requires strict adherence to instructions.

Trust a professional to install gas lifts.

Preparing the necessary tools

For installation you will need the following tools:

ruler, meter or tape measure;
hammer;
drill (preferably electric);
pliers;
screwdriver or screwdriver.

When installing furniture connecting elements, it is convenient to use a drill using a special drill.

Marking before installation

Before installing a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet, it is necessary to make markings in the niche, as well as calculations for accurate installation. It is worth marking the centers for the mounting points on the door and on the sides of the niche.

Before installation, try on the gas lift several times.

First of all, you should check the suitability of the equipment. For example, for a cabinet with a height of 365 mm, a gas lift measuring 355 mm will be required. The marking order is as follows:

Mark the middle of the fastening on the sides. To do this, measure 37 mm from the front side of the sidewall, and 366 mm from the inside of the top cover.
Mark the center of the fastening on the sash. To do this, measure a segment from the side end equal to the height of the fastening on the side of the cabinet, usually 19 mm, and from the top cut - 128 mm.

Use detailed instructions for installing a gas lift.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Instructions for installing a furniture gas lift on a kitchen cabinet are as follows:

Attach the bases to the sides in the marked places.
Install brackets with springs and plates. The brackets should be screwed in and the elevator heads will snap right onto them.
Attach the center of the fastening so that it coincides with the markings. The base is secured with three or four screws or self-tapping screws. In this case, the head of the structure must be fixed in the holes.
Important! If the plate is bent, the mechanism will not work.
Carry out similar actions, securing the gas lift to the door. In this case, you should achieve a hinge angle of 8°.

The bed can also be equipped with gas lift.
The procedure for installing the mechanism on the bed is as follows:

Drill three holes at the markings (14-15 cm from the edge, at the height of the legs).
Secure the lower part of the mechanism with bolts.
Attach the corner of the device to the frame of the structure.
Lower the base of the mechanism deep into the frame and mark four holes on each side. In this case, future attachment points must correspond to the bottom bar of the device.
Open the frame and drill holes.
Secure the top bar so that there is a gap between the box and the frame for the full functioning of the mechanism.

Gas lift allows you to make the bed multifunctional.

Adjustment

When adjusting, it should be taken into account that the distance from the ceiling to the top of the cabinet must exceed the dimensions of the door, since it will open upward and it should not touch the ceiling.

The door can close silently.

The adjustment allows for slow and silent operation of the doors. To do this, you need to tighten the basic fastening elements of the product.

Additional advice from experts on installing cabinet fasteners

Vibrations of the drill at the beginning of drilling can be eliminated by first punching a small hole with a punch.
To prevent the wall from crumbling, reduce the diameter of the drill.
The depth of the hole is controlled using a mark on the drill.
Before drilling, determine the location of the electrical wiring.

Having chosen the fastening option, taking into account the strength and material of the walls in the room, having prepared the place and tools, you can safely get to work.

Previous entry How to properly install and secure the Mauerlat Next entry Methods of fastening wall panels

What are the criteria for choosing a gas elevator?

When choosing a gas lift, you should take into account the size of the sash and the spring compression force. The higher the door, the longer the lift is required and the larger the body will be. When calculating the spring force, keep in mind that for a load of 1 kg, 10 Newton is required.

Note! The required force can be calculated by weighing the sash.

On the modern market there are elevators with an installed force from 60 to 140 Newton. If you know the weight, choosing an elevator will not be difficult.

You are able to install the lifting mechanism without unnecessary holes.

The mechanisms can have either an automatic or step-by-step design. In the first option, the doors open when you press a button, and close automatically, that is, the furniture is equipped with an electric drive. The second option features a classic mechanism with a handle.

Materials used

To make a damper, you can use different materials that have certain performance characteristics.

But to ensure a long service life, silent operation and decent functionality, the optimal solution is the use of rubber and silicone.

Rubber MD. Such products are structurally mortise elements that are mounted on areas of constant collision of two surfaces. A striking example is installation on the end side of a shelf, which is closed by a door. Rubber MDs absorb shock, dampen impacts, and additionally serve as seals for rebates on facades;
Silicone dampers. If we talk about the silicone version, then in fact it is an ordinary circle, characterized by increased softness. There is an adhesive surface on one side of the silicone fittings. It is used for installation. Silicone shock absorbers are made in different colors, which allows you to ideally combine this element with already purchased furniture. Separately, it is worth noting the protection function for children who may accidentally press their fingers against doors and drawers.

Rubber and silicone shock absorbers, or dampers, last a long time. But sometimes they break, fly off and get lost. In such a situation, there is nothing difficult to purchase new MDs and install them yourself. The price is very affordable, and the benefits are incomparable.

Popular manufacturers and best models

The most popular manufacturers of gas lifts are the following:

Bloom. The company's best product is the Aventos mechanism. It ensures smooth, silent and easy closing of even massive and folding kitchen fronts. The company offers a wide range of products, which makes it possible to choose a mechanism for any furniture. Different types of lifting mechanisms are produced - vertical, folding, rotary, folding, small rotary. Their service life is at least 20 years.
Grass Kinvaro. Its products are distinguished by durability and quality. The company's products are silent, compact and easy to use. The company is considered a leader in the production of vertical gas lifts.
HAFELE. The company specializes in the production of rotary mechanisms, which are multifunctional sets of parts for forming high-quality and reliable hanging cabinets. The brand has developed and produces mechanisms used for corner pull-out shelves.

Installing a gas lift on a kitchen cabinet or bed is a practical solution that allows you to increase the comfort of using furniture. Despite the rather complex mechanism, installation of the structure is not difficult, and with careful work you can get a reliable device.

Adjustable awnings for kitchen cabinets ↑

Adjustable hangers for kitchen cabinets are used when installing furniture sets both in problem rooms with curved walls and in rooms with perfectly flat surfaces.

Easy installation by one person - furniture hangers are easy to use; even a beginner in furniture production can handle installing upper cabinets on adjustable eyes.
Wide range of adjustment of hanging cabinets in several directions (horizontal and vertical alignment) relative to walls, ceilings and adjacent cabinets.
Possibility of adjusting the cabinet while hanging - there is no need to remove and put furniture on the suspension again.
Reliable fixation of the kitchen drawer by fastening all adjustable awnings to a single metal strip - in the event of loosening of several fastening elements, the solidity of the structure is ensured by self-tapping screws holding adjacent cabinets.
Installation of adjustable awnings can be done in close proximity to the ceiling or kitchen apron (installation directly on the tiles).
Aesthetic component - furniture hangers are equipped with a plastic cover made in several basic shades: light brown, black, white, red, dark brown, beige, gray.

Adjustable canopy - appearance, colors

One adjustable hanger can support up to 60 kg, and two hangers in a pair can hold 130 kg. This ability is due to the strong and well-thought-out internal design of the eyelet, and several holes designed for fixing to the galvanized rail and the sides of wall cabinets.

Internal structure of the adjustable eye

Adjustable canopy and wall mounting rail

Approximate diagram of fixing the suspension to a metal guide

Adjustable canopies are recessed 5 mm relative to the rear wall. Therefore, before you begin installing the lugs to the cabinet, you should make small holes in the fiberboard to match the size of the “ear” of the suspension.
Attach adjustable hangers to the sides of wall kitchen cabinets.
Cut the mounting strip exactly to the size of the wall. When purchasing ready-made furniture, the tire is supplied in a specific size for each drawer.
Attach the guide to the wall, having previously measured the required distance from the tabletop. Approximate calculation: the height of the work apron plus the height of the wall cabinet minus the thickness of the roof (usually 16 mm).
Hang the furniture on the rail and begin adjusting the hangers.

Installing an adjustable hanger on a kitchen cabinet:

How to attach the hanger to the bar:

Adjusting the kitchen hanger:

Universal gas lifts and adjustable awnings for kitchen cabinets simplify furniture installation. Moreover, thanks to properly selected lifts, the usable area of the internal space of the cabinets increases and the ease of use of the kitchen set is optimized to the maximum. And technically competently installed adjustable lugs guarantee the durability of the use of upper wall cabinets.

Calculation of gas lift load relative to the size and weight of the facade

Before installing a mechanical device on a cabinet in the kitchen, it is necessary to accurately calculate and correlate the following operating parameters :

Gas lift size . Determined when the rod is fully extended. The standard size range has the following options: 164 mm, 247 mm, 355 mm. This allows you to choose a system for almost any size of furniture.
Facade size . It is important to measure the height of the cabinet. Typically, the standard height of kitchen furniture with a top opening is 360 mm. For this option, a gas lift with a length of 355 mm is used.
Weight of the cabinet door with all fittings and decor. The parameter is necessary to calculate the power of a gas elevator.
The pressure in the cylinder , which determines the amount of compression of the spring. This indicator is measured in newtons (N) and is written on the mechanism body and in the technical data sheet for it. Manufacturers produce mechanisms with the following pressure range: 50N, 60N, 80N, 100N, 120N, 140N, 160N, 200N. To calculate the required pressure, you need to multiply the weight of the door by 10N. For example, the door weight is 6 kg; then 6×10=60N - this should be the power of the gas lift for a façade weighing 6 kg. There is no point in choosing a powerful system for a lightweight façade, otherwise the door will close too abruptly.

Interesting things on the site:

If you choose the wrong gas lift for the kitchen façade, its service life will be reduced by about half.