Best drawer runners and pull out bins

[TeaAndStrumpets]

I am ordering solid wood kitchen cupboards from a local workshop. They don't normally do kitchens so I am supplying the internal fittings. Do I just order Blum, or is there someone better? I've never had softclose drawers but do I need them? I like the Wesco bins but there is so much choice.

Any advice welcome!

Blum are very good and have a large range. I do not think you can beat their soft-close hinges and drawers. You can change the hinges to wide-open if you want as they fit the same. I think they are priced high because of the name.

Hafele have some good accessories such as Le Mans corners, drop down shelves and pull-out cabinet shelves and I think are better value.

Top-hung sprung hinge assemblies are quite expensive.

You can look at their entire range with the online catalogue. Many retailers do not stock the entire range because it is huge.

I don't like door-in-frame and they need non-standard hinges.

Ironmongerydirect have a good range and quantity discounts

You can buy, say, 50 hinges at a better price from online suppliers as they are sold in vast numbers. Sometimes you see stock on ebay that I think has fallen off the company van into the fitter's toolbox.

I have seen imported items from Eastern Europe where I don't recognise the brand, some of them are OK but lack the genius detailing.

Perhaps I was unlucky but I thought the B&Q brand was awful.

We had an independent company do our kitchen and he said all the internal parts are Italian. I don't know the brand though.

Our bin has 3 sections. There is, however, a large gap at the top between the bin and the worktop. I would have preferred the bins to be deeper and come closer to the worktop. The plastic 'shelf' sitting above the bins is flimsy and even if an envelope or wrapper is sitting just above the bin- the plastic thing pops off which is very frustrating 😡

I asked the fitter, why there was such a large gap and he said we could use it to store for bin bags. We can't though, because almost any weight on the plastic makes it fall off! Those are 2, folder paper bags and an empty plastic bag sitting on there. Its a wasted space IMO, so check what you are getting before ordering.

JC03745

I have a drawer above my bins.

Wow @PigletJohn thanks for that very comprehensive rundown. Much appreciated. Yes I search eBay constantly for bits and pieces. We can reclaim VAT (self build) but sometimes it is cheaper still on eBay! I've bought some nice sinks for example.

Ouch @JC03745 that would infuriate me! Thanks for the warning. I guess the chap making the kitchen would do a shelf for me. He is quite a perfectionist.

@PigletJohn A drawer above the bin is a brilliant idea and somewhere I actually could store bins bags. I never even thought to ask for that.

@TeaAndStrumpets I have thought about making a wooden shelf to sit on the bins, but spend far too much time on MN to do anything about it! 😆

@JC03745 😀

I just had a look, and the kessebohmer imove is very good for lowering high shelves so you can reach them

So useful, thank you.