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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: scanzel on July 25, 2012, 06:12:05 AM

Title: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: scanzel on July 25, 2012, 06:12:05 AM
What is everyone using to prevent cabinet doors and draws form opening when traveling down the road when braking and taking corners. Heard of some horror stories of dishes etc flying out when doors opened.  ;D
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: goutoe on July 25, 2012, 06:33:57 AM
My drawers are notched so that you have to lift up to release them and then pull out, and my cabinets have small lift cylinders that hold them shut. A cheap fix would be to install child proof catches that allow you to open the door or drawer enough to release the catch, these are available at any hardware store and very easy to install Just a thought. good luck, John.
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Ed Hackenbruch on July 25, 2012, 06:47:03 AM
We now use cam locks, all keyed alike.  We lost some dishes one time. :)
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Oonrahnjay on July 25, 2012, 06:53:30 AM
Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on July 25, 2012, 06:47:03 AMWe now use cam locks, all keyed alike.  We lost some dishes one time. :)

     Ed, do you have part number, manufacturer, website, or other reference?  Thanks,  BH  NC  USA
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: skihor on July 25, 2012, 06:56:29 AM
On our MC 5A the original owner installed the two roller with a "U" shape metal latch on all of the doors. The drawers have "notches" and you have to lift them up to open. That has led to wear marks on the cabinet faces. I've put the two roller with a "point" latches on the drawers and doors in our concession trailer with good success... so far... I would advise a drop of some kind of epoxy under both pieces, (after alignment is confirmed), as they use such small screws and do loosen some with regular use, and are easy to "strip".

Don & Sheila
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: grantgoold on July 25, 2012, 07:18:13 AM
We use small (very strong) flat magnets. You can pick up dozens from the e place. Think they were called whole earth magnets. No problems and you cannot even see them!

Grant
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Sean on July 25, 2012, 07:19:54 AM
We have "Grabber" latches from Southco on all drawers and cabinets:
http://www.southco.com/product/class.aspx?cid=7399 (http://www.southco.com/product/class.aspx?cid=7399)

They work great, do not require any extra movement or action to open or close, and can be retrofitted on any existing doors and drawers.  They are spendy, at about $10 apiece if you buy them one at a time.  In bulk that can come down closer to $5.

They do wear out with use -- in eight years, we've replaced maybe 20% of them.  My only real complaint is that they come in three different strengths, but you can't tell them apart by looking at them -- no numbers stamped.  In hindsight, I should have marked or labeled each one so when replacement time came, I would know which one to get.

We didn't go this route, but if you want to, they also offer these with an internal microswitch (SPDT).  Many high-end coaches uses these and connect them to internal cabinet lights, so that the light comes on when you open the door.  I think the switch adds another $10 to the price.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com)
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: belfert on July 25, 2012, 07:29:03 AM
I'm probably going to use cam latches instead of cam locks.  Take a look at http://www.mcmaster.com/#cam-latches (http://www.mcmaster.com/#cam-latches/)

McMaster-Carr's website does not allow me to link to the actual product web page.  I am looking at the wing-handle cam latches on that page.
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: luvrbus on July 25, 2012, 07:38:30 AM
The Southco is about the best latch I found also for cabinets in a RV or boat and Sean is right they are pricey,the screen door latch they make cost 20 bucks and it works
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: TheHollands! on July 25, 2012, 07:54:47 AM
We have magnets on our doors which work fine when parked but when driving we also have window screen latches. The only downside is they are not hidden, we like them though. We originally went to the hardware store and bought one of every conceivable locking device to see what might work both for use and look. We are amateurs. Craig
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: 4905 doc on July 25, 2012, 08:04:18 AM
couple of round wooden discs, and a wingnut worked for us. Ain't pretty, but who's looking at it while you travel?  ??? the rod held the bottom drawer since the top one couldn't open. A short pressure rod held the last cabinet door closed.

(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi991.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf36%2Fzion-dyi%2Fbus%2Fblbus024.jpg&hash=1c1f7d7f85a232078ec6b05f3a5b8c88c067b09c)
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Cary and Don on July 25, 2012, 08:12:28 AM
We have the Southco latches on the Eagle.  They are great, far better than any other latch we have had.   When we refinished the cabinets we installed the self closing drawer runners on the drawers.  With the latches even the silverware drawer stays closed and they are still easy to open.  We installed the clips that hold window screens to keep the shower door closed.  The glass door is pretty heavy.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GM 4107
Neoplan AN340
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: jjrbus on July 25, 2012, 08:42:47 AM
I vote for these, spendy but work great.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1376&site=ROCKLER (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1376&site=ROCKLER)

Shome shopping around and can be found for about 1/2 Rocklers price.    JIm
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: lvmci on July 25, 2012, 08:45:43 AM
Scanzel, coming from streamline trailers so many years ago, which had magnets built into the pull handles for upper cabinets, we used a yard stick for the drawers, slipped it thru all pull handles, then graduated to bungee cords with plastic hooks from lip of counter to bottom drawer, simple, quick on/ off, cheap & kids didn't pull so hard on drawers that spoons and forks went flying, but not very elegant. Lvmci...
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Ed Hackenbruch on July 25, 2012, 08:47:29 AM
Bruce, don't remember where i got them from off or the web, just google cam locks and go from there. You will  have to measure what length you need.  Been real happy with them, seems like price was $7-10?
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Lee Bradley on July 25, 2012, 11:21:21 AM
My wife has very bad Rheumatoid Arthritis and so did not want cabinets that were hard to open and I wanted cabinets that would not rattle going down the road.  Our solution was a quarter-turn, compression latch; the first quarter turn turns the latch into the closed position and the second quarter turn pulls the latch in a 1/4". These are available at http://www.steelcitysupply.com/c-2620-emka-standard-quarter-turns.aspx (http://www.steelcitysupply.com/c-2620-emka-standard-quarter-turns.aspx) , I used the 1022-U85 with 1022-49 latch these are not easy to find on the web site. I suggest calling and talking to Dana.
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Oonrahnjay on July 25, 2012, 12:00:41 PM
    Ed and others.  Thank you, these are exactly what I've spent far too much time looking for on Google and couldn't find (wrong name, I expect).  Really appreciate it.  BH 
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Ed Hackenbruch on July 25, 2012, 02:10:31 PM
I think i got and used 16 of them, kind of wish i had gotten 3-4 extra as i found that i could have used 2 or 3 more for other things.....
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Jriddle on July 25, 2012, 06:54:14 PM
I went to the big box store and bought child latches and the work great. The drawers and doors will open a inch or so but don't fly open.


John
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Just A Newell on July 26, 2012, 08:04:20 PM
This is the latch that Newell used in the 80's. You can adjust the tension with the screws top and bottom.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1179.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx391%2Fjustanewell%2Fjuly510.jpg&hash=082c2803890dc3da566af357e54c03d6ec8769ea)
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Dave Siegel on July 27, 2012, 06:56:49 AM
We used these latches but got them from a local kitchen cabinet supply house for $7 each. I have one on every door and drawer in the bus.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1376&site=ROCKLER (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1376&site=ROCKLER)

P.S. I also made my upper cabinet doors swing up and they stay up with a bar top stay while open. This way they will never open while on the road and are completely out of the way while open.

Dave
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: eagle19952 on July 27, 2012, 12:49:38 PM
I have a whole (dozens) bunch of this type:(lower right corner ones cept mine the actuator buttons are square not rounded).

(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southco.com%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2Fc2_lever.ldt.jpg&hash=9350d866fcbf397aca07baef85713f293a7e2608)

And in certain places the "Newell" type never had a failure....now the referidgerator..that gets a double bungeee....it can make a horrble mess...
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Ed Hackenbruch on July 27, 2012, 02:46:05 PM
I have two small doors that have the Newell type on them, never looked at them that close, never knew you could adjust them. ;D
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: Oonrahnjay on July 27, 2012, 03:20:32 PM
Quote from: eagle19952 on July 27, 2012, 12:49:38 PMI have a whole (dozens) bunch of this type:(lower right corner ones cept mine the actuator buttons are square not rounded). 

     What was your source for buying these (or brand name)?  Thanks,  BH  NC USA
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: akbusguy2000 on July 27, 2012, 03:34:10 PM
I tried several different type before settling on these:

http://www.allegiscorp.com/DisplayPartAction.do?partId=21771&groupId=557&groupElementId=1&displayTemplate=/jsp/displayDetailTemp_15.jsp&cat=Single-Point+Slam+Latches (http://www.allegiscorp.com/DisplayPartAction.do?partId=21771&groupId=557&groupElementId=1&displayTemplate=/jsp/displayDetailTemp_15.jsp&cat=Single-Point+Slam+Latches)

They work perfectly and hold well, and they are invisible.  Look around their site - they have every imaginable latch and you may find some to your liking:

http://www.allegiscorp.com/jsp/products.jsp?cat=all (http://www.allegiscorp.com/jsp/products.jsp?cat=all)

tg
Title: Re: How to prevent cabinet doors and draws from opening ???
Post by: robertglines1 on July 27, 2012, 04:13:48 PM
Bottom of draws glue a small wood wedge that just catches inside of cabinet cross bar. you must lift up about 1/8 inch to open drawer. when you push in the wedge rides up over cross piece.  It has worked on several coaches for 20 plus years. Yes  on doors mechanical ones are better.  My new build came with self closing hardware that holds  draws and doors firm until you pull hard on them.   Bob