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Post by universalexports on Aug 13, 2013 4:54:12 GMT -8
I am currious what methods others have came up with to keep there shelves shut while traveling I have read about;
using rare earth magnets using baby proof latches using long sticks through all the handles,
any other ideas?
in my head where weird things happen, I was thinking, since I building all my cabinets/drawers that I could build the drawers with a slight slant built into them where the back would be a bit lower than the front just a bit, and offset the angle of the drawer face so it still closed flush like normal this would let gravety keep them shut. in theory this would work.
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Post by bigbill on Aug 13, 2013 5:34:16 GMT -8
Make the drawers 3/8 of an inch shorter than the opening then cut a 1/4 inch notch in the bottom near the front of the drawer about a 1/2 inch wide then fasten a i/4 inch by 7/16 strip to the cabinet so that the drawer hooks over it in the closed position. then you just lift up on the drawer as you open it to release and when you close it the draw is automatically latched.
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Post by universalexports on Aug 13, 2013 6:17:14 GMT -8
yeah, my original drawers were like that, I thought they were hanging on something when I first go the camper LOL, by accident I figured out I could lift them up and they would slide right out.
the only issue with that is if I put the drawers on ball bearing rails you cant do that.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Aug 13, 2013 12:49:47 GMT -8
the only issue with that is if I put the drawers on ball bearing rails you cant do that. There is that.... The baby latch idea seems a good one to me...they would give you a good, positive latch, relatively inexpensive, and don't require a huge feat of engineering. And, if they do not work out, they are not all that difficult to remove to install some other closure method.
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Post by universalexports on Aug 13, 2013 15:27:50 GMT -8
I've been looking into installing drawers on a slight slant, since I am building everything from scratch it wouldn't require much more engineering, you could have it tilted toward the back so with a ball bearing slider it would shut itself, and gravity would hold it in place while traveling. you could add a fake bottom that was level so it held items normally you could make the top part of the sides and back level so item didnt roll to the back and fall over. this would require a bit larger opening when the drawer goes in, but a bit larger drawer face would hide that. here is a pic to give you a visual, thoughts???
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Post by Hamlet on Aug 13, 2013 16:16:31 GMT -8
We kept our drawer slides wood, so it's wood against wood. Needs a good tug/steady pull to open it, and they don't budge even on the bunpiest roads. For the closet, bathroom doors, we used the old fashioned latch that has a "male" side and a "female" side. Again, they take a little effort to open and close, but they don't budge on the road and we didn't have to add or change anything. Not fancy, but it works, and I am in it 4 days a week right now.
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Post by universalexports on Aug 13, 2013 17:19:16 GMT -8
thats caveman simple, and might actually be the best solution,,,
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Aug 14, 2013 6:36:04 GMT -8
I was toying with the idea of making a rod and pin system, like some file cabinets and desks have for a lock, similar to the ones where there's one key lock in the top drawer that secures a column of drawers. In my idea there was a long vertical rod that runs down the inside of the face frame off to one side of the drawers, with "L"-shaped pins going off the side under each drawer, all controlled by a movable piece of the trim on the front edge of the counter (that serves as the handle). Pull the trim up, the pins move up into sockets in the drawer sides, and then you'd turn the trim piece 90 degrees to sit on the countertop and keep the drawers closed while traveling. When parked, the trim is rotated back into place and dropped, so it's just like the rest of the trim (invisible as a handle), and the drawers are unlocked. Probably more complicated than is needed, but it would still be pretty simple and have a high coolness factor...
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gonekayaking
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Post by gonekayaking on Aug 14, 2013 8:34:28 GMT -8
We have the original drwawers (wood gliders don't move) and latches on the cabinets....they never open. A freind of mine with a newer tear drop swears by the rare earth magnets.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Aug 14, 2013 8:48:17 GMT -8
My original ones used the notch method.
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1958 Shasta "Penny"
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Post by 1958 Shasta "Penny" on Aug 15, 2013 15:05:06 GMT -8
Whew. I thought I was the only one!
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znorm
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Post by znorm on Aug 15, 2013 17:50:06 GMT -8
It is a lift and pull method which works perfect. The notch method is the original manufactures design.
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