The everything you need to know video about installing and adjusting the Blum Tandem Drawer Glides for inset cabinets. These glides provide the ability to have soft close drawers for every kitchen cabinet drawer no matter the size! Brian talks you through prepping the front frame, installing the glides, installing your orange clips, using the narrow Blum Movento Drawer Glides, navigating pilot holes or lack thereof, and much more. We know this is a lot of information to take in, but once you have this process down it will make installing your drawer boxes into your cabinets so much easier. Feel free to reach out to your Cabinet Coach with any other questions!

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Video Transcript

Hey, everybody! Brian from The Cabinet Joint here at our shop in Gettysburg. The purpose of this video today is to talk about how to install the Blum Tandem hardware into an inset drawer box.

In the past, our videos have been broken up—one video shows you how to install the orange clips, and another shows you something else. This video is for when you’re putting drawer boxes in a cabinet. It covers everything: face frame prep, how to install the glide, how to install the orange clips, and what to do if you don’t have pocket holes or pilot holes in the back of the cabinet. We’re going to cover it all, so stay tuned with us and let’s get started.

Tools & Supplies
Before we show you how these glides actually install, let’s talk about the tools and supplies you’ll need. You’ll need a couple of drills or drill bits. I have a Phillips head for certain screws. There’s one screw that takes a square bit or a Phillips; you can use square if you want, and we’ll talk about that. I’ve got a pre-drill, like a self-centering bit—you can buy those at Lowe’s. I also have a 1/16-inch drill bit, tape measure, and marking pencil—just basic stuff.

For some operations, if you’re not using the rear mounting brackets (we’ll talk about this), you might need a level. A small torpedo level is really great to have. Some scrap 3/4-inch plywood may come in handy for certain operations, depending on your situation. Everything I’m saying may not affect your install, but it’s good to have these items just in case.

Now, onto the actual materials from us: the rear brackets for the glide, the glide body itself, the Tenn-Tex brackets for inset, the orange clips (or whatever clips you’re using), and the various screws that came with the hardware packs. That’s about it. You might run into a need for a different tool, but this list should cover most of what we’re doing here.

Installing Angle Brackets on Your Cabinet Back (15"-24" Cabinets)
The first operation is ideally done prior to assembly. Lay your cabinet back on the ground. Here’s my top and bottom. In this case, it’s a three-drawer base, so I’ve got three sets of pilot holes on each side. I need six brackets—two per drawer box. These brackets are only for cabinets 15 to 24 inches deep. If your cabinet is 12 inches deep, or 27 inches or deeper, you won’t use these.

I’m just going to put one on to show you how this works. Look at your cabinet to determine your pilot holes. Important note: We sell a variety of cabinets, like base three-drawer and base three-drawer equal-height. If you’re talking about a standard cabinet (e.g., 16 1/2 inches versus 18 inches), the pilot holes will be marked for you.

However, if you’ve customized the cabinet with your cabinet coach (e.g., you’re building a dresser with five drawers), there won’t be pilot holes on the back. You’ll have to locate them yourself. If that’s your situation, check the video in the description—it’ll walk you through how to locate those using your front frame as a template or hand measurements. It’s easy to do.

For standard cabinets (98% of cases), I’ll show you the process using this base three-drawer cabinet. I have six brackets, two per drawer. There’s a series of holes in the back, and any of these holes are fair game. However, the two most important ones are these two slotted holes. Lay the bracket down like this, with the “L” on the bottom, and align the pilot holes with the slots. They should end up in the center of those slots.

Grab the small screws that came with your Blum Tandem install pack. From the hardware pack in the big drawer glide bag, take the small screws (not the large ones). Insert one screw in the top slot, one in the bottom slot, and a third in one of the other holes for security. This ensures the glide doesn’t drop down under pressure.

Repeat this process for all brackets. If you only have a top drawer, install the brackets only where needed.

Installing Tenn-Tex Brackets on the Front Frame
For inset cabinets with drawers, you’ll need the Tenn-Tex brackets, which come in white bags with the rest of your hardware. These brackets are essential because the drawer front sits inside the front frame, so there’s nothing to carry the front of the glide. These brackets solve that issue.

Before assembly, lay the front frame down and attach these brackets. If you forget and build the cabinet first, attaching them later becomes difficult because of the tight space for your drill.

Grab the long, oil-rubbed bronze screws from your hardware pack. Each bracket needs two screws, inserted into the large holes on the bracket. Position the bracket so the ridge sits flush against the front frame and as low as possible in the opening. Tighten the screws to secure the bracket. Repeat this for all brackets, then I screw it in place. Once those brackets are installed, we can move forward and attach the drawer box to the drawer glides.

Attaching the Drawer Box to the Drawer Glides

With the release clips properly installed on the bottom of the drawer box, aligning the drawer box with the glides becomes straightforward. Here's what to do:

Position the Box: Hold the drawer box in front of the cabinet, aligning it with the glides on both sides. Make sure the box is level and square.
Engage the Glides: Slide the drawer box into the cabinet, carefully aligning the release clips with the ends of the drawer glides. You’ll feel a slight resistance as the clips engage with the glides.

Push Firmly: Once aligned, push the drawer box all the way in. You should hear or feel a click as the release clips lock onto the glides. This ensures the box is securely attached.

Test Movement: Pull the drawer out and push it back in a few times to confirm smooth movement. If the drawer feels uneven or doesn’t glide properly, check the alignment of the glides or ensure the release clips are properly installed.
Fine Adjustments: If your drawer box isn’t sitting perfectly flush with the front frame, use the adjustment mechanisms on the release clips. Most Bloom Tandem clips allow for slight adjustments to fine-tune the positioning.

Final Tips
Weight Testing: Once everything is installed, add some weight to the drawer to ensure the glides can support it without sagging or becoming misaligned.
Double-Check: Before moving on to the next drawer, recheck that all screws are tight and the brackets are secure.
Repeat for Other Drawers: Follow the same steps for all remaining drawers in your cabinet.

That’s it! Your inset drawers are now installed with precision, ensuring smooth operation and a professional finish. If you encounter any specific issues, refer back to the appropriate sections of the video or consult additional resources provided by your hardware manufacturer.

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