bobbyb444
- Comment
Customer support was very responsive, delivery was quick. I purchased it to store some of over 100 spice jars hanging around the kitchen cupboards--I was able to store about 70. Weight of storage items is a factor. The unit is not an architecturally great design, but extremely functional. I had wanted to have the unit "centered" over the door panels, which required a separate "kit" consisting of two heavy-duty hinges one can place anywhere it seems. I purchased the kit, as well as two additional shelves--glad I did. The unit however, is noticeably off-center, relying on the existing door hinges for swinging support (I disappointedly followed the advice of the manufacturer due a lack of internal door "stiles" that might have supported a center placement)--I had wanted things centered for a more pleasing effect. I might add to measure the height of the ENTIRE door [not just between hinges, there is some room to play with 2 or 3" either way], and shoot for a centered height (in doing so, I was able to move the unit up or down for clearances, to clear obstructions, such as nearby lights and to allow for a vacuum cleaner below the unit). One person installation can be done: find a strong box, or set of stacked books that will fit UNDER the unit during the install on the hinges [speaking of hinges, loosen the top & bottom hinge pins before you start (from old paint, rust etc)...saves time and provides ease of pin placement later Suggestions: FIRST, lay out a large area to set up the unit (8x8 is preferable); be prepared for a LOT of waste cardboard and foam (necessary to protect the unit during delivery), quickly get them out of the way; NEXT, separate the hinge elements away from the shelves & their hardware (given the pkg, contents, these can become mixed up and confusing during the install process, always in the way). Be advised that for men in particular, the screws provided are tiny and hard to navigate, meant for women. They can easily get lost on the floor and hard to find without a flashlight. That has always been a pet peeve of mine with Chinese products (much like tiny buttons on mens shirts). The wing nuts also get in the way of internal shelving--retention bar placement--would a normal nut/bolt be better? When placing the two-provided hinges on the unit itself, mark off the placement holes for the wing nuts with a small light pencil mark for discernment--youll thank me later. With a box under the unit, you can easily slide the unit towards its appropriate placement over both door hinges, then insert the door pins. Squirt some lubricating oil into the hinges as youre placing the pins---unit creaks like mad. IMHO, these units can me manufactured an additional 4"-6" wider. In doing so, it would have been centered and thus more architecturally pleasant; and I could have added more products to the shelving (I was only able to locate a max of 7 spices per each shelf--each about 2" wide but slightly skewed). To handle addl weight, I believe the now vacant middle door hinge could thus be utilized, with its pin elevated by only a half inch-- and still provide swing support. [Im still toying with the idea of using one of the kit hinges here] Use your forefinger and thumb to start & screw the rubber grommets 3" onto the retention bar; place the bar into a selected hole and screw left to right to allow the bar to pass through; then place your opposing hand (Im right-handed, so use my left hand here) to hold the bar into the right hole, place your right hand OVER your left arm and--using your right forefinger/thumb--slide the grommet down and insert the bar/grommet into the left hole---the bar generally stays solidly in place. There was some grease and oil on the units face--hard to clean with regular cleaner and leaves dark streaks. I used some orange cleaner, and these marks came off in a breeze. BUT, it appears "wet" for several days afterward. Wiping it with a dry paper towel easily eliminates the problem. A friend suggested using a stencil (such as "PANTRY") on the face of the unit (a great idea!), but Im not sure how long it would last given the units very glossy finish--I doubt very much one could even paint it to your surrounding decor, unless it was lightly sanded? The sticky-backed magnet does not remain "stuck" on the door as the unit opens, but the unit still remains in place, likely due to its weight. Thankfully, the manufacturer provided two screw holes on the magnet to allow for door attachment.. Being 4" deep, the unit has not hindered adjacent foot traffic. Would I buy it again? Probably not, unless it was wider, could be further centered with additional support, and have a better finish to match surrounding decor.