Holding Open (UP) Upper Cabinet door

[Legacy Posts]

Attachment 6720


Holding Open (UP) Upper Cabinet door
I know a few folks have installed mini-struts to hold up the upper cabinet door ... the one above the microwave cabinet in a Casita.

After years of holding open the door with one hand, while searching through the cabinet with the other hand, Pam wants me to figure out something to install to hold open the door.

The mini-strut installation seems like too much work ... besides, I'm not qualified to use a screwdriver.

Anybody got a quick and easy fix?

-----------------------------

[Legacy Posts]

Attachment 6720

For those of you who don't know, the door on the cabinet flips up ... instead of opening down, or swinging to the side.

As a result, you have to hold the door up (open) to access the cabinet.


-----------------------------

[Legacy Posts]

Attachment 6720

I'm tall enough that when it's my turn to root through the cabinet, I just hold open (up) the cabinet door with my head ... so it's not a problem for me.


-----------------------------

Last edited by: Charles Watts on 05-16-03 06:44:35

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Robert Brummett, Member, York, PA & Co. Kerry, Ire:
[/i]
My method
Take a short length of rawhide, loop it thru the right hand handle and tie it off into a loop about 1.5" in diameter.

Open the cabinet door and find where you need to put a curtain hook in the carpeting over the door. Insert hook and adjust for best spot. Hang loop over hook when you want to keep the door open. Voila! Easy, effective, cheap.

-----------------------------
^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^
"Otra" (On The Road Again)
2003 17' Casita Spirit Deluxe

[Legacy Posts]

Cabinet Stay
I put a spring in. Available in different sizes. Mine was $9.95 at either West Marine or Boat US. I was going to install the strut that I've seen others put in but it involves some cutting of the fiberglass.

The wood block does have to be screwed into place from the entrance side (2 screws and the button caps we're all so familiar with.) The thickness of the block should be so that it's flush with the door opening. My pictures show a block that's much taller than it has to be.

Works like a champ so far.

(image no longer available)
-----------------------------
Steve LaBroad
2003 16' Casita SD
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met. -- Steven Wright

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Pat G, Member, Northern Wisconsin:
[/i]
door holder


I saw a holder at a Scamp Camp last year. It was a piece of wood that was notched on the bottom to fit the opening. I can't remember what the top looked like. The owner just picked it up from the cabinet and put it in place.



-----------------------------
Pat G

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Suz, Moderator, North Texas:
[/i]
Very quick and easy fix
Do I ever....I use my multi-functional drapery hooks.

Two second installation.

I'll try and get a picture in a bit. Right now my trailer's torn apart doing a plumbing repair!


-----------------------------
Suz
1989 Casita
16 ft Spirit Deluxe

Last edited by: Suz on 05-16-03 08:04:10

[Legacy Posts]

Attachment 6724
Posted by Suz, Moderator, North Texas:
[/i]
Need to know
Since I have two types, I need to know which handle you have on your cabinet door before I can explain the application. Which, by the way, will take way longer than actually doing it.

Do you have a center latch? Or do you have a latch on either side?


-----------------------------
Suz
1989 Casita
16 ft Spirit Deluxe

Last edited by: Suz on 05-16-03 08:08:09

[Legacy Posts]

Attachment 6724
Posted by Suz, Moderator, North Texas:
[/i]
OSHA Alert!
Sorry, Charles, when looking at your intended application, I think it might be a safety hazard. Tall person with apparatus in walkway. Not a good thing. The door on the cabinet above my micro alcove opens side ways, so I don't need one there. My others are over sitting areas.

For anyone else who might need a helping hand (that has carpet on ceilings and wall, I wil go ahead and put this up). Believe it or not, these stay put and will hold until released. Remember, proper positioning is the key.

Here's the drapery hook:
(image no longer available)

Application one for use without handle (once situated just right, it will act as a spring clip and automatically grab and hold it up until released by hand):

(Image no longer available)

Application two (for use with 'T' type handle):

(Image no longer available)

If you keep working with it, you might be able to come up with an application that would less hazardous. If I could spend ten minutes with it, I'd figure out an application for you.

-----------------------------
Suz
1989 Casita
16 ft Spirit Deluxe

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by PineConeDon, Member, Oklahoma City, OK:
[/i]
overhead door
Charles:

How about removing the door and getting one of those refridgerator bars to hold things in?

Well, that 'does' require a screwdriver?! :roll

-----------------------------
PineConeDon

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Paul E Henning, Member, Warsaw, Indiana:
[/i]

I have 10 cabinets in Osmo that open up like this. My wife asked if we were going to have something to hold them open (she's 5'1"). I said no, because based on past experience, cabinets that stay open STAY OPEN, and I end up clubbing my head on them. This way, the cabinets safely self-close, and life is better.

-----------------------------
Osmo the Great (Osmo is great - Paul is just so-so)

[Legacy Posts]

Hi

Have you thought of using a piano bench support. It could be mounted high out of the way, will catch until released and be inconspicuous when closed.

-----------------------------
Darrel and Verlynn
73 Compact II "Bedroll"
Pulled by
74 Early Bronco "Old Blue"

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Ron and Bernice, Member, Florida:

Cabinet door problem resolved
I suggest that you keep the next empty beer can and stick a piece of velcro to the bottom. Take a elastic headband and sew on the other piece of velcro. Have Pam put the headband on with it under her chin and over the top of her head. With the velcro on top attach the beer can.

Now she is tall enough to hold the door up and the elastic will help keep her from bitching while she does.

-----------------------------
Ron #1278

[Legacy Posts]

Ron ... do you think a full beer can would work better than an empty one I think I have an old Petzl climbing headlamp (I'm into LED headlamps now) ... maybe I can incorporate the old headlamp into your idea ... and she could have a built-in light and door holder!

Darrel ... we have a piano in the living room. To be honest with you, I know you can lift the seat top, but don't remember the hinge. I'll have to go take a look! Pam and the kids are the piano players in the family!

Don ... I like what you did with the cabinet beneath the little refrig, using the tv shelf in lieu of a door.

Suz ... I'm not allowed to play with sharp things like curtain hooks ... after that one incident involving Pam, a fish hook, and my attempt to show off my casting skills.

Besides, I'd probably poke my eye out with the curtain hook!
-----------------------------

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Jim Bonady, Member:

drapery hook idea great
Suz

Thanks for posting the drapery hook idea for those pesky, hinged-on-top cabinet doors. I ran right out and got some and it works like a champ.

Jim

[Legacy Posts]

Posted by Suz, Moderator, North Texas:
[/i]
[b]Drapery hooks

Orginally posted by Jim Bonady

Suz

Thanks for posting the drapery hook idea for those pesky, hinged-on-top cabinet doors. I ran right out and got some and it works like a champ.

Jim

Glad it worked. Amazing little thing that has been more help than almost anything I've done in the trailer. I have three of those hinge top doors.

I also use them for everything inside the trailer...I even used them to hang my paper towel rack.

-----------------------------
Suz
1989 Casita
16 ft Spirit Deluxe