Kaboodle hardware quality?

Hi all,

Looking at tackling a kitchen reno using Kaboodle flat packs, and in the past I have read that the hardware like hinges soft close drawers etc are not real crash hot, and I was wondering if anyone can shed some feedback on whether or not that is the case and if so is it possible to upgrade the hardware to a better quality? I have also read that kaboodle cabinets are not designed to take any off the shelf hinge can anyone please confirm that also please?

Just any other feedback on the quality of the cabinets themselves etc would be really appreciated also.

Thanks

Geoff

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MitchellMc

Hi Geoff (@Garfield28),

Kaboodle kitchens have been installed in thousands of homes, and if you encounter issues with yours, the team is quick to act and will promptly have it sorted for you. Personally, I've never experienced anyone bringing Kaboodle hardware back into the store after having issues with it, but I'm sure our members would be happy to share their experiences.

You'll be pleased to know that there is the Hettich premium range of hardware manufactured in Germany and supplied through Kaboodle that you can select instead of the standard range. Although the standard range is of suitable quality, they manufacture the Hettich premium range to a higher standard. Also, the Kaboodle hinges are universal, so you are free to replace them with any off-the-shelf hinge. Be advised that hinge manufacturers can sometimes use a slightly different screw location for their mounts, so you might need to fill a hole to switch brands. This isn't unique to Kaboodle hinges, though.

From my experience, the cabinets are of excellent quality, and I have no complaints. A tip would be to ensure that your battery-powered drill's clutch is set correctly so as not to destroy the chipboard by over-tightening the screws. That's pretty standard for chipboard in general, though; you never want to over-tighten fixings in it.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

Garfield28

Hi MitchellMc,

Thanks for the reply.

So how do I change to the premium hardware when looking at ordering, and is there a price guide?

Also, I read that other brand hinges are not compatible with the Kaboodle cabinets and it will only accept Kaboodle hinges, so you are saying that isn't correct and I can go buy a new set of hingers from anywhere and fir them?

Thanks

Geoff

MitchellMc

Hi Geoff (@Garfield28),

The Kaboodle cabinets, doors and hinges are all sold separately, so if you'd like the premium hardware, you'd order those.

According to the team at Kaboodle, they are not using any proprietary system for their hinges, and they are based on a typical hinge you'd see from any other brand. As mentioned above, whether you are replacing a Kaboodle hinge or any other brand of hinge, you might need to fill and re-drill holes if they're not an exact match. If you want to use another brand of hinge other than Kaboodles, I suggest checking to ensure they'll be a direct swap and that no re-drilling of holes is necessary.

Mitchell

Jason

Hi @Garfield28,

Let me also tag a few Workshop members who have used Kaboodle cabinetry to see if they might like to share their experiences with you: @theDIYedit, @Kev, @Danielle383, @Acewoodhome and @Fishvince.

Jason

Garfield28

Thanks Jason

EricL

Hi @Garfield28

To put your mind further at ease, included in the Kaboodle lifetime advantage is the warranty for the hinges and drawer runners for 10 years. I suggest making sure you have a hard copy and a digital version of your docket after purchasing your kitchen. As a former kitchen specialist at the store, I've sold hundreds of kitchens and I can count on my fingers the number of times the Kaboodle hinges have not worked properly.

But like all mechanical hinges, even the very best hinges fail when subjected to extreme weight, unnatural forced operation and incorrect installation. Using your door hinges and drawer runners with care will provide you with a long service life.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Remarka6le

@Garfield28 You'll want to hear from people who have completed Kaboodle kitchens as both a client, DIY-er (as @Jason has suggested) and contracters who have installed it on behalf of a client. There's also the contrast of responses to consider from people in a community such as this (which are mostly positive) and then going over to review websites such as productreview.com or their own google reviews where Kaboodle has a 2.5 star & 2.3 star rating (out of 5). Choice did a really good article detailing the pros and cons of Kaboodle v Ikea if you want to give that a read. Also consider warranty as well.

The main thing I have read / been told & seen is the gloss coatings on the doors are not at the same standard as other flat packs / custom jobs and that their standard hardware isn't of good quality, I've personally seen 5 Kaboodle Kitchens, 2 of which had glaring issues but the other 3 were perfect, it did prompt us to visit in store to get a quote regarding our own kitchen install (happening now), though we opted away from Kaboodle as they were unable to do the handle-less profile doors we were after, but we were happy with everything else.

You spend about 12% of your life in a kitchen, so it's worth doing your research and getting various opinions / experiences.

Garfield28

Thanks for the replies on the hardware.

Have another question, Any idea if the raw MDF doors are made in Australia and if they also have one side coated on that white coating?

EricL

Hello @Garfield28

Are you planning on colouring your own doors? Please remember that you must include all the panels and back island panels as well in your plans as these items must be coloured in as well. As for the production of the raw MDF doors allow me to investigate further. As soon as I have more information I'll post it here.

Eric

Garfield28

Thanks Eric.

Not really important just wondering so will be good to see where they are manufactured, not that it will stop me buying if they come from China as I gather they do.

Thanks

EricL

Hello @Garfield28

I've just spoken to the Kaboodle technical department, you're correct the doors are manufactured in China. The doors come unpainted both at the front and the back. There are no primers applied to the raw MDF board.

Eric

Garfield28

Hi Eric,

Thanks for chasing that up, but I thought one side was coated in the white stipple or whatever you'd call it? Otherwise I would have to get both sides painted if I went down that path.

Cheers

Geoff

EricL

Hello @Garfield28

It turns out that not only do the vacuum-laminated doors have their backs covered, but the raw MDF doors do as well. Since the MDF is coated at the back only the front part of the door needs to be painted. You won't have to use as much paint since the back is already sealed.

I would like to thank @RenoRach1 for updating us on that fact about the raw doors.

Eric

RenoRach1

Hi @Garfield28

I'm currently building my laundry/utility room with the Kaboodle range. I can confirm that the Alpine profile doors (paint your own doors) have the white melamine on the back and the raw MDF on the front, so you'll only need to paint the front of your doors; the same with the kickboards and the drawer fronts.

On the weekend, I built two 600mm two-drawer units, using the standard drawer runners and I was very impressed with them - very smooth and sturdy. I'm not at the hinges stage just yet, but I've used Blum hinges before on another kitchen and I wasn't overly impressed with them - they've definitely dropped in quality over the years. So, I'm using the Kaboodle standard hinges and drawer runners. Although, a kitchen does get a lot more use than a laundry, I'll acknowledge.

Just a tip: make sure that you watch all of the videos on the Kaboodle YouTube channel, as they are really helpful and complement the printed instructions.

All the best with it!

EricL

Hello @RenoRach1

Thank you so much for updating us on that. The raw Alpine doors do come with a white melamine backing. I'll have to update my recommendation about the raw doors. It's great to hear that you're updating your laundry/utility room. I'm sure our members would be keen to see your project once it's complete.

Again, thank you for sharing that information.

Eric

Noyade

This hinge is from a corner section of a Masters kitchen - 2016.

It snapped not long after Masters snapped.

I went to the kitchen cabinet maker in town that had the contract to install Masters kitchens and the guy that served me laughed, saying all of Masters kitchens and hardware "were rubbish". He also told me this hinge is incompatible with any other brand. Anyway he had one left, I bought it and left somewhat disillusioned.

To strengthen it I drilled and tapped a thread for another small bolt - but I can't remember which one.

My question is - would something like this be on a shelf at Bunnings - should it snap again?

EricL

Hi @Noyade

Yes, there are similar hinges at the store such as the Kaboodle Corner Cabinet Hinge and the Hafele Salice 70° Bifold Corner Hinge Clip On - 1 Pair. However, the catch is you'll need to drill new installation holes for these hinges as the old mounting system from Masters uses a plastic compression system. It's a great excuse to purchase the Hafele Hinge Mounting Kit to make new mounting points on the door. You can then use Hafele Hinge Hole Cover - 2 Pack to cover the old holes on the door.

Eric

Noyade

Cheers! @EricL

Garfield28

Thanks Eric, and thanks Renorach.

I thought it was strange it didn't because the other doors I have looked at in Bunnings displays the doors have all had the white stipple, and I fugured if you chose the paint your own colour one it would make sense that they did too.

Thank you both.

theDIYedit

Hi @Garfield28 , hopefully this feedback isn't reaching you too late. I recently completed a full laundry reno with the Kaboodle flat pack range. I opted for the Kaboodle soft-close hinges for my cabinetry and have had no issues with them months on. In terms of the cabinetry, the carcasses are just a standard quality, but I don't believe that Kaboodle market themselves as a premium option for kitchen renovations, so I wouldn't expect anything else TBH. As I used the raw board fronts, again, they are exactly as described, for painting to your own spec. Hopefully someone will come along and give you some feedback on the other doors available and their quality. 🙂

@theDIYedit

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