Blum Ecodrill Users - other cutters beside the 8mm available?

[mickmick]

Just bought an Ecodrill and seems well put together.
However I am disappointed to find that there don't seem to be any other cutters/drill bits available other than 8mm?
I am not sure about using the Inserta hinges that the 8mm holes are designed for. Do they hold up to being installed and then being uninstalled? Perhaps in a dry fit situation, or where something may have gone awry and needs fixing?
Ideally I would like to just buy some 3mm drill bits to create pilot holes for normal screws and standard Blum hinges.
Has anyone found a workaround?

 

[neeleman]

I believe you can use the orange spacers for the screw locations.
This way only a small dot will be drilled for using regular screws.
BTW: Never had problems with Inserta hinges, works like a charm. No drilling holes/screws on locations anymore, just pop them in.

 

[Oldwood]

I have used the inserta hinges since they were introduced and have never had a problem with them. We have removed and reinstalled them with out problems.

We transport our doors wrapped in foam to the jobsite with no hinges then insert and mount the hinges once the cabinets are installed. I like the clean look of them with no screws showing. They cost a little extra but we find they are worth it.

 

[denovo]

You can also use dowel hinges if you buy the hand insertion tool.  The only way you can remove the plastic dowels is to drill them out but the hinges can be removed like normal by removing the two screws

 

[tjbnwi]

We use Insertas by the 1000’s. Never had an issue with them in the doors. We do use solid maple for the rails and stiles. I don’t know how well they work in MDF slabs.

Tom

 

[deepcreek]

I have used the inserta hinges since they were introduced and have never had a problem with them. We have removed and reinstalled them with out problems.

We transport our doors wrapped in foam to the jobsite with no hinges then insert and mount the hinges once the cabinets are installed. I like the clean look of them with no screws showing. They cost a little extra but we find they are worth it.

We have had good success with the Inserta hinges and transport our cabinets doors the same way.

We recently had a situation where we tried the plastic drive-in dowels in the same holes.  These accept screws to hold the hinge on and work just fine.  Honestly, we much prefer the Inserta style for ease of installation.

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[morts10n]

Never had problems with inserta... painter's love them too cuz they can remove them easily and sand the doors with no plastic dowels in the way

 

[semenza]

Same here with the Inserta hinges.  I have used them in poplar, walnut, red oak and maple with no issue. Installed and removed a few two or three times. I have also used the Inserta mounting plates with no problems.

In addition to possibly drilling the 8mm position holes smaller there are a couple small holes under the lever/cover that will accept screws. I recently had a cabinet that will have a very high number of door cycles. So I added #6 screws in these holes. That way the hinges have two holding methods. Just make sure the screw head fits into the cover recess.

  [attachimg=1]    [attachimg=2]

[member=7673]neeleman[/member] Where did you find the Blum depth spacers for the Eco drill?

Seth

 

[neeleman]

Normally they are part of the EcoDrill.
But I must admit I lost mine.
You can buy them separately in a set from Blum (#M31.1040).

 

[Oldwood]

We use Insertas by the 1000’s. Never had an issue with them in the doors. We do use solid maple for the rails and stiles. I don’t know how well they work in MDF slabs.

Tom

We have used them on a few jobs with MDF slabs. We had no issues with them and the Blum rep says they hold better in MDF than screws do. I am not a fan of MDF doors because of the poor edge durability but sometimes you don't get to make that decision.

 

[mickmick]

Thanks for all your replies, very helpful.
Doing a lot of painted mdf cabinets at the moment and with your recommendations I will give the Insertas a try.

Tom
[/quote]
I am not a fan of MDF doors because of the poor edge durability but sometimes you don't get to make that decision.
[/quote]

Yes, current clients won't pay for solid or plywood.