Open the Door Products

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Installation Instructions for the Soft-Close Magnetic Catch, revised May 2016

1. These units can be located at any place that you would use a standard magnetic catch.

2. Attach magnet and/or shock mounting base to the floor and ceiling of the cabinet on handle side of door using the supplied #8 x 1/2" screw in keyhole slot on bottom of block, leaving 1/8" additional space on front side for the bumper. If the floor or ceiling of your cabinet is not flush with the face frame, you may need to block them or consider using our 7/8" high blocks. When the wooden cabinet magnet mounting base is properly positioned (front to back), further secure this mounting block with #5 x 5/8" pocket screw in the back of the unit. Use a hand #1 Phillips screw driver so that you don't strip the wood or split the block; it is very easy to install and does not require power tools. For production purposes, we recommend making a jig for quick, easy, and consistent placement. 

3. Install the mating door magnet in the back side of the door. Exact location can be marked by setting a flat head screw with its head centered against the cabinet mounting base magnet so that it's point is facing the back of the door. It will easily stay in place by magnetic force. It is important that the magnets line up as perfectly as possible, however, they will still work if slightly offset. Close the door with enough pressure that the point of the screw marks the back of the door at the exact center location for drilling the door magnet. If the screw point marked hole is too close to the door edge, move slightly away from the edge so that a clean bore can be drilled without damaging the door edge. Using a 10mm Forstner bit (other type bits such as bradpoint bits have too large a center pilot tip which reduces the amount of wood for the screw to hold into), drill a 5/16" deep hole in the door (slightly less depth is recommended to make sure the magnet is flush or about 1/32" exposed of the door surface. Magnet should be slightly exposed (1/16" max) for best appearance and action.  

4. The 10mm x 5/16" cylinder magnet that will go into the door must first be temporarily placed onto the cabinet base unit magnet to determine proper polarity. (This is extremely important because the polarity of the magnets must be matched.. otherwise, you will not be able to close the door!)  Install the door magnet by transferring it directly from the base magnet, being very careful to keep the polarity directions the same, and push the magnet into the bore in the door until nearly flush. You may have to press it into the bore, being careful not to mar the finish. use the provided #4 x 9/16" nickel-plated screw. It is recommended that you not push it in completely flush… leave slightly rounded corners exposed. If you push it in completely flush, raw wood will show in the drilled bore because of the slightly rounded edges of the magnet. Use a hand #1 Philips screwdriver; power tools are not needed and can easily strip the threads in the wood.

5. Install the provided pyramid-shaped neoprene bumper on the DOOR MAGNET to complete the installation. These are necessary to keep the action quiet and easy to open. If you do not use these bumpers, you will find it very difficult to open the door, as these magnets are much stronger than standard magnetic catches.

We have intentionally kept these instructions brief in hopes that you would take the time to read them and thus attain maximum results, benefiting from our years of experience. Please contact us via email with any questions or comments at openthedoor@frontier.com