kitchen cabinet model (Lowes, curtain, color, sink)

[zotmeister]

I am trying to figure out who is the maker and model of my kitchen cabinet. There are no stickers on the cabinet so I have no idea who makes them. Does anyone have a clue if there are etched info. somewhere in the cabinet that indicates the maker??

[desertsun41]

If the obvious is not present such as labels or stamps or logos then the average Joe is out of luck........almost. Knowing nearly every brand that exists I have come to know various differences that identify one brand from the next. Not all brands attempt to identify the product they sell. What do you think that means? Maybe they advertise some concocted warranty but if no one can identify it's maker then the maker never has to make good on a defective product.

A good place to start is if your home is from any modern times when big tract builders were hard at work eating up farm lands then find out who your builder is. Call them and ask the cabinet manufacturer brand. They have records from way back. Some use the same cabinet tract after tract, year after year. Some get the lowest bidder all the time but whatever, they can tell you.

Most cabinet manufacturers who are worthy and want you to know who they are will more often then not put something inside the drawer box. It could be either a burned emblem into the wood or a raised plastic logo. A few brands put this raised plastic logo on the face of the sink base and only on the sink base. This saves money from putting a logo on every box because every kitchen gets a sink base therefore only the sink base has a logo. A few I've seen put a logo on the back side inside the box. How stupid is that.

From here it gets tougher for Joe Homeowner. I can identify a box by the color of the interior, the method of construction of the box, and often just looking at the door style is an instant hint.

Depending on where you live can make it more difficult. In places like Texas where it is still almost unheard of to buy a prefab box from a major manufacturer there is no match to be found. Down here it is customary to make homemade site built or job built as they call them. The whole face is a sheet of plywood and they cut out the doors then take these door cutouts and place a picture frame molding around it and call it a door. These are not cabinets at all. They are painted wooden boxes and is a black eye on us professionals.

If you can post a picture of the box as well as the interior I might be able to identify if. I assume you want to match your existing to add on with more matching?

[zotmeister]

The reason I want to know about the cabinet maker is because I am trying to find a non-stock kitchen cabinet hinge (european style for pi-cut lazy susan corner cabinet doors). I was told by the local HD rep that I needed to special order this hinge and I had to know the manufacturer of the cabinet first. The hinge I am looking for has inscribed on it DTC ZA35.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by zotmeister

The reason I want to know about the cabinet maker is because I am trying to find a non-stock kitchen cabinet hinge (european style for pi-cut lazy susan corner cabinet doors). I was told by the local HD rep that I needed to special order this hinge and I had to know the manufacturer of the cabinet first. The hinge I am looking for has inscribed on it DTC ZA35.

First of all those who work at the big orange who only wants your little green are nothing more then minimum wage idiot clerks. There is not a body in the store who knows the first thing about home improvement issues. The most experienced person in the store may have hung a curtain rod for Grandma but that is the extent of their home improvement experience.

Beginning proof is that hinges for a BLS is not a special order. For a store who sells basic junk to Joe Homeowner it may be special order but not if you go to the proper place.

It appears you are in Fairfax, VA. Throughout the south we buy those hinges at a company called Louis & Company. They do not have a location up that way. This is the true candy store for cabinet professionals. Your second choice is Rockler.com as they also sell anything related to cabinetry accessories. They are mail order and have stores in most major cities too which would be better for you since you can take the old ones for matching up.

The brand name of the cabinet makes no difference. Truthfully neither does the brand of the hinge you need but it does help. I believe you have a GRASS hinge but many hinges companies do not print their name either. Try to replace your old one with a GRASS or BLUM which are the best. Don't try to order it from the big box store, they don't even know what it is. They should cost about $3.50 each but the big box store will charge you about $15 each. Yea I know. That's how they mark up their store items.