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Raffix connectors for closet

1/18/23       
Al

Has anyone used the Raffix connector that just wedges into side panel pin but does not have a tightening screw?
Thanks,
Al

1/24/23       #2: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Scott Markwood

Website: http://www.hafele.com/us

Al, I'm Häfele America Co.'s Corporate Trainer, so you may not want my opinion, but I'll offer it. There are actually a couple Rafix fittings that match that description. One is our old ø20 mm Resant-Tab, which can be either screwed or plugged into the System holes. A similar connector is the ø10 mm Maori, which is similar yet much smaller. Then there's the ø15 mm Tab 15, which is one of my favorites and is something of a Goldilocks connector, which can be purchased with or without a tightening element. Finally there's the Rafix 20 Tab, which is as close to a classic Rafix connector as you can get without an integrated zinc cam. It grips the shoulder of the bolt without tightening, and a shelf installed using it will "pop" right off the bolts if you lift or gently hit the shelf from below. Any of these can be found by searching on our website by name, and your sales rep will likely have or can get samples for you to try. Scott

1/24/23       #3: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Al

I was thinking they could pop off. I’ll stick with the screw.
I always find when tightening them it shifts the left side slightly one way and then right side slightly moves the other way. I adjust the machine to compensate but is kind of a pain.
Is the fitting with the outrigger where you have the 10mm stud behind the 20mm edge hole made so there is no shifting of shelf?

1/27/23       #4: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Scott Markwood

Al, oh, how I wish I could have you attend one of my connector classes! There's nothing wrong with screw construction, except where speed of assembly, ease of adaptability and end user flexibility are concerned. I thought you said you weren't going to tighten them. There are more than a few of the reasons that most of the large closet manufacturers and franchises in the world use one version or another of Häfele" Rafix. What's not obvious to the casual observer is that the Häfele Rafix was designed to prevent the very shifting issue you fear. If you look closely at the attached photo you'll see that the "lobes" to the left and the right of the opening for the connecting bolt are not the same size. That simple little patented (US6146043) feature allows for a slightly wider "mouth" to easily accept the head of the bolt and to accommodate slight radial misalignment of the plastic housing, but we opened that mouth on one side only so that once you turn the cam the shelf will be held firmly in place against the wider side. Häfele learned this years ago in the 1970's with their Rondorfix product, which was the precursor of the popular Minifix connector that has been copied world-wide. A shelf utilizing the Rondorfix connector shifted severely, and it was common to see shops drilling offset holes as you've described, to compensate for that shifting. What amplified that shifting was it required an offset screwdriver to properly tighten, and that leverage introduced even greater force upon the shelf. Both the Minifix and the later Rafix miniaturized the zinc cam and greatly reduced the forces required to tighten them to the twist of a standard screwdriver. Whoops, looks like I nerded out there for a minute! Sorry about that. Scott


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1/29/23       #5: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Derrek

Website: http://www.closet-doctor.com

For closet fixed shelves we use the radix with outriggers. We went to this to mistakenproof the insertion in the shop so it’s always perfectly aligned.
We assemble cabinets with the single hole radix that the hole is chamfered and the fitting sits flush
We use the screwless one for nailers in the closet system so they can be pushed on against a wall. The mailer is then screwed to a stud
Side note HAFELE sells a 20 mm bit with the countersink on it. This works great on all the connectors and makes inserting them much easier

1/30/23       #6: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Scott Markwood

Derrek, if memory serves me, didn't you post a Youtube video on the chamfered Rafix idea? Very smart, considering how sharp the edge of the hole can be. I've seen it done with 8mm hinge dowels holes too.

1/30/23       #7: Raffix connectors for closet ...
Derrek

Website: http://www.closet-doctor.com

Oh yeah forgot about that video about it
https://youtu.be/-jvgsDIINgE

Radix improvements


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