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by Jodi Nagel
Guest Editor |
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CABINET KNOBS & PULLS:
Placement and Installation |
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| Introduction | Material & Design | Style | Size & Quantity | Placement & Installation |
According to Tony Monteiro of Metropolitan Cabinet Distributors, there are some general guidelines for cabinet hardware placement, depending on your cabinet door style and your hardware.
On contemporary flat door panels, knobs may be fastened on the bottom open corner, approximately 1 1/2" to 2" from the edges. Vertical pulls may be centered along the vertical rail and fastened 2" from the outside edge. Horizontal pulls may be placed from 2" to 4" from the bottom, and like knobs, they can be fastened approximately 2" from the open edge.
The exception to these guidelines applies to glass panel doors. On these the hardware should be centered on the frame. Pulls are more efficient than knobs on drawers, Tony explains. Knobs range in sizes, with a 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" knob being large enough for most people to handle comfortably. Drawer pulls, bin pulls, and knobs should be centered, unless you're using extra-wide pulls or drawers wider than 27", in which case two pulls are recommended. Whenever possible, try to physically handle the knob or pull in action, as cabinet hardware is a functional part of cabinetry.
Most hardware comes with a screw that will fit the typical 3/4" thick door or drawer front. Some will come with a longer screw that will need to be cut to fit your cabinets. To cut and restore the thread on a screw so that it will thread into the hardware, you can use a wire stripper with a threaded screw-cutting feature. This tool can be found at any hardware store for less than $20. If your cabinets are wood, avoid installing pulls or knobs less than 1" from the edge of the door or drawer to avoid splitting. If your drawers are constructed so that the decorative front is attached to the drawer and conceals the mounting hardware, be sure to mark the position of this front on the drawer to make it easier to reassemble. Counterboring the screwhead with a forstner bit will allow you to use a shorter screw to attach the hardware.
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Special thanks to:
Tony Monteiro
Metropolitan Cabinet Distributors
345 University Ave
Westwood, MA 02090
(800) 698-8999
tmonteiro@metcabinet.com
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