Installing Cabinet Pulls

Cabinet Door Hardware Template

February 9th, 2011

 

One thing that irritates me is to see a cabinet handles or knobs are not aligned properly. If a hardware template is used for aligning, marking and drilling the three sixteenths inch wide holes, the pulls can be in perfect position.

Freehand Measuring and Marking With a Pencil
When people install their kitchen or bathroom vanity handles or knobs by making freehand marks on the doors and drawer fronts, there is a huge margin of error. Even if they measure twice and drill once, there can be enough of an offset to make the hardware look crooked. One way to help ensure that the drill bit stays on course is by using a hole punch on the pencil marks before drilling the holes.





If you are just changing cabinet handles, you may need to adjust the original holes a little by reaming them out a bit. You do not need a template for this task.

Freehand Cabinet Door Hardware Template

Using Jigs
Professional cabinet makers and installers use templates for drilling the holes in the doors. You can make your own out of wood or buy one. There are many different styles available. The prices can range from ten dollars to well over a hundred. These jigs can be purchased from online sources and at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
The Problem With Making a Wooden Hardware Template
If you choose to make a jig out of wood to use as a guide, there’s something that you must be aware of. With every hole you drill into the cabinet doors, the hole size of the template gets bigger. As the hole enlarges on the jig, there is more room for the drill bit to be off target.
This may not seem like something to be concerned about, but if two handles are next to each other on a pair of doors and the hardware is off by one sixteenth of an inch, this equates to being one eight of an inch off from center. That is a very noticeable difference. Trust me on this one. I’ve seen my share of crooked cupboard handles that were not installed off center. There is a correct way to drill for cabinet handles.
Buying a Cabinet Hardware Template
The best door guide for drilling holes will have metal inserts for the drill bit to be guided through. The metal sleeves keep the pilot hole from getting bigger. Most store-bought models will have adjustable arms on them.
The lessor expensive models of cabinet hardware jigs will be made out of plastic. These usually only allow for you to mark on the kitchen cupboard door or drawer face where the holes should be drilled. They cannot be used as a physical guide for the drill bit to go through. You will achieve very accurate marks by using one of these guides. You must use a nail punch to ensure that your drill bit stays on the mark and doesn’t walk on the material.
My final thought, do not drill your cabinet doors without using a cabinet hardware template.
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Categories: Installation Tips

RTA Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen has always been the most used room in any home. It is where cooking, baking and preparing meals take place. In the old days, it was where butter was churned, vegetables were pickled and wheat was ground. More recently the kitchen has become a place to entertain as well. Dining rooms are either reserved for special occasions or are completely eliminated to allow for a larger kitchen. Open floor plans are becoming the norm so that family and friends can easily socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. It is not uncommon to have comfortable seating around an island or peninsula so that mom can chat while flipping pancakes or preparing drinks. It is therefore no wonder that when homeowners want to spruce up their homes, the room they are likely to start with is the kitchen.
The kitchen is no longer a work place; it has become the space to portray your unique style. With that in mind, remodeling a kitchen is big business, water pipes, gas lines and structural frames all need to be taken into account as well as what style would like to be achieved. It is advisable to have your contractor assess the kitchen and see if the plumbing, gas lines and wall openings can be moved before have the kitchen designed. An overall budget needs to be figured before any cabinetry, appliances, flooring and lighting are chosen as well.
Hands down the cabinets are the bulk of the kitchen’s aesthetics and many times the majority of the bill as well. It is no wonder that homeowners are looking for ways to save money on their cabinets. In today economy custom kitchen cabinets are out of the question for most homeowners. Quality though is by far still the number one priority. Many rationalize that the investment is worth it. All those that have remodeled can tell you it is a once in a lifetime experience; something that you will never want to repeat. The million dollar question is how to find superior quality cabinets at a low cost.

RTA kitchen cabinets

This is where ready-to-assemble, RTA, kitchen cabinets come in. In the past decade, RTA kitchen cabinets have been steadily gaining popularity, and for a good reason. RTA cabinets are regular kitchen cabinets that are shipped unassembled. They are available in standard cabinet sizes with a wide range of styles and finishes to choose from. High-quality RTA cabinets are made from the same materials as custom cabinetry featuring solid wood construction, dovetailed and soft-closing drawers, European-style and adjustable hinges among many others. The assembly is relatively simple as they are grooved and predrilled wherever necessary. If, for a lack of time or skill you would rather receive the cabinets assembled, most distributors do offer in-house assembly for a minimal fee. RTA cabinets allow for higher end design at closeout pricing.

In addition to their quality, RTA kitchen cabinets are available in many different cabinet styles. Those that choose to go contemporary or simple may opt to go with a Shaker-style. For the traditional folk, raised paneled cabinet with or without glazing are available in numerous stain finishes and paint colors. For those not looking to remodel again, it is advisable to stay away from trendy cabinets such as stainless steel cabinets and bright colors. It will make resale difficult and may bore you easily. To give the kitchen a custom look, custom-style cabinets are available, such as plate racks, wine racks and glass doors. Crown moldings in various sizes, rope molding, dentil molding, furniture base molding, light rail molding, decorative overlays, valances, turn posts and decorative fillers are also available to complement cabinet styles.
If that is not enough of an incentive, check out the lead time. RTA cabinets are warehoused in flat boxes, making it easy for distributors to store them. A 2-3 weeks lead time is typical for an RTA cabinet order. If you are under pressure from your contractor, (after all, who isn’t!), look for manufacturers that have a local warehouse. Chances are they will be able to ship out sooner or may give you the option to pick up your order. Also, if you are missing a small piece or a cabinet is delivered damaged, replacements can be shipped out quickly as not to delay the project. No jokes. Happy Remodeling!
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