Builder-grade cabinets are a great option for folks looking to install affordable cabinets without long lead times. However, they often come without hardware and look quite basic. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert shows a homeowner how to upgrade his basic cabinets by installing hardware with a few basic tools and techniques.
How to Locate Cabinet Knobs and Pulls
Build a Custom Hardware Jig
When it comes to door hardware, it makes sense to build a custom jig. Here’s a quick guide:
How to Install Cabinet Hardware
Resources
For both the cabinet doors and drawers, Nathan installed the Brightened Opulence Matte Black Drawer Pulls in two sizes, which are manufactured by Liberty Hardware. The hardware came with mounting screws, though Nathan opted to use longer screws on the drawer faces because they were thicker than the cabinet doors. Nathan highly recommends using a jig to keep the hardware lined up consistently for any cabinet hardware installation. He mentioned the Cabinet Hardware Jig ORIGINAL, which is manufactured by True Position Tools. For the actual install project, he used a combination of a KHI-PULL Cabinet Hardware Jig, which is made by Kreg Tools, and a DIY jig that Nathan made out of scrap, 1-by plywood, wood glue, and finish nails, which are materials that can all be found at home centers. To drill the holes in the cabinet doors and drawers, Nathan used a Festool Cordless Drill CSX, and to tighten the hardware screws, he used a 20V MAX Lithium Ion 3/8” Right Angle Drill Driver manufactured by DeWalt.
Materials
Hardware jig Wood glue (for the custom jig) Scrap wood for custom jig (1x2 stock) Finish nails Hardware
Tools
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title: “How To Install Cabinet Hardware” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-16” author: “Andrew Fitch”
Builder-grade cabinets are a great option for folks looking to install affordable cabinets without long lead times. However, they often come without hardware and look quite basic. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert shows a homeowner how to upgrade his basic cabinets by installing hardware with a few basic tools and techniques.
How to Locate Cabinet Knobs and Pulls
Build a Custom Hardware Jig
When it comes to door hardware, it makes sense to build a custom jig. Here’s a quick guide:
How to Install Cabinet Hardware
Resources
For both the cabinet doors and drawers, Nathan installed the Brightened Opulence Matte Black Drawer Pulls in two sizes, which are manufactured by Liberty Hardware. The hardware came with mounting screws, though Nathan opted to use longer screws on the drawer faces because they were thicker than the cabinet doors. Nathan highly recommends using a jig to keep the hardware lined up consistently for any cabinet hardware installation. He mentioned the Cabinet Hardware Jig ORIGINAL, which is manufactured by True Position Tools. For the actual install project, he used a combination of a KHI-PULL Cabinet Hardware Jig, which is made by Kreg Tools, and a DIY jig that Nathan made out of scrap, 1-by plywood, wood glue, and finish nails, which are materials that can all be found at home centers. To drill the holes in the cabinet doors and drawers, Nathan used a Festool Cordless Drill CSX, and to tighten the hardware screws, he used a 20V MAX Lithium Ion 3/8” Right Angle Drill Driver manufactured by DeWalt.
Materials
Hardware jig Wood glue (for the custom jig) Scrap wood for custom jig (1x2 stock) Finish nails Hardware
Tools
