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Locating knobs and pulls

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Locating knobs and pulls

#1

Locating knobs and pulls

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I find this part of furniture building stressful. The result of the location influences the look of the piece. Any error in execution will be impossible to fully recover from.

I have studied many Period pieces and found that knobs and pulls are located in from the drawer edge 20% of the drawer width. However, exceptions occur especially for pieces with a 3:2:1 drawer rank. The options are to locate hardware for the 3 and 2 drawer ranks centered and the single drawer 20% in from edge. Or, locate the single drawer hardware in line with the hardware on the 3 drawer rank. (see pictures) Vote your preference.





Locating screw positions is done with two squares as shown in the picture.



A pilot hole is drilled through the drawer. This hole is used to center a Forstner bit on the drawer back side to drill a recess for the screw head. Then the hole is enlarged with a number drill to accommodate the screw(s).


Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#2

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

Hank Knight

Bill, I think I like the 20% solution (top pic). The spacing of the pulls in the bottom photo looks too wide on the big drawer. I'm sure you'll get varying opinions. It's judgment call. Probably can't go wrong with either one.

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#3

Clint Searl

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

Clint Searl

In general, I think a two-pull drawer looks best with the centers of the pulls set 4"-5" from the side edges of the drawer, and the size and shape of the pulls in proportion with the dimensions of the drawers.


Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#4

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

To my eye, the top pic looks off. The second pic down looks more pleasing to my eye. Just a preference I guess.

Can't you use a bit of double sided tape to place all the pulls in both configurations, step back and view it, then decide?

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#5

In line with the 3 rank.


Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#6

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

Joe Grittani

I prefer photo 1. Don't ask me why, I just think the overall look will be better.

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#7

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

Pete in Holland MI

Photo 1 is my choice.

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#8

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

AZ in Colorado Springs

I think photo 1 looks better. It's a little busier near the top with three different rows in succession, but the large drawer looks odd with the pulls closer to the ends, as in photo 2.

Interesting question, though. The pieces I've built with drawers usually have a single row of drawers. I've built some kitchen islands with two drawers under the top and a wide one near the floor. On those, I arrange the pulls in a rectangle (lower pulls are directly beneath the uppers, which are centered on the narrower drawers).

Re: Locating knobs and pulls

#9

Locating pulls- what got done

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I preferred the single drawer pulls to be in from edge the customary 20%. My son-in-law client, who has remarkably good taste, and his artist wife opted for them to be in line with the pull on the top drawer. I see both configurations in Period Furniture so I had no reservations doing what they wanted.

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