How to Drill for New Handles in Drawers Without Splintering the Wood

Handles on old drawers sometimes loosen over time.

Drawer handles sometimes wear out with continued usage and become loose and wobbly. Sometimes you just want to change them out to give your set of drawers a new look. For whatever the reason, you want to make sure you prepare the drawer for the new handles before you start drilling. If you place the new holes too close to the old holes, the wood will often splinter and leave you with a loose fit.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Pipe cleaner
• Wooden dowel
• Fine-tooth wood saw
• Wood glue
• Plate
• Pencil
• Electric drill

Instructions

1. Take out the old handle and the screws that held it in place with a screwdriver. Clean out the hole with a pipe cleaner to remove any debris.

2. Cut pieces of a wooden dowel the same size as the width and length of the old handle holes using a fine-toothed saw .

3. Pour a tablespoon of carpenter's wood glue on a plate. Dip the pieces of dowel in the glue and then insert into the old holes left in the drawer. Push the dowels so that they are flush with the front of the dresser. Dry for 24 hours.

4. Mark the position of the new handle holes on the front of the drawer with a pencil.

5. Use a sharp drill bit with your drill set to a high speed to drill through the drawer, starting from the front and drilling to the back. Even if the new hole is near the old hole, the dowel and wood glue will act as a solid surface and you should not experience any splintering.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a little wood putty that matches the color of your dresser to fill in any gaps left by the old holes.

References

• Arts and Crafts Collector: Filling Holes: Wood, Dough, Putty or Plugs?
• KCMA: Cabinet Maintenance