How to Use a Jig to Drill Holes for Cabinet Fixtures
Like many home improvement jobs, installing hardware on cabinets can be infinitely easier with the right tools. In this case, the best way to make this job go smoothly is to employ a jig. A jig for cabinet doors and drawers is a template, usually made of plastic, that contains a series of holes. When held up to a cabinet or drawer, the template allows you to mark and drill holes with quick, spot-on precision and create a uniform look among your cabinets. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Knob and pull jig for cabinets (found at home improvement stores)
- Pencil
- Painter's tape or clamp (optional)
- Drill and 3/16-inch drill bits
- Cabinet knobs and pulls
- Tape measure
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Instructions
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Knobs and Pulls for Cabinets
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Choose one of the lower five holes on the jig. For high-mount knobs, use a higher selection on the jig; for low-mount knobs, use a lower selection. At this point, you are merely eyeballing your preference before holding up the jig to the cabinet.
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2
Place the jig against the door and mark the selected hole with a pencil. If you need a few minutes to determine the proper placement, secure the jig to the cabinet with painter's tape or a clamp, and then mark the hole. The choice here is a matter of personal preference.
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3
Drill from the outside of the door to the inside.
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4
Install the mounting screw from the back door and tighten.
Center Pulls for Cabinet Drawers
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5
Measure the width of the drawer.
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Determine the exact middle point of the drawer. For a 30-inch drawer, the mid-point would be 15 inches. Align the center point of the jig -- the one for cabinet pulls -- at the middle point. Move the jig up or down to determine where you want the pull to be placed on the drawer. If you need a few minutes to determine the proper placement, secure the jig to the cabinet first with painter's tape or a clamp. Mark this new center point of the drawer with a pencil.
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Measure the distance between the drilling holes on the back of the pull. It usually is 3 inches. Make two pencil marks, each one half that distance from the center point, which would be 1.5 inches if the distance is 3 inches. These marks are where you will drill the holes for your pull.
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Drill from the outside of the drawer to the inside.
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Pulls on your cabinets will reduce stains and fingerprints. Install the mounting screw from the inside of the drawer and tighten.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection when using a drill.
References
- Reader’s Digest Complete Do-it-Yourself Manual; The Reader’s Digest Association (pages 84-85).
- How to Refresh Kitchen Cabinets
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
