How to Make An Installation Drill Jig for Installing Cabinet Drawer Pulls ("D" Style)

Finished Installation of drawer pulls. See how they are lined up perfectly and at the same height!

Installing "D" style drawer pulls in your kitchen and Bathroom cabinets can be a challenge. Making sure that the drawer pull is in the correct location, located consistently with adjacent drawers, with attachment holes are at the correct spacing and are square to the drawer is a challenge. By following the directions in this article you will be able to construct a drawer pull jig. It will ensure that each drawer pull is in the correct location, the mounting holes are at the correct distance apart and square and true.

Things You'll Need

• Piece of hard wood larger then the face of the drawer.
• Pencil
• Tape Measure or Ruler
• Dowel pins
• Dowel pin drill bit
• Drill bit slightly larger then the attachment screws for the drawer pull.
• Drawer Pulls

Instructions

1. 

   Determine the location for your drawer pulls. I would recommend installing them in the center of the drawer face. Then following this location for all remaining drawers. I've used sticky tack to layout my pulls, this allows for making adjustments without any damage to the drawer faces.

2. Measure the distance from the top of the drawer and from the side to the center of the pull. In our case the face of the drawer is 17-1/2" wide x 6-3/16" high, so I will be installing the pull centered at 8-3/4" from the edge, and 3-3/32" from the top.

3. Measure the distance between the mounting holes for the pull. Our is 3-3/4" between mounting holes.

4. 

   The jig mounting board needs to be at least 2" wider then the drawer, and extend 2" below the center line for the drawer pull.
   Using my drawer face of 17-1/2" wide and a center line dimension of 3-3/32", I selected a piece of wood 19-1/2" x 7-1/2".

5. 

   From the top edge of the board draw a horizontal line that is equal to the drawer pull center location plus 1" (to allow for the installation of the location dowel pins). Draw a horizontal line across the board.

6. 

   (Measure from the edge of the board the center line distance (from step 2) plus 1" and make a vertical line this will be the center position of the drawer pull.

7. 

   Then measure to each side of the vertical mounting line, 1/2 the distance of the drawer pull mounting holes and make a mark on each side of the vertical center line. Check your work at this point with the drawer pull, the mounting holes should line up with your marks and be centered on the mounting board.

8. 

   Measure up from the horizontal centerline the vertical distance for the pull (from step 2) and draw a horizontal line. Then measure up 1/2 the width of the dowel pins and make a second horizontal line. The second line will be the horizontal mounting position for the dowel pins.

9. 

   From the vertical center line measure over 6" on each side and make a mark. This will become the location for your guide dowel pins. These pins will rest on the top of the drawer face to accurately set the horizontal position of the pull.

10. 

    Measure over from the vertical center line the center line distance (from step 2) and draw a vertical line, then measure 1/2 the width of the dowel pin and make a second line. the intersection of this line and the center line for the drawer pull will be the location for your guide dowel pin.

11. 

    Drill dowel pin holes using the dowel pin drill bit.

12. Drill drawer pull guide holes in jig being very careful to remain perpendicular to the board.

13. Insert dowel pins in the top and side locations. These pins on the mounting jig will provide the position on the drawer face to insure that each location is consistent.

14. 

    To use the jig for installing your drawer pulls, place the top guide dowel pins of the jig on the top edge of the drawer and slide the jig to the right placing the side guide dowel pin on the side of the drawer. You may notice that I have an additional piece of wood mounting to the face of my jig, that was due to not having a piece of hard wood large enough for the task so I used another board for the location settings and mounted a hard wood board to the face for the drill guide.

15. 

    Now that the jig is in position you can use your drill to drill the mounting holes for the drawer pulls.

16. 

    To install the drawer pull insert the mounting screws in the drawer face and screw in to the pull. If you are a little off in your locations, one can use a slightly larger drill bit and open up the clearance between the holes. Just be careful not to go to large so that the drawer pull doesn't cover the holes.

17. 

    See my article on installing cabinet knobs for further details on installing your drawer pulls.
    http://www.ehow.com/how_4722118_cabinet-door-knobs-location-jig.html

Tips & Warnings

• A drill press is an excellent tool for ensuring the at the dowel pins and drawer pull holes are perpendicular to the jig.

• Always measure twice and cut/drill once. It is always to double check your work along the way then to have to deal with a mistake.