How to Make Your Own Wood Drawer Pulls
A drawer pull is the handle or knob used to open drawers or cabinet doors. You can buy them in many different styles and shapes, made from just about every type of material you can imagine. Woodworking enthusiasts may prefer to make their own drawer pulls, either to match a custom cabinet design or simply for the satisfaction of creating useful items for the home or shop. Do-it-yourself wooden drawer pulls also can be educational and entertaining fixtures in a child's play room or nursery. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stencil of basic shapes or large letters
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- 1 oak piece, 1/2-by-4-by-36 inches
- 1 round 3/4-by-36-inch wood dowel rod
- Drill
- 1/16-inch wood bit
- Jigsaw
- 180-grit sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Medium C-clamp
- Damp sponge
- High-gloss paint
- Wood screws
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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1
Place the stencil flat on the piece of oak, and draw the pattern (basic shapes or large letters) on the wood. Make each drawer pull a minimum of 3 inches wide to allow easier access by small hands. Measure and mark the center of the shape. Draw as many drawer pull designs as needed.
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2
Cut out the shapes with a jigsaw. To add more depth to the drawer pulls, set the jigsaw blade at a slight bevel before you begin cutting. Cut out all the drawer pulls at once instead of making them one at a time.
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3
Sand the entire surface of the shapes with 180-grit sandpaper, being careful to sand only along the grain (lines in the wood).
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4
Cut drawer-pull bases out of the wooden dowel rod. Measure each base 1 inch or longer, and make straight cuts. Sand the entire surface of the base.
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5
Apply a thin, even coat of wood glue to one end of each drawer-pull base. Center the base over the mark you made in the center of the shape and press it against the shape firmly. Attach a C-clamp to hold the two pieces tightly.
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6
Wipe away any glue that squeezed out from between the pieces. Allow the drawer pull to bond for at least two hours.
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7
Paint the drawer pulls with at least three moderate coats of paint. Apply one coat at a time and allow the paint to dry completely before applying the next coat. Paint the entire surface of the drawer pull except for the exposed end of the base.
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8
Drill a hole 1/4-inch deep in the exposed end of all the drawer-pull bases. Hold the base against the screw hole in the drawer or cabinet, and install a screw through that hole and into the pilot hole drilled in the base.
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9
Tighten the screw until the drawer pull is held snugly against the face of the drawer or cabinet.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have one available, a table-mounted band saw allows more accurate cutting of shapes.
Seasonal shapes, such as pumpkins or snowmen, can be changed to reflect the season and provide a bit of variety.
Drawer pulls can be as wide as the drawer is tall, but cabinet pulls should be no more than 1/3 the width of the door.
