How to Make Cabinet Pulls
Designer cabinet pulls are an important accent to kitchen design. There are shops specializing in cabinet pulls. But they can be pricey. Count up the number you need for your kitchen, for instance, and the cost can be prohibitive. Why not make your own? It's easy and you don't need any special equipment. You can get all the materials at your local craft store and home building center. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wood drawer pulls
- Polymer clay, 1 brick each dark blue and yellow
- Wax paper
- Needle tool
- Toaster oven
- Polyurethane varnish, water-base
Instructions
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1
Knead the polymer clay, a 2 ounce brick each of dark blue and yellow, separately, to create a half moon against a dark blue sky for a drawer. The clay will be stiff at first but as it's kneaded it will warm up and become pliable.
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2
Press out a thin circle of dark blue clay 1/2 inch wider in diameter than the face of the wood drawer pull. Use wax paper to pat out the clay so the polymer clay won't stick to it.
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3
Wrap the circle of clay over the face of the drawer pull and pinch it around the edge and against the back of the wood pull. Add additional blue clay to the back of the pull. Don't cover the surface of the knob that will come into direct contact with the front of the drawer. Use fingers to smooth the blue clay.
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4
Pat out a small slab of yellow clay on a fresh sheet of wax paper, 3/4 by 3/4-inch. Take a needle tool--a 5-inch length of dowel with a needle glued into one end--and cut out a half moon shape. Lift it from the wax paper and smooth the edges with fingers.
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5
Place the clay moon on the face of the clay covered knob. Press it in place so the two clays are well fused.
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6
On the back face of the knob poke holes through the clay with the needle tool. These will act as vent holes to release any air or gases when the clay is being baked.
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7
Place the clay knob in a toaster oven and bake it according to manufacturer's instructions on the clay package.
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8
Cool down the clay-covered knob after baking. Varnish it with two coats of polyurethane, water-based varnish for interior use.
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Tips & Warnings
Your fingers must be kept absolutely clean while working with polymer clays.
Any speck of dirt that gets embedded on the surface of the clay will show after the firing.
