Guide for Drilling Holes to Install Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Knobs

• Knobs are the easiest kitchen cabinet hardware to install because they only require one hole. If a single hole is off by a fraction of an inch, it still works just fine. Determine the location of the knob by taking a good look at the area before you drill any holes. When you've decided the location that is most attractive and convenient, mark it with a sharp pencil and measure its distance from the side and bottom of the door. Match the knobs on all the other kitchen cabinet doors by making the same measurement on them.

Pulls

• Drawer and door pulls are slightly more complicated than knobs because they require two holes, and these holes need to be a precise distance from each other. The easiest way to do this is to make a template that you can use over and over. Cut a piece of ¼-inch masonite to the size of your drawer or door front. Drill two holes in it that are positioned for the drawer pull and are exactly the same distance apart as the two bolt holes in the pull. Test the template by attaching the pull to it. If it works, transfer the hole positions to the drawer fronts using a sharp pencil.

Drawer Slides

• Metal drawer slides have become common in modern kitchens. They allow heavily laden drawers to open and close more easily than with wooden slides. To install a metal drawer slide without the risk of splitting the drawer, hold the slide on the corner of the drawer where it is being installed. Make a pencil mark through the holes where the screws will be going. Drill a small pilot hole in that location. The pilot hole should be the same diameter as the shaft of the screw, without the threads. This pilot hole allows the screw threads to grip the wood so the shaft of the screw won't split the wood.

Hinges

• You can drill pilot holes to prevent splitting when installing hinges in the same way as drilling drawers. The number and type of holes that are required for a hinge will vary depending on the style of hinge. European hinges, for example, are set directly into the back of the door face, and require a large hole of about 1¼-inch diameter to accommodate the hinge. Whatever the size of the hole you're drilling, it's important to have sharp drill bits for maximum accuracy.