Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jun 13, 2003 11:17pm | #1

   Doug, how about 4" brass wire pulls. They are 'bow' shaped 1/4"brass rods we used to call Spaghetti pulls.  They are available in bright,satin,brass and polished and brushed chrome .

   Also ebony( black). Modern Europian look. Also available in 3", 5" and 6"

   Stein

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jun 14, 2003 03:45am | #2

   Can you tell us more?  Like...

   What's the matter with traditional round pulls to your eye?   Is it the shape?   Or maybe is it that they are traditional, and you want something non-traditional?   Do you want wooden pulls, or metal, or something else?  Do you want knobs (that you grasp), or pulls (that you can wrap your fingers entirely around)?

3. 
   jackiechan | Jun 14, 2003 06:44am | #3

   Doug,

   If you want something out of the ordinary - procure an attractive piece of burl with a live edge on it.  Carefully bandsaw trapezoid shaped pieces from the block, keeping the live edge on the outside (largest) facet.  Drill through the back of the drawer face into the burl pull.  This adds a unique look to a traditional piece of furniture.

   If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask!

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

1. 
   DougF | Jun 16, 2003 03:40pm | #10

   Dan,

   I really like the idea and if you don't mind, I have a few questions:

   What are the general dimenisions of the pull you suggest?

   I am assuming that the "live edge" is one edge displaying one irregular burl edge.  If so, where should this edge appear: top; side? 

   Would you stay with the same species or a contrasting wood burl?

   I thank you for the suggestion and the help. 

   Doug

   I've never worked with burl so this is new to me.  

1. 
   jackiechan | Jun 18, 2003 03:50am | #11

   Doug,

   The dimension of any drawer pull is based upon the size of the piece it's being mounted on, and personal preference.  That being said, when I use a beautiful piece of burl for a custom drawer pull, I tend to go bigger and beefier - you're using a 'unique as a finger print' piece of wood - show it off! 

   A live edge burl is a burl that still has its outer edge intact (as opposed to one that has been cut from the center of a slab

   I'm just finishing and trimming out an eight drawer, solid maple dresser that I designed and fabricated.  The maple is highly figured (tiger, quilted), and the light dances and refracts from every angle on the piece.  To add a strong contrast, I mounted each drawer with a rich brown walnut burl pull.  The contrasting woods truly complement each other, adding an exciting visual dimension.  Using a burl pull of the same wood species as the rest of the project is perfectly acceptable - and by its very nature, will offer a strong contrast.  Just to kick it up a notch, I prefer to use a contrasting species of a distinctly different color.

   The live edge of a burl pull would be the front face of the pull (the leading edge that you reach for, and that you see when looking at the project head on.)

   I've enclosed a design of what a burl pull might look like from a cross view (general dimensions included).  The width of the pull should be proportional to the width of the drawer front.  It should be able to be grabbed comfortably between four fingers and your thumb (my design preference, not a rule).  On the piece I am finishing, the burl pulls are almost five inches wide.

   Working with burls can be tricky.  A freshly sharpened low angle block plane will serve you well in shaping the piece.  You may find yourself needing to skew the plane, and changing directions to avoid tear out.  Making multiple passes with a very light depth of cut will help to avoid some of the pitfalls.

   Please feel free to send along any questions that you may have!

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

   Edited 6/17/2003 8:59:36 PM ET by Jackie Chan

   
1. 
   DougF | Jun 18, 2003 04:32pm | #12

   Dan,

   I think this is what I've been looking for.  I realize your post took time away from your business and  I want you to know how much I appreciate your contribution to my continuing education as a woodworker. 

   Now I need to find 120 linear inches of 6/4 burl.   

   Doug

4. 
   JPGrout | Jun 14, 2003 07:59am | #4

   I am kind of partial to the ones in the attachment. They look hard but once you do the jigs you can go quite fast

   Joe

   
5. 
   SgianDubh | Jun 14, 2003 08:44am | #5

   Doug, a useful maxim I've found when designing furniture is to, "Design from the handles, back." Think of them at the beginning of the design process to prevent them looking like an  afterthought. Slainte.

   Website                I just didn't like being 'me', so my alter-ego is back, ha, ha.

6. 
   theRev | Jun 16, 2003 02:48am | #6

   Doug,

   I did a shoe box for my brother-in-law last year. I let his five year old son make the pulls! Really give it a personal touch.

   Go down to your local hobby shop and get some polymer clay. Once shaped, you can bake it in your home oven. It can be polished and shaped as well. The design ideas can be endless.

   Here is a knob I did for a glass display table. I used leather to put it on.

   Scott

   
1. 
   NormInFujino | Jun 16, 2003 03:04am | #7

   That's a very nice idea, Scott. Where did you find the polymer clay? Tokyu?

   ". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."

   Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

1. 
   theRev | Jun 16, 2003 05:06am | #9

   Thanks, Norm. I actually brought some back from the States. I imagine you could find some at Tokyu. You could also try the Ben Franklin craft store thru the foreign buyers club.

   Scott

7. 
   SCFrankland | Jun 16, 2003 03:08am | #8

   Here are two different handles I built for my bench.

   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"