I’m new here so Hi
I often have to install handles on cabinet doors and drawers. Larger drawers often use two. I was wondering if there is a formula that is a rule of thumb for an aesthetically pleasing location. I know in boxes certian proportions have been found to be so, like the golden rectangle or 1:2:3 etc. I sometimes have trouble deciding myself where they look best and it would be nice to tell the customer I have some reason for my suggestion. Of course I always ask them where they want them but usually they tell me to put them on wherever I usually do. I’m talking cabnetry mostly here.
Replies
jcrum,
According to E. Joyce re: handles, knobs and pulls (Encyclopedia of Furniture Making),"There are no golden rules and good taste alone must decide their selection and placing". How's that for no help...lol
The following link contains some minimal information
http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/tech/position_knobs.shtml
I try to place them where they'll actually be used (i.e. where people tend to reach for the door or drawer). Our old kitchen cabinets had the door knobs in the panels which I suppose was "the look" for the late 70's. I don't think anyone ever used them however - the face frames had lots of fingernail scratches at the corners of the doors.
When I built new cabinets, I eliminated the knobs and made finger pulls in the edges of the doors & drawers. After eight years, we have some dirt buildup but no scratches - lol.
When I build cabinets with knobs and/or pulls, I do them last - after the doors and drawers have been installed and adjusted. Otherwise, those final tweaks can throw things off and look a little goofy.
For drawer handles try 2/5's from the top and 1/5 from the outside edge as a starting point. Greek columns major divisions are in 5ths and that seems to get me close for lots of things. I used to use 1/4 points for lots of things but learned over time that that looks clunky on furniture. What's intteresting is that using the quarter points is the basic rule of cantilever design (ie. 1/2 the span can be cantilevered), but FLW's cantilevered designs don't look clunky at all.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
In th center of the Drawer?
thanks to all. The 5ths sounds interesting. will also check out the web site.thanks again.
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