For medium sized cabinets:
I’ve seen lots of surface mount cupboard catches.
I’ve also seen lots of mortised locks that typically open with a skeleton key.
Has anyone seen a hybrid of the two where you mortise in a catch mechanism that is turned with a knob (kind of like a standard interior door knob assembly, but scaled down to cabinet size)?
Thanks for any help.
Replies
Samson,
They are not hard to make.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Out of what, Chris? Do tell.
What I am thinking of is called a Shaker Spinner and is made of wood. Christian Becksvoort wrote an article on it which I have in a Best of FW compilation - Building Furniture. http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00110.aspChris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
That's cool, but I was thinking of something that combines:
this action
View Image
but mortises like this:
View Image
My only idea is a rack and pinion system. The pinion is attached to the knob and engages the rack. By turning the knob, the rack slides back and forth. Might require some fiddling, but it would be pretty cool once completed! I can draw up something if you don't quite understand.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Makes sense to me, Chris, but I want a spring action. Thanks for the clever idea. Perhaps I'll try to rig something like that up on another cabinet project where the doors will get slightly less use.
Samson,
So you want it to be mortised into the door so only the button shows?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Only a knob, yes.
May be close: http://www.antiquehardware.com/product/02004824/
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Not quite, but this is getting really close:
http://www.antiquehardware.com/product/02004415/
Samson,
Would you call it a hidden spring latche? Here's another from Rockler but the button is exposed and is bright brass: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10193
I'm assuming that you want to use it on a small cabinet?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I don't know about nomenclature, Bob, but the one I posted above from the first site you linked would probably do it, except I'd need to figure out how to mount a small knob on a door knob shaft.
The Rockler one is not close as it's action is to release a latch hook on an inside shelf.
As for the doors I want to use it on, it's something I was kicking around for this project (this picture is old - a lot has happened to it since as far as legs and a top, etc.)
View Image
Edited 8/13/2008 11:08 am ET by Samson
Sam,
I'd suggest using the knob of your choice, and bullet catch(es).
Ray
Thanks, Ray.
Becksvoort's warnings on bullet catches here:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDF/011114085.pdf
had sort of scared me off those. He says they're really sensitive to seasonal changes and will not tolerate the slightest iota of warp in a door. Now I don't plan to make any non flat doors, but ....
Have you used the Brusso 1/2 inchers? Would you use 1 per door or 2 (top and bottom)?
Sam,
I can't access your link; I'm not a paying member of this club. Can you spell "cheap"?
I've not used the Brusso brand, just the run of the mill generic type bullet catches, fitting into either 1/4" or 3/8" holes. I have actually used the larger ones, top and bottom, to hold warped doors in place. They are pretty sensitive to spacing, too tight and they won't allow passage, too loose, and they wallow around in the cup/receiver. This can be adjusted somewhat by either surface mounting, partially or totally inletting the cup.
If putting on the top or bottom edge of the door, one alone can spring the door up or down, affecting the reveal around the door, so I like to use them in pairs. You can use a single bullet on the edge opposite the hinges if it will work in your application, in that case, I would locate it near the knob; if the knob is near the bottom, and the catch in the center, or near the top, it can torque the door pretty good pulling the thing open, and may not want to snap close without some pressure near the catch itself.
Ray
Thanks for the tips, Ray. Kind of you to detail it for me. Cheers.
Your welcome Sam. Good luck.
Ray
Samson,
Read this write-up and you will no longer fear bullet catches. http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=58949&cat=3,51887Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Do you want the spring action of the surface latch?If not, and you only need one, how about cutting off the end of the key of a mortise lock, attach a nifty (wooden?) knob, and then drill/tap the socket end of the key for a small set screw that would be accessed through the end plate of the lock?
Thanks for the idea, Ralph.
But I do want this to be a spring action latch - like a typical door knob action - push the door close and it latches, turn the knob and it opens. I'm sort of surprised that nothing like this exists for fine cupboards/ freestanding cabinets. Perhaps a money maker for someone, if they want to invest in making such hardware? Maybe I should write to Brusso...
Something which is close to what you want is http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10876. You push the door closed, and it latches. You must pull on the knob to unlatch it. Pulling on the door doesn't unlatch it.
A slightly different approach would start with http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=59460&cat=3,41399. On this one, you'd need to add some sort of mechanism (a spring or a weight) to return the knob to its latching position after you've opened the door. Perhaps the knob itself could be eccentric, so its weight rotates it into the latching position.
Thanks, Jamie, for the links. Call me a snob, but I find these mechanisms rather inelegant. They would be fine on utility stuff or kitchen cabinets even, but I'm kinda looking for something that wouldn't look out of place on a decent antique cabinet or secretary. I probably should have specified that. Thanks again for the response.
Samson,
Here's some that are exposed: http://houseofantiquehardware.com/s.nl/sc.11/category.112/.f but don't think that's what you're looking for. They do appear to be appropriate for antique cabinets, but then again......
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thanks, Bob. If I was going to go exposed, there are plenty of choices. Inseed, i have some in my draw or hardware that I bought for another project and didn't end up using that would be fine.
Really, this:
http://www.antiquehardware.com/product/02004415/
is 95% of the way there. The only thing I could imagine it having more would be a dedicateed system for mounting a small cabinet knob of your choice.
Samson,
I'm willing to bet that with your creative mind you'll come up with something that will work for you. If I happen upon something I'll give ye a holla.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled