finding the right size drill bit is like choosing the right color for your cabinet doors. You have to be able to see the difference between them and need them! Knowing the size of the cabinet bit you want can put you in a more favorable mood to find the right one.
Size doesn’t mean big or small in a cabinet bit. It is a misnomer that larger bits are bigger in terms of holes lost in a frame. Most legitimate cabinet makers measure their holes using an American Standard Cabinet Hinge, which is 1/2″ thick.
A hinge that is only ¼″ thick will not fit into a 1 ½″ frame! Luckily, most home remodelers have enough sense to know how big of a hole must be for a screw or dowel to go through it.
verages about ¾ of an inch thick, which makes it seem like larger bits are needed.
Contents:
Determine the thickness of your door
If you have a thick door or a cabinet with a lot of space needed inside, it is recommended to use a thinner drill bit. You will save some money and time by using this method!
If you have a thin door or a wardrobe or open shelf box like we do in our home, then the thicker the drill bit, the better. This is due to less metal being forced through your drill.
To determine whether or not your cabinet knob or door is Thin, Hard, Or Thick, there are three ways to measure: 1) Use an old screwdriver to mark the nail head on the cabinet; 2) Use an impact driver to measured the resistance when drilling; and 3) Use an u-shaped measuring device such as an inset ruler to determine if the thickness is hard, thin, or thick.
Choose a drill bit that is slightly larger than the knob
This is a important step to take care in the size of your drill bit. As the knob enchancement technology (Teflon or PTFE) is very thin, slightly oversized drill bits can protect against damage to the knob.
If you have a standard size knob, then a slightly larger bit will fit into the hole better. If you have a larger size, such as a kitchen sink style knob, then an oversized bit will be correct for the hole.
As opposed to having a standard sized screwdriver, which can be used for different sizes of things, having an appropriate sized drill is key when building this project.
Choose a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the door
This is a important rule to listen to when building cabinet doors. If you have a larger (larger) drill bit, you need a smaller (smaller) cabinet knob.
When building cabinets, the thinner the drill bit, the thinner the cabinet knob must be. This is due to the fact that the thicker cabinet knobs require a bit more powerful power to push through the wood.
To make sure your power source is of good quality, try buying one of each size of drillbit. You will find that the one with less others may work fine, but may not last as long as the ones with more on them.
Another thing to watch out for is whether or not the drill can be mounted on a wall or in an office setup.
Test the position of the drill bit on the door
If the cabinet knob is close to a wall, then it can be difficult to tell if the bit is inserted fully or not. This is because some knobs have a rounded end and others have a sharp end.
If the knob has a sharp end, then you must be sure that the bit is inserted fully into the hole. If it looks like it is in, but not installed, then you may need to add more wood to fill the space.
If the cabinet knob has a round end, you do not need to worry about this as much as the pointy end of the same size drill bit. When installing these, always start with just enough wood for them to fit through and for them to stand up.
Mark where you will put the hole for the cabinet knob
When scouting hardware stores, you will want to be sure that there are plenty of size drill bits available. These bits will let you mark where the hole for the cabinet knob should be.
You will need a bit with a larger diameter to fit the bottom of the Cabinet Knob Xeon. There are two sizes of drill bit: open-end and closed-end. A closed-end drill bit will fit into a hole smaller in diameter than the open-end variety.
A good rule of thumb is to buy a bit that is at least 4 times as long as the length of the cabinet knob you need to install. This way, you have enough room for your screwdriver or other tool to fit inside comfortably.
Drill into your door with the test hole using a small drill bit
This method can be very dangerous if you have children or other occupants in your home. You can use the test hole method to determine if your cabinet knob or door is too small for the size of the drill bit.
If your cabinet knob or door is the wrong size for the drill bit, then this method does not work! Once you have installed the drill bit into your door, you have to make sure it is seated firmly by holding a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other. Then, give a quick pull and let go.
Drill two pilot holes first to ensure nothing goes wrong. One way to do this is to use a ¾ inch drive screw and gently push down on it so that it stands up solid. Then, using a small hammer and an additional length of screw, drive it down into one of the pilot holes so that it’s seated.
Check if your cabinet knob fits through the test hole
While buying a knob, be sure that it fits through the test hole. A knobby knob may not fit through the test hole because the knob does not extend far enough to cover the bottom of the cabinet.
A regular knob may not fit because it is too thin or delicate. A lathe-turned knob might fit but because it is thicker, more expensive knobs might not.
If you have a door with a single hinge, you can use a single button Knob. If you have two hinges, buy two different buttons so if one breaks, the other can be replaced. If you have four legs, buy six legs so it is more robust!
If you have round knobs, they can be enchantingly beautiful but dangerous if they are cracked or break under too much force.
If it does, continue drilling with a larger drill bit until you can put your cabinet knob through
When you can, continue changing to the next size drill bit until you get to the full length of the knob. That is when your cabinet knob will stop!
Once you have your knob cut, take it to a jeweler and have it resized if needed. Then use these new long cabinet knobs as a starting point for another piece of furniture or décor.
You can also use these long cabinet knobs as door handles or pull handles for your new furniture. They are perfect for a set of large wooden doors or a storage unit would fit perfectly inside!
Whatever you decide to use them for, make sure they are safe! You do not want to risk breaking them before the project is complete due to too small of a drill bit.