Hardware101
Getting to know knobs, pulls and hinges
BY JOAN SHELLEY
Not too long ago, designers, contractors and homeowners had a limited selection of hardware for furniture and cabinetry from which to choose. These days, the inventory seems infinite. Hardware is available in all shapes, sizes, materials and finishes. This is great news for the creative- minded, but for those who have difficulty making decisions, the process of selecting hardware has become exponentially more difficult.
THE BASICS
To make the selection process more reasonable and enjoyable, let’s take a minute to review the basics of hardware.
Knobs:
A knob can be any shape but it is installed with a single screw. A knob’s dimensions include diameter and projection (see image below). These can be important when looking at the clearances of doors and drawers.
Pulls:
Pulls are installed with two screws. The length of the pull can vary greatly, but the important measurement is the “center-to-center” screw pattern. If you are replacing pulls on current cabinetry, you need to check the center-to-center pattern before you order. The standard screw pattern for pulls is 3 inches. Other common sizes include 23/4 inches, 21/2 inches, 4 inches, 64mm and 96 inches. In addition to these customary sizes, there are pulls available that have adjustable center-to-center patterns.
Another important measurement is projection because of door and drawer clearances. Projection determines how far out the pull protrudes from the base. Furthermore, projection can be important for people with special needs. People with handicaps, people who are elderly, people with arthritis, and many others can benefit from a handle with a greater projection and center-to-center measurement. It just is easier to put a hand inside a pull that has greater projection because there is more space to do so.
Cup Pulls:
Cup pulls are semi-enclosed pulls that employ the same dual screw pattern as a standard pull.
Drop Pulls:
Drop pulls are also installed with two screws, but the handle portion can pivot and drop down close to the surface of the drawer. These pulls are used frequently in furniture or cabinets for style or for areas where projection can cause a problem.
Backplates:
Backplates are used in conjunction with a knob or a pull; like pulls, the size is described by the center-to-center pattern. Backplates are placed between the door or drawer surface and the knob or pull for several reasons:
- To visually enhance the decorative hardware.
- To cover existing holes in the cabinet surface.
- To protect the cabinet surface.
Hinge Plates:
Hinge plates are a specialty decorative piece. They are placed singly or in pairs on either side of a butt hinge to give the appearance of an ornate beautiful hinge. They may be used with new or existing hinges. They will work with any height hinge, but they were designed to give the best visual appearance with 2 inches or 21/2 inches exposed butt hinge.
HOW TO MEASURE AND INSTALL
Knobs and pulls are usually packaged with a 1-inch-long 8/32-diameter screw for installation. This should be correct for a standard application of a door or drawer front with a thickness of 3/4 inch. If the door or drawer front is not 3/4 inch, we recommend that the screw extend into the hardware no more than 3/8 inch. If it is less, it may not hold well; on the other hand, if it is too long, the hardware could loosen.
The holes should be drilled with a 3/16- inch bit or larger, if necessary. Some hardware with studs (a portion of the screw hole extends beyond the mounting surface) will use a 1/4-inch hole. Take care to drill the holes perpendicular to the cabinet surface or you might have difficulty getting the pulls to fit or getting the hardware to pull flat against the surface. Occasionally, especially with custom applications and furniture, you may need to use a larger screw and cut it to size.
If you are using a collection of hardware or an eclectic grouping, lay out your hardware ahead of time to determine where and in what order you want to place it. If the sizes are different, the smaller pieces are generally put closer to the top.
Do not force the screw into the hardware; screw them in by hand, and do not use a power screwdriver. If you feel any resistance, just back out the screw, reposition the knob and try again. Cross threading can occur with damage the threads. Increased pressure can also damage some of the more delicate knobs, like knobs made of stones, glass, ceramic and handmade specialty pieces. When mounting a pull, tighten the screws alternately until the pull is tightly in place.
MATERIALS AND FINISHES
Most hardware is either cast or machined from metal. There are various types of metals used in these processes and for different reasons. Some of the hardware is made from natural products such as stone or wood. Much of the time the finish is a different color or has a different property than the material the hardware was made from. This makes it much easier to sort hardware by both material and finish.
Here is a look into the various materials used in hardware:
Zinc
Zinc is a common material for casting; it is easily molten and the cast is lightweight, making it a good base for a variety of decorative finishes. Because the material is softer, most of the zinc hardware has threaded brass inserts for installation of screws.
Pewter
Pewter is a jeweler-quality metal with a beautiful patina in either a brushed or polished finish. Traditionally pewter is a metal for cast products, but it is quite soft and contains lead. The pewter used in many hardware products is actually a lead-free pewter alloy that exhibits the patina and design qualities of pewter but is more durable and is non-toxic.
Brass
Brass is a jeweler-quality metal that can be used for casting and machine fabrication. Many knobs are labeled as solid brass, and have the advantages of brass. Others are called brass-finished, brass-coated or have finish names such as antique English. These pieces are generally a zinc-alloy cast and finished with a brass coating. The advantage of solid brass is that it has a heavy feel and can show sharper detail with cast or fabricated techniques.
Resin
Resin is a solid polymer material that casts well and is durable and not brittle, used primarily for artisan designed and hand-painted items.
Wood
Wood hardware is available in both finished and unfinished, in soft and hardwood varieties. Wood is used for a base on some hand-painted knobs, as solid wood (usually with a brass insert for the screw) and as wood accents on metallic knobs or pulls.
Ceramic and Porcelain
Ceramic and porcelain are both a natural clay product that has been fired for a durable hard finish and is usually glazed in white of another color or can also be specialty painted and fired. Porcelain is a little more expensive type of clay, a little finer texture and has a slightly translucent appearance (like fine china). Ceramic is more common in the decorative hardware industry; it makes a durable and lustrous finish to many hand-glazed designs. Porcelain and ceramic hardware generally utilize an imbedded brass insert for installation of screws.
Glass
Glass is a common material for knobs of all sorts. It is fragile and care must be used with installation, as it can be broken by dropping or by over-tightening the installation screw. Once installed a glass knob has a beautiful character. Knobs of glass are usually faceted, and they are quite durable. There are many glass knobs still in use today that were installed in the early-1900s.
Acrylic and Nylon
Acrylic and nylon are synthetic materials that are extremely durable (not like plastic that can fracture when dropped or fatigue with use) and can be clear or tinted in a wide array of colors. These are usually less expensive and very durable, as well as fun for accent coloring.
The Finishing Touch
Specialty finishes are used on many of the cast and fabricated knobs and pulls to add character and color to the hardware. There are so many options that we will not list them here. Each company has a different name for their specific type of finishes. If you know of a company’s finish name that you particularly like you can sort by finish in our hardware database to see all the hardware in that particular finish. If you don’t know the name of the finish, but you know the color that you like, you can get a cross section through all the companies by sorting with color.
Some examples of available finishes include antique English, distressed antique copper, oil-rubbed bronze, verdigris bronze, hand-tinted pewter, bright nickel and satin nickel. Some examples of colors include pewter, copper, brass, antique brass, verdigris and chrome.
HANDLE WITH CARE
Many of hardware choices will come with warranties on their finishes. The warranty is typically for normal wear, so it is not advised to use harsh cleaners on hardware items. You should only rub with a non-abrasive moist cloth; anything stronger may damage the finish and invalidate your warranty. Please read the installation information for hardware to avoid damage during installation. Finally, be aware of the materials that your hardware is made of so that you can care for it accordingly.
SOME THOUGHTS ON DECORATIVE HARDWARE
Here are a few tips to keep in mind regarding hardware selections.
There are no rules for placement of knobs or pulls. You can think of them as artistic accents as well as functional pieces.
Knobs are installed with a single screw, while pulls are installed with two screws.
If you are replacing a pull, remember to measure from the center to center of each screw to determine the size pull you need for an identical replacement. However, if you are patching the holes or using a back-plate, you will increase your options.
Generally a single knob or pull is used on drawers less than 18 inches wide, while drawers larger than 18 inches use either two knobs or two pulls.
Knobs and pulls don’t have to be the same style, but their finishes should be compatible (and remember that they also need to be in harmony with any exposed hinges).
Many hardware choices have warranties on their finishes. The warranty is typically for normal wear, so please do not use harsh cleaners. You should only rub with a non-abrasive moist cloth; anything stronger may damage the finish and invalidate your warranty.
Knobs and pulls can be used with either furniture or cabinetry, so be creative and have fun.
Joan Shelley is company founder of KnobGallery.com. When it is time to add finishing touches to kitchen, bathroom or cabinet furniture designs, professional designers, architects and custom builders can turn to KnobGallery.com for access to more than 90,000 decorative hardware knobs and pulls, and easy on-line shopping. KnobGallery.com brings together products from more than 100 manufacturers, and offers the largest selection of conventional and custom knobs and pulls available — from whimsical or traditional to Deco or contemporary. KnobGallery.com, based in Oconomowoc, Wis., is family owned and operated. The firm also operates a retail decorative hardware showroom in Brookfield, Wis. For more information about products, ordering or the trade professional discount program, visit www.knobgallery.com, or contact Joan Shelley at 888.921.5662.
