Choosing your Cabinet Handle Finishes

Call them what you like - cabinet handles, knobs, locks, latches, ring pulls, drawer pulls - the humble handle comes in many varieties of material, colour and design.

Choosing the correct cabinet handle finish can make or break your project. The handle is vital to the open and closing function of the cabinet while the handle’s design can completely change the look.

Here we check out some of the options you have to choose from in cabinet handle finishes.

Chrome Plated

Chrome plated cabinet handles are standard for many furniture designers. Their shiny finish stands the test of time, without suffering from damage and discolouration.

Polished Brass

Polished brass is a classic material that is the preferred option of many artisans. There is an appeal that can’t be found with other materials, especially after it has aged a little and began to discolour gracefully.

Ivory

The ivory look is beautiful and ornate, ideal for cabinets that need an antique touch to finish off the look. Crazed porcelain has a similar finish to the old-fashioned ivory.

Antique Copper

Antique copper is a finish that is very distinctive, being the colour of pots and pans of yesteryear. It has a vibrant quality that is ideal for vintage pieces.

Antique Brass

Antique brass is the more classically appreciated version of a brass finish. It goes well with old world cabinet designs.

Matt Black

Matt black is a more recent invention. With the right design, matt black can look quite futuristic and minimalist. Many contemporary designed cabinets will use matt black handles as their finishing touch.

Polished Metal

Polished metal finishes are the most versatile and long-lasting. Their finish doesn’t age or change, unlike some other metals.

Polished Nickel

Polished nickel has a very clean, stylish look and is used in modern, contemporary cabinetry. Similar to chrome because of its silver look, polished nickel has a warmer tone.

Satin Chrome

Another contemporary look, satin chrome is a little more subdued and less shiny than chrome. Its understated look suits a range of designs.

Satin Nickel

One of the most versatile finishes, satin nickel has a metallic pearl finish that can complement everything from bright to neutral colours.

Installing your Cabinet Handles

Remember to use a cardboard template of your drawer front to ensure your drawer handles are straight and in line with the drawers above, below and to the side. Use a pencil to mark where you will drill then check all the dots line up. You don’t want to spend time deciding on the right drawer handle finish only to be distracted by the fact that they aren’t all aligned properly! Before drilling, clamp a piece of wood at the back of the drawer, so you don’t tear the drawer's material as you drill through.

Which of These Four Woodworking Mallets is Right for You?

There are plenty of woodworking mallets on the market but how do you know which is the right one for your project? You don’t want to be whacking your woodworking tools with any old hammer or you could find yourself replacing some of your favourite tools. Use the right mallet that does the job without damaging your tools or project.

Cabinetmakers Mallet

Wooden mallets are gentle on tools and wooden projects compared to steel hammers which can leave dents, break or mushroom the wooden handle of your chisels.

The two striking faces mean you can use one side for smooth, clean work and the other side for driving out bolts which may damage the face.

Wrist action rather than a swinging arm is usually needed, so the face is at a 90-degree angle. For fine carving work, users can hold the mallet further up the handle near the head. Choose one with a head that isn’t too big or too small for you to use comfortably.

Carpenters Mallet

Also known as the ‘general mallet’, the carpenters mallet has a short, shaped handle and large head for working with chisels and wedges. These mallets are also suitable for blunt force tasks such as banging together a carcase. Beechwood, hornbeam and ash woods are often used in the manufacture of mallets with the head and handle made from different materials.

Carvers Mallet

The rounded mallet gives solid contact even when hit from odd angles. Being smaller and more delicate than carpenters mallets, carvers mallets are ideal for using with carving chisels rather than heavier woodworking tasks.

Brass Head Carving Mallet

When cutting a mortise or carving wood, you want the full force of a strike to be forward. A wooden mallet striking a wooden handle results in a forward and backward motion as it bounces.

A brass head means there is no bounce and the full energy of the blow is used. A rounded head allows you to strike the mallet at any angle and the strike only needs to come from the wrist as a light, controlled tap rather than a swing of the arm like bigger mallets require. These mallets offer you the accuracy and control you need for more delicate woodworking projects.

Which Brand of Mallet?

Like most woodworking tools on the market, you get what you pay for. A good quality brand will give you many years of service if you look after your tools. Fortunately, there are three well-known, quality brands producing mallets for use with their woodworking tools.

The Veritas is a well-known Canadian brand. Veritas is the manufacturing arm of Lee Valley Tools Ltd which is a leading US retailer of woodworking tools. Veritas produces 250 products which are used by discerning woodworkers around the world.

For over 50 years Crown Tools has been manufacturing woodworking hand tools from its factory in Sheffield England. For the majority of their products, old and new techniques are used to hand forge, temper and grind tools.

Two Cherries is another brand that has been turning out quality tools for decades from its German factory. Its craftsmen are using time-honoured techniques to produce tools that can last more than a generation.