Tips for the Handyman

I've found countless uses for double-faced cloth carpet tape over the years.

Here are some of my favorites:

Attach patterns made of plywood or hardboard to your workpiece with carpet tape.

Rough-cut the board close to the pattern, then use your router and a pattern bit with a bearing that follows the template to rout the board to final shape.

Stick carpet tape on the flaps of hinges to keep them from moving while you mark their location, drill screw holes, and position doors.

Make triangular clamping blocks and stick them to the outside edges of mitered corners with carpet tape. Then use regular straight clamps across the blocks for the glue-up.

To align false fronts on drawers, push the drawer carcase into its opening in the cabinet.

Stick carpet tape to the back face of the drawer front.

Then position the drawer front in the opening, making sure you have even gaps on all sides, and push the drawer front against the carcase.

Pull out the drawer and screw on the front. You can leave the tape in place.

Attach auxiliary fences to your table saw or router table fence with carpet tape. They hold tight, and there are no clamps to get in the way.

Thanks to, Keith Hennessey for this tip


IN THE HOLE! Golf

Knob Installation

Measuring for knobs and drawer pulls.

Knobs are installed with one screw while pulls usually have two.

If you are replacing old pulls, youll need to measure the distance between the centers of the screw holes, called the boring, to determine the size of new pulls youll need.

This will prevent the necessity of drilling more holes and patching in the old ones.

You could consider adding new drawer fronts and doors with Rocklers custom door and drawer program.

If you have frame and panel doors and drawers, you'll also want to consider the width of the rails.
As a general rule, knobs or pulls no wider than half the rail width look best.

Knobs or pulls that are too large look awkward and heavy.

Remember that doors and drawers will usually need two different screw lengths.

Drawers with faces applied as a separate piece will require screws to pass through 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" of wood or substrate. Doors are usually made of 3/4" lumber so 1" screws usually work.


While installing one door or drawer pull is relatively easy, installing several quickly gets cumbersome.

Rocklers Drawer Pull Jig-It can save you lots of time, and give you perfect accuracy on each and every pull. Its worth every penny.

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Knobs, Pulls, or Both?

Although its generally a good idea to stick to one theme or style – designer, restoration, decorator, etc. – there are no hard and fast rules dictating the design and usage of kitchen hardware.

Personal preference should dictate your choice. If mixing a selection of knobs and pulls is what pleases you, by all means go for it.

You're going to use your cupboards, cabinets, and drawers a lot so you might as well be happy with what you see.



Determine your hardware requirements.

Make a list to get an accurate count of your needs.

Theres nothing more irritating than not having enough on hand to complete the job.

Take an accurate count and double check it. Its all in the details, so dont forget other necessities such as cabinet legs, shelf pins, or drawer bumpers.

Rockler has a large selection of cabinet hardware.

Knobs, Pulls and Handles

" Make the Difference "

New door and drawer opening hardware can put a stylish emphasis on your updated kitchen cabinetry.
Its astonishing what can be accomplished with the simplest knob or pull.

Rockler has an outstanding selection of Knobs and Pulls in many different styles to polish off your updated cabinetry.

"Choose a Style"

Before you can add some hardware pizzazz to your kitchen, youll need to choose the style of knobs or pulls you prefer.

Rockler has an exciting array available to suit every style of cabinetry from traditional to Shaker to Euro-style to Restoration.

For a distinguished look, consider adding carved hardwood pulls, or antique finished pulls from Rocklers Premier Collection.

Or perhaps Ivy Leaf Green Pulls from Rocklers designer collection.

Now is the time to have some real fun. There are plenty of other styles and types available.