Cabinet Hardware: Catches, Hinges and Knobs

Cabinet Hinge

The four basic cabinet door designs that determine the type of hinge required are: flush-mounted, lipped/inset, flush-overlay or reverse bevel.
For flush-mounted doors, use a full-mortise butt or full-surface hinge, an ornamental strap hinge or a concealed hinge.
For lipped doors, use semi-concealed cabinet hinges so the hinge leaf attached to the cabinet frame is exposed and the hinge leaf attached to the door is concealed. A surface hinge for this kind of cabinet door must be offset to match the outside of the door.
For flush-overlay doors, use a pivot hinge mortised into the top and bottom of the door. Also use a butt hinge or a semi-concealed hinge.
For reverse bevel doors, use a hinge that features a slant on the door wing that is compatible with the profile of the cabinet door.
Some hinges have a self-closing feature that closes the door automatically from about a 10° opening. These operate on a spring-loaded cam and are made from heavy-gauge steel.

Cabinet Knob

Used on cabinet doors and drawer
Basic consideration in choosing a knob will be style.
Backplates are decorative and provide additional support for hollow-core doors and drawers.
When replacing an old knob, remind the customer to make sure the new knob will use or cover the holes left by the old one. Use a backplate to cover the second hole if replacing a pull with a knob.
Most knobs use one #8 screw for mounting.

Cabinet Pull

Used on cabinet doors and drawers.
Backplates are decorative and provide additional support for hollow-core doors and drawers.
Basic consideration when choosing will be style.
When replacing an old pull, remind the customer to make sure the new knob will use or cover the holes left by the old one. Use a backplate to cover the hole if replacing a knob with a pull.
Pulls are generally on 3” mounting centers.

Friction Catch

Helps the cabinet door stay shut.
Operates by pressure of the catch on the strike.
Catch mounts on a doorframe, jamb or underside of a shelf while the strike mounts on the door so that upon closing, it is inserted into the catch.
Two common types are alligator and lever spring-action.

Roller Spring Catch

Helps the cabinet door stay shut.
Available in single and double roller types.
Features quiet operation, easy installation, long life and easy adaptability to many door and frame designs

Magnetic Catch

Uses a magnet to help the cabinet door stay shut.
Ranges in pull from 8 lbs. to 40 lbs.
The holding power is reduced if only part of the magnet makes contact with the strike. Therefore, the magnet must be installed carefully to properly align the catch and the strike.
Quality features include a floating or self-adjusting action to ensure proper alignment and contact.

Elbow Catch

Helps the cabinet door stay shut.
Mounts on the door with the strike installed on the frame or on a shelf.
Can only be released from the inside of the cabinet and thus is used on one side of a pair of doors.

Bullet Catch

Helps the cabinet door stay shut.
Used primarily on furniture and smaller cabinet doors where it is desirable to hide the catch as much as possible.

Touch Catch

Helps the cabinet door stay shut.
Also called a push catch.
Mounts inside the cabinet and needs no knobs or pulls.
User operates by simply pushing on the door, the catch releases and the door springs open.

Drawer Slide

The monorail type uses a single track under the center of the drawer with drawer rollers on the left and right side. It is easy to install because it requires minimum measuring and templates. It is low in cost and fits both new and old installations.
The side-mounting type uses four tracks, one attached to each side or bottom of the drawer and one on both the left and right sides of the cabinet. It has rollers on which the drawer rides.
Some types of slides are self-closing. They close when the drawer comes to within 4” to 5” of the back, regardless of the load or its position in the drawer.
Quality slides permit little side movement, prevent accidental drawer pullout, have high-quality rollers and are precision-made to close tolerances.

Furniture Glide

Allows furniture to move easily along the floor. Also protects floor from scuffing.
The three-prong type is hammered into the legs of light furniture. It is easy to install and easy to remove.
The cushion type is for heavier use and is mounted by hammering into the furniture leg.
A cushion glide for caster holes is the best type for heavy furniture. Here, the socket replaces normal stem-type casters.
Some glides have a tilting stem with a 40° range of movement. These glides are made for furniture with angled legs so that the base of the glide sits flat on the floor.
Other types of glides include rubber leg tips and heavy-duty, self-adhesive nylon or felt pads.