Carved Cabinet Knobs and Pulls

Linda L · #1 07-20-2006, 07:11 PM

Not sure which area to post this in, so guess I'll start here!

OK, beginner, still working on first projects. We are remodeling our home, and I have all new kitchen and bathroom doors and drawers. Time to find knobs and pulls.

Went to the hardware store, didn't see anything I liked except some unfinished wood knobs and 3-4" long "U" shaped handles.

Now I'm talking a LOT of handles, but I thought since I only need 5 in the bathroom and it has a forest theme, maybe there might be something simple I could carve on them.

The cabinets are dark stained oak.

Any ideas out there for a beginner? I thought of chip carving, but I'm not a real fan. The knobs are 1-1/4" diameter, slightly rounded on the top, and I'm fairly certain very hard wood! Something to tie in with the forest theme?

Toilet seat is next, but I'll leave that impression for later

!

Thanks!

Linda

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 07-20-2006, 07:26 PM

I saw some pulls made from pieces of limbs, curved like the store bought pulls, sanded and finished, looked great if you want the rustic look.

jamesfa · #3 07-20-2006, 07:28 PM

Linda-below are a few ideas for you.
sold by Lee Valley.

Frank

AlArchie · #4 07-20-2006, 09:51 PM

Linda, I haven't got any pictures, but I carved some maple leaf knobs for my brother's in-laws a few years back. I used 1/2" thick maple, about 2'x2' if I remember right. Before carving, I "X'd" the back to find the center and drilled a 1/2" hole about halfway through. Then I cut out a maple leaf shape on the scroll saw, and carved the curls of the leaf, then burned the veins in with a woodburner. Next I cut a 1/2" dowell about 3/4" long and glued that into the hole in the back.

Stain and finish.

Then (well I suppose you could do this first) drill a 3/16" pilot hole in the end of the dowel and fasten that to the drawer with a #10 x3/4" sheet metal screw or round head wood screw.

You could use that pattern that Ash posted for Oak leaves. or make your own of anyleaf you want. If I remember right it took me a little more than an hour to make 4.

Al

Linda L · #5 07-21-2006, 03:08 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, guys

! All three are right on the mark for what I was thinking.

HiHo--I've seen the "twigs" done in cast metal, and thought of maybe doing a towel rack out of a stick, but hadn't thought of a pull. That could be something to play around with. I like it!

Frank--I love the Lee Valley knobs. Only wish I could carve that well! I'm going to check the prices tomorrow. Might be able to use them in the kitchen. Don't think I'll live long enough to carve that many so beautifully! Also could become quite tedious! Thanks for the lead.

Al---I really like the leaf idea. Since I only have 5 to do, I might be able to pull it off! Your instructions are very clear, thank you for taking the time to write them. I don't remember Ash's oak leaf post, I'll do a search and see if I can find it. Four in one hour??? At my speed I'm probably looking at one every four DAYS!!!

Thank you all, you've helped me to "gather my thoughts." Been working on this remodel since last September. Well, not really! Started it 38 years ago and now that the kids have finally moved out we're finishing it----FINALLY! Forgot what it was like to reach for a fork and remember it was in a box on the floor in the living room! Have lived in this house for 35 years without doors on any of my cabinets. Guess that's in style now, but having to wash the dust off every dish before you use it does get old!

With all the sanding, staining, finishing, and mounting, I haven't had much time to carve. Hope to be done soon. Thanks again to all of you

!

Linda

Ashbys · #6 07-21-2006, 06:35 AM

Linda ,

Here are a couple of oak leaf patterns I made from a real oak leaf they are set to your 1.1/4 round knob. one is a single leaf the other is three leafs the work will be small but you might like them . Just before you started check out http://www.carvingpatterns.com and read through Susan's tutortial on YOUR FIRST carving. It is making a leaf. Oh and when you click the thumbnail these will be the correct size of the pattern for the knob.

If it was me, and I was using this pattern, I would make enough copies for all the knobs, cut them out and then use contact cement to attach them to the knob and then cut through the paper and make the leaf outline, The contact cement will hold and you will not have to spend a lot of time drawing.
These oak leafs are from the reference pic I posted of the large oak leaf.

Ash

Nancy_G · #7 07-21-2006, 06:47 AM

Linda - in our guest bathroom - which gets very little use - for the hand towel I cut the towel brackets from plain pine boards but carved folk art crows to perch on them. Instead of a towel bar I have a long, unpeeled oak twig that sticks out from both ends of the brackets.

Linda L · #8 07-21-2006, 01:07 PM

Thank you once again Ash. I did a search last night and found your reference photos. You guys are really good on the computer. Used to be good on Photoshop, but the brain injury kinda slowed all that down!

I thought you had been a carver for some time, but if I recall correctly, when I did the search last night, you have been carving for about the same amount of time I have. Difference is I've had a few medical set-backs and this remodel project (and your skill

)! Terry is after me to get a finish on the 20 something drawers he's made so it's slow going! He made the drawers with dovetails and no nails. Makes me want to take extra care in the finishing process. Now if I could just get the polyurethane to not bubble!

Thanks again, I'm printing these out for reference!

Linda

Linda L · #9 07-21-2006, 01:14 PM

Wow Nancy you know exactly what I am doing!

This is our guest bathroom too(also small). I've been toying with the idea of a towel bar like you describe. I was just given all the limbs from a curly/corkscrew maple tree and going through the pile, there might be some there I can use.

Would love to see some pictures of what you have done! I thought of making small pulls out of some of the sticks, but I have a bad habit of catching pockets and clothes on any of the pulls that have ends that extend. If I can find the right size sticks though, I can attach them close to each end. <just thinking out loud>!

Thanks again,
Linda

Nancy_G · #10 07-21-2006, 04:11 PM

Linda -- my entire bathroom is crows and sunflowers. The shower curtain is a QUILT (plastic liner of course) of primitive crows perched on sunflowers. PM me your email and I'll send you photos.
BUT my computer is dying and husband is going to try to repair it ... I'll be gone for ~sniff~ days when he gets started. It's going to be a BIG job.