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How to Install Long Handles On Cabinet Doors
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Getting ready to redo your cabinet doors? Installing long handles on cabinets is a great way to give your room a modern look. Long handles are typically ⅔ the length of the door width or greater. With such a large presence, they’ll be sure to be the first thing friends and family notice when walking into your kitchen.
When it comes to learning how to install long handles on cabinet doors, you don’t need to pay a professional to get the job done. With the right tool and know-how, this can easily be a DIY project. By following our quick, easy steps in this guide, you’ll have even measurements and perfectly placed long handles on the first try.
Using a Cabinet Hardware Jig or Template to Install Your Long Handles on Doors
Using incorrect hardware for your long handle install can easily take an entire day, if not two full days. That’s why choosing the best hardware tool for the job is important. Many first-time installers mistakenly use cheap, plastic tools. This results in shaky measurements and uneven, crooked long handles. But working with high-grade materials makes your long handle install much easier and accurate.
There are two tool options out there – Cabinet Hardware Jigs and Templates. Both help you install your long handles on cabinet doors, but there are a few significant differences between them.
Templates
Templates are fixed patterns that can either be made at home (homebuilt) or store-bought. Because the materials used to make templates are of low quality, the costs tend to be cheap. Homebuilt templates are made from MDF board or scrap plywood and are limited to one option for installing cabinet hardware for one specific size and dimension.
Store-bought templates are usually made of plastic. Similar to homebuilt templates they lack customization and adaptability. Despite having a few options for hole marking to help you decide where to place the long handles, they tend to only work with commonly available sizes of cabinet hardware. If you’re placing long handles outside of a set range, your template will not work.
All templates will also have a very short lifespan. The more a template is used, the more the marking holes will enlarge, leading to imprecise hole placement. Another drawback with templates is that there is not an effective way to ensure accurate hole placement when drilling. This typically leads to the drill bit wandering during the process. And while the effects of this might be slightly mitigated through the use of a center punch, it ends up creating more work on your end. And after all, being exact is the most important part when you install cabinet door long handles.
The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig
The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig is completely adjustable and customizable. Any type of hardware can be mounted with the signature T-square frame. That means you only need one of the Original Cabinet Hardware Jigs to work for any type of cabinet door size and long handle dimensions. Constructed from hardened aluminum and squares to within one-one thousandth of an inch, this design leads to complete accuracy and precision.
Pro Tip:
Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Not every jig out there is made like the Original. Many of the imitation jigs overpromise and under-deliver. They are typically made with low-quality materials such as plastic and cheap bushings. All of which leads to unsquared and inaccurate measurements. The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig is made with only the highest-quality materials making it the most accurate jig on the market.
Other Benefits of Using The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig for Installing Long Handles on Cabinet Doors:
- The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig is infinitely adjustable for any size handle. In addition to the TP-1934 Cabinet Hardware Jig, the top-rated TP-1935 is specifically designed for handles larger than 12’’. This tool choice enables complete flexibility in your hardware choices and placement. Additionally, if you already own the TP-1934, you can simply upgrade with the accessory kit.
- Install long handles up to 38’’ C-C with the Original Cabinet Hardware Jig. Multiple Cabinet Hardware Jigs can be conjoined via thumb screws to drill for any length of handle.
- Hardened steel bushings serve as drill guides and enable you to drill through them. This helps you keep the drill bit exactly where you want it.
- The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig is reversible. So once you’ve set up the exact parameters on the tool, you can drill on the left and right cabinet doors without altering any settings.
- The jig works easily on any style cabinet, including shaker cabinets, and any size handles.
- Save time and money by only using one cabinet hardware tool that gets the job done the first time around.
Where to Install Long Handles on Cabinet Doors
When it comes to cabinet hardware placement, deciding where specifically on the cabinet door to place your long handles is also important. A few things to keep in mind when it comes to long handle placement on cabinet doors include:
- Place your long handles in the 1’’ to 4’’ range (based on your personal preference) from the top or bottom edge of the cabinet door.
- Vertically installing the long handles on doors (versus horizontally) will make it easy to open the doors.
- Long handles will look great when placed directly in the corner of cabinet doors.
- Cabinets will look busy if long handles are placed flush with the door frame.
Need more tips for finding out where to install long handles on cabinet doors? Learn more about hardware placement here.
Easy Steps for Knowing How To Install Long Handles
Once you know where to install long handles on cabinet doors, it’s time to get started.
1. Place your hardware (measure as needed) to find the position you like. Mark the bottom hole location with a pencil.
2. Measure from the bottom of the door to your mark (the image pictured above is measured at 3 ½”).
3. Slide the Extension Bars onto the Cabinet Hardware Jig and tighten the thumb screws.
4. Set the Extended Ruler at the index mark for the bottom hole. Set the Sliding End Stop of your Cabinet Hardware Jig to the measurement from step 2 (the measurement pictured is for 3 ½”).
5. If the 0 mark does not work, use another digit – A 10’’ mark makes for easy math.
6. Measure from the side of the door to your mark from step 2 (the image pictured above is 1 ⅜’’).
7. Set the Large Stop of your cabinet hardware jig to the measurement from step 6 and tighten the thumbscrew.
8. Match the bottom hole on the hardware to the bottom hole on the Extension Bar and mark with tape.
9. Match the top hole on the hardware to match the hole on the Extension Bar; mark the hole with tape.
10. Hold both stops firmly against the door and drill the bottom hole.
11. Drill the top hole.
12. Reverse your cabinet hardware jig tool for the opposite door and repeat the above steps.
Do I need to be a cabinet professional to use the Cabinet Hardware Jig?
No, this cabinet hardware jig is straightforward and makes installing long handles on cabinet doors very easy. After all, it was designed with you in mind. You’ll save time and money with our jig tool.
What are the minimum door stile and rails I can center on?
½’’ is the minimum cabinet door stile and rails you can center on with a Cabinet Hardware Jig. The small and large end stops on the jig can even be reversed if extra clearance is needed, but this is usually only needed for pull handles.
What is the maximum handle size I can install with the Cabinet Hardware Jig?
12” CC (300mm). Need to install cabinet door handles larger than this? The Cabinet Hardware Jig TP-1935 installs hardware up to 38’’ (960mm). If you have pull handles outside of this range, multiple jigs can be connected with thumb screws to drill for any length you need.
How long is your bushing warranty?
We offer a lifetime bushing warranty. We’ll gladly send you a pack of replacement bushings free of charge if you ever need them. Bushings typically ship and arrive within 3 to 5 business days.
Have more questions about How To Install Long Handles on Cabinet Doors and other cabinet hardware needs? Check out our FAQ Page.
Install Long Handles Like a Pro
It’s time to work like a pro – And we want to help you get there by putting the power of tools into your hands. At True Position Tools, cabinet hardware placement and high-quality specialty woodworking tools have been our game for more than 20 years. Our Cabinet Hardware Jigs get you working quickly and accurately. All True Position Tool Products are made in the USA.
