Jason Tuinstra
04-25-2006, 12:45 PM
Recently I asked for some advice on installing ball catches. The advice was great and made this a breeze. I thought I’d show some pics of the process, sort of, and encourage anyone who hasn’t used them before to look into them. They add a nice finished look to the piece and have a nice feel to them.
Steps that I followed, give or take:
Step 1: I bought a 7/16” drill bit to match the ball catches.
Step 2: I made a gauge out of scrap (same thickness as the door) for placing the catch on the door and keeping the bit in proper alignment.
Step 3: Drill out the hole. Be careful! Mistakes will show if you don’t drill this right. I set the depth and marked it with some tape on my drill bit.
Step 4: Install the ball part of the catch.
Step 5: Put the doors back on the cabinet and mark placement of the catch. This is the tricky part. It was suggested to me on SMC to use carbon paper. Not being able to find any, I improvised and made my own. I just took a pencil, rubbed it on the paper excessively, and then put it lead side down, closed to the door and it made a perfect line – the end of which signified the center point of where I needed to drill for the catch.
Step 6: Install catch
Step 7: Hold breath…
Step 8: See if you messed it up by shutting the doors.
This is the first time I’ve done this, and it went perfectly! Give it a shot!
Steps that I followed, give or take:
Step 1: I bought a 7/16” drill bit to match the ball catches.
Step 2: I made a gauge out of scrap (same thickness as the door) for placing the catch on the door and keeping the bit in proper alignment.
Step 3: Drill out the hole. Be careful! Mistakes will show if you don’t drill this right. I set the depth and marked it with some tape on my drill bit.
Step 4: Install the ball part of the catch.
Step 5: Put the doors back on the cabinet and mark placement of the catch. This is the tricky part. It was suggested to me on SMC to use carbon paper. Not being able to find any, I improvised and made my own. I just took a pencil, rubbed it on the paper excessively, and then put it lead side down, closed to the door and it made a perfect line – the end of which signified the center point of where I needed to drill for the catch.
Step 6: Install catch
Step 7: Hold breath…
Step 8: See if you messed it up by shutting the doors.
This is the first time I’ve done this, and it went perfectly! Give it a shot!