Installing wood cabinet hardware is a job that must be done carefully. The do-it-yourselfer will want to take the time to make sure that locations for screw holes have been measured carefully and that holes are pre-drilled with precision so cabinets will be both sturdy and attractive.
When drilling holes for wood cabinet hardware, follow these tips:
- Measure and mark carefully the positions where you will be pre-drilling, then re-measure the markings to verify you have the right location. Remember, you can't un-drill a hole.
- If you are off slightly on your drill location you can move the drill around gently to widen the hole. This will allow you to adjust the positioning of the wood cabinet hardware slightly to account for your mistake.
- If you are dealing with real wood and you are off by more than 1/16th of an inch with your hole, you can likely drill a second hole without too much trouble. With compressed particleboard, however, this may not be possible without causing splintering.
- If you do have to pre-drill again, fill the first hole in with caulk or cover the hole with the cabinet’s hardware, if possible. That should prevent the extra hole from being visible or unsightly.
Remember: measure twice, drill once.
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Are you seriously advocating using lateral force with a drill bit?! NEVER move a drill bit sideways in a hole. This can make the bit break and cause serious injury.