Looking For Ideas For Cabinet Knobs

[joey1320]

I'm driving tomorrow to Ikea to pick up eleven wall cabinets and I'm now in search of knobs to utilize on them.

Three cabinets (I'm using two different styles - 3 of one style and 8 of the other) will actually get handles, specifically I'll be using 1960's VW Beetle inner door handles on them to tie in the garage design, since my car hobbies revolve around old school VW's.

That leaves me with eight cabinets needing knobs.

I'm interested in something chrome or stainless steel and unusual. Something that isn't boring and will make someone say, "Hey, that's cool!".

Any ideas or information on what I should be looking for?

 

[nadogail]

Are there any VW Salvage Yards in your area?

 

[joey1320]

Are there any VW Salvage Yards in your area?

My garage. My brothers' garages. My friend's garages.

 

[joey1320]

Are there any VW Salvage Yards in your area?

Hmmmmm now I'm thinking I can use the VW interior knobs for stuff like the lights, wipers and such. Hey, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Specially considering I was already in the vicinity.


This is a '52-'60 Beetle wiper knob.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Make your own knobs.

 

[jkeyser14]

You can drill a couple holes in some junk crescent wrenches and turn them into handles.

 

[bjcouche]

I've used combination wrenches before. Check Harbor Freight, sometimes they have incomplete sets on their clearance rack. For knobs, I've used golf balls too. You can drill and tap them fairly easily, and if they get dirty they clean up well.

 

[akalian]

Take a look at lamp finials.
Lots of different styles to choose from.

 

[Max]

If you are willing to do a bit of fabrication you could use intake or exhaust valves. Particularly if you used used burned valves from #3 cyl.

 

[joey1320]

Make your own knobs.

I wish I could. Beautiful work.

If you are willing to do a bit of fabrication you could use intake or exhaust valves. Particularly if you used used burned valves from #3 cyl.

Ha! That may be a good idea.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I do not have pictures. I drilled and tapped a flat on some 1/2" stainless steel nuts, for a friend. I liked the look, I wish I had thought of this first.

 

[Ray-CA]

How about sockets?

Ray

 

[thammel]

Amazon sells their own brand of cabinet door pulls. I bought them and used them and am very happy with them.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Since you're using VW door handles, I'd go with VW dash knobs.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Hmmmmm now I'm thinking I can use the VW interior knobs for stuff like the lights, wipers and such. Hey, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Specially considering I was already in the vicinity.


This is a '52-'60 Beetle wiper knob.

That looks good.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

hobby lobby by me had some automotive knobs. i know they had a route 66 one if thats a style you like. maybe some old radio knobs from a junk yard

 

[rayra]

Since you're using VW door handles, I'd go with VW dash knobs.

Seconded.

But large carriage bolts work well enough.

 

[aka Larry]

I used chrome lug nuts on one of my cabinets:

On another I split a cam gear to make handles:

 

[sick467]

Main bearing caps would be easy to install or the rod caps if VW mains are too big for your taste.

I like the intake/exhaust valve idea too!

I have used old wrenches to make the clasp to keep them closed. The old small adjustable ones that have the jaws on the side. Screw the handle to the door and let the wrench rotate onto a roofing nail that's driven into the cabinet frame or opposite door.

 

[joey1320]

I used chrome lug nuts on one of my cabinets:

On another I split a cam gear to make handles:

The gear handles are really cool.

 

[MushCreek]

I like different hardware. In our kitchen, I used pulls from antique type-setting trays. Once I hit upon the idea, it took me four months to get the 37 I needed from ebay. Some sellers thought that they were solid gold, and I wasn't willing to pay stupid prices. I'm pretty sure most houses don't have pulls like these. Now I need to come up with something creative for the shop.