Kennedy drawer pulls - Aluminum

[Hafen_Kafer]

Made some aluminum drawer pulls for my Kennedy box. It has the brown plastic ones. I want it to match the aluminum extrusion pulls that come on the the roller and hanging cabinet drawers. I'll post pictures of them installed.

Sample on the left is an old steel drawer pull. The back has a draft that I didn't do.

I used an engraver to try to match the texture the originals have.

Other than the small corner radius,(purposely omitted) it's close.

 

[David W]

That looks good!

 

[JSBriggs]

Those are very cool. Any process pics? Any thoughts on selling them?

-Jeff

 

[larryq]

If you do sell any, I'd like to get some. I've had trouble finding replacements. I bet these would be regular sellers on eBay if you set up a production run.

Would be cost prohibitive to do hand engraving on each one but smooth finish you can put out quick, and affordably? Bet you'd have lots of takers.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those are VERY nice! I'm assuming you are casting these?

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Thanks David W.

JSBriggs, I can hook you guys up.

larryq, even if it takes a while, I'll engrave every one of them. I'll let Chinese manufacturers cut corners, not here. They do not look the same. I could make a stamping die and texture them in a single blow.

Outlawmws, thanks and no, they're not casted, they're milled. Check out new pictures.

This whole batch is going to the trash. About 18 of them. Current design only works if you drill out some existing holes on the drawer. Making new design where nothing has to be modified.

Here are pictures of the process. Nothing much to it.

Got some material out of the recycling bin:

First side/operation:

second side:

I really like where this is going:

I'm also considering making them our of some similar brown plastic like the original. You know, for the purists

 

[larryq]

Thanks for the photos. I'm definitely interested when more come off the line.

 

[nine4gmc]

real nice, thanks for sharing!

 

[Fytclub]

Any word on these? I'd like some without the texturing if possible.

 

[zkling]

WOW, fantastic job. That is the only thing that really bugs me about the kennedy machinist boxes, their tiny drawer pulls. The ones on their 3611 are pretty nice extruded aluminum stock. I tried to sweet talk a person at kennedy into the info on their supplier but they didn't know or just wouldn't share. I ended up making full length ones with a small lip at the bottom. What ***** is you have to pay attention to how deep they are due to the front cover.

Anyway great job, I'm sure you could sell those as I know lots of people have issues replacing them or would like an upgrade to match their bottom box. Maybe even offer a lower cost option without the engraving and diamond. Those features really take it up a few steps up. Your attention to detail is very good.

Do you know what time frame Kennedy put the steel pulls on their box?

 

[Packard V8]

Beautiful work!

At retail, for that quality of machining and finish, they'd be $29.95 each and I've got five boxes, so I figure I'd have to send you a check for $1,050, plus shipping and handling, of course.

jack vines

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Just an update of how it looks with all aluminum drawer pulls

Over all, the whole set up looks very cool in my opinion

 

[A_Pmech]

Now get back to work!

 

[jakemac]

I like it. I've never been a fan of those brown plastic pulls.

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Now get back to work!

Im going to disagree with you today. Its my 1st 3day weekend since September. I paid my dues, hahaha

 

[sonvolt]

Very nice !! Excellent job !

 

[CTyankee]

Pretty sweet...

 

[bonneyman]

Very nice work!

 

[BoostAddiction]

It's all in the details! Nice work!

 

[Outlawmws]

That setup looks great!

 

[zkling]

Just an update of how it looks with all aluminum drawer pulls

Great job, that is a very nice setup.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Very nice! I wish I had a Kennedy box so I could use these pulls

 

[Circa58]

I would buy some for the box I handed down to my son, sent you a PM

 

[Adam.C]

I think you shouldn't copy Kennedy but make your own. I would be happy with just plain Al or black delrin or something. The kennedy pulls are pretty blah. White or cream plastic might be nice. Or even wood?

 

[Circa58]

If I can get into a buddy's shop on one of the upcoming weekends, I would make my own, but since Hafen has the setup, it would save me a bunch of time .

I bought my Kennedy box in 1977 and just turned it over to my 17 year old son as he is going thru a 1/2 day, 5 day per week internship for CNC machining in his senior year of high school at a local Precision Machine shop

I gave him my 526 Upper, 2-drawer center box and the 8-drawer roller and all of my Micrometers, parallels, 1,2,3 blocks angle plate and a bunch of other tools