Cup pulls, also called drawer pulls or bin pulls, are a type of cabinet hardware similar to a regular pull. A cup pull is enclosed on one side and open on the other, whereas a regular pull is open on both sides (what many might call a handle).
Cup pulls are usually shaped like a half moons, but they can come in other “looks” as well. Click here to see different styles of cup pulls and choose what style you like best.
Types of Cup Pulls:
Because of the vast number of styles there are, we won’t talk about those here. Style differences are really just a preference. The best thing you can do to make a choice is to simply browse until you find something you like. But as far as installation goes, there are three main types of cup pulls: countersunk, flush, and surface mounted. Each one is described below with diagrams to help those visual learners.
1. Countersunk
A countersunk cup pull means that the cup pull has posts sticking out from the back. Those posts go into pre-drilled holes in the drawer face. Then the screws are installed into the cup pull’s posts from the back of the drawer face. Keep in mind that you will need a drill bit that is bigger than the standard one for this type of cup pull. As you can see in the diagram above, the posts are wider than the screws; therefore you will need to not only drill the standard-size pilot holes, but you will also need to drill bigger pilot holes but only part-way through the front where the posts will insert.
2. Surface mounted
A surface mounted cup pull is installed from the front of the cup pull and drawer face. You will not install anything at all from the back of the drawer face. The screw heads will be seen on the front of the drawer face.
3. Flush
A flush cup pull can be installed from the front or the back, depending on the pull. When people talk about flush cup pulls, they usually mean what you see in the diagram above on the left. Rather than sticking out, part of the hardware dips into the drawer face. Sometimes, though, when people refer to flush cup pulls, they might mean something like the photo above on the right. This is similar to a countersunk cup pull, but there are no posts, so the screws go into a spot under the body of the actual cup pull.
So that’s that! Once you pick the type and style of cup pull you want, you may be wondering about placement. See this helpful diagram below for tips about placement of any cabinet hardware! And most importantly, remember to have fun with your project!
