A common question is whether you can or should use a cabinet pull as an appliance pull. The question has 2 components one is aesthetic and the other technical-mechanical.
Larger Morphic Pull has a lip overhang that is easy to grip with whole hand for heavier doors and drawers
Mounting posts - distance between centers – screws
A typical pull be it for a cabinet or appliance door will be attached by 2 screws that thread into either a mounting posts or recessed holes on the back of the pull. The hardware manufacturer determines the location and distance between the posts, the size of the pre-drilled holes and the type of screw or bolt used to attach the pull. These factors together with the heft of the pull largely determine whether a smaller cabinet pull will work satisfactorily as an appliance pull. The mounting posts on our cabinet pulls are generally placed a little below the top and bottom of the casting and are part of the casting. Their size is scaled proportionately to the size of the piece but at a minimum needs to be large enough to accommodate an 8-32 screw. To work as an appliance pull for a large refrigerator or sub-zero door the posts will need to accommodate a more substantial 10-24 or even ¼-20 screw. As we make a wax replica before casting we can customize the post making it larger or by making the area for the tapped hole larger. The thickness, thread count per inch and length as well as the base material all impact the strength of the screw. The thickness of the screw or the outside dimension of the threaded shaft is the first number given and is expressed either as a size or as a fraction. Smaller thinner screws are typically given a number and those greater than ¼” are usually expressed as a fraction 5/16”. The second number for a machine screw is usually the threads per inch followed by the length. For wood screws the thread is not called out and only the thickness and length are given.
The base metal of a screw will impact it’s strength and while brass screws are more decorative, unless they have a wide diameter will not be as strong as a stainless steel screw. Stainless steel has a greater tensile strength, is harder and the thread is not as prone to being stripped when under pressure.
10/24 x 3” #10 size screw diameter of threaded area is 3/16”, there are 24 threads per inch and the screw is 3” long. The style of screw is Slotted SLTD with a round head and it is a machine screw.
6 x 5/8 is a # 6 screw diameter 9/64” as it is a wood screw no thread count is given for this 5/8” long screw that has a Philips Oval Head style.
1/4-20 x4” the screw diameter is being shown as a fraction not a number code. This is a 1/4” threaded screw with 20 threads per inch it is 4” long and is a machine screw with a slotted head. The base metal is 18-8SS stainless steel which is equivalent to 304 stainless steel.
Note the heft of the ends of this pull they are in solid bronze and approx. 1 1/2”D x 1 1/4”H ideal for heavy gauge bolts
Aesthetics and Costs
Assuming the cabinet pull meets the technical demands above whether to use it as an appliance pull largely depends on taste and budget. Stainless steel and bronze are premium expensive metals and their prices continue to rise. Clearly an appliance pull will require a lot more metal to make and a lot more time to finish.