$2 DIY Cement Knobs

This project was born when I was out by myself visiting a few thrift stores.  I had come up empty so far that day and I really wanted to buy something.  Usually I am pretty choosy and patient, but in this particular moment I was looking at every item and trying to figure out a reason – any reason – to possibly justify taking it home.

So when I saw a set of silicone mini-muffin pans I obviously had to buy them to make mini muffins DIY cement cabinet knobs.

What, you didn’t really think I’d let the cold weather come without one last project made from cement, did you?

And this is a good one, too.  Cabinet knobs are expensive, and this is a super affordable, easy, and very customizable alternative.  You can make them in any size (for which there exists a silicone mini muffin pan: i.e., endless) and decorate them in any way you like.

Supplies:

• Long machine screws (I used #10, 2 1/2 inches long)
• Flat metal washers
• Hex nuts
• Plastic O-Rings
• Silicone mold
• Cement
• Polycrylic, or other sealer
• Optional: Craft paint, painters tape, X-Acto knife

I started by mixing the cement and filling the molds, making sure there were no air bubbles by tapping the tray gently on the table.  (For more on working with cement, check out  my first cement post.)

Just remember to wear gloves and protection, and that the gloppy, mud-like appearance is all part of the fun.

Next, I slid a washer onto each machine screw, and stuck it into the cement.  While the cement would likely hold with just the screw in there, I figured that the washer would give it more resistance once it was under heavy use.

I had to do this step in stages and fairly quickly because I was working with quick-curing cement, but this project would work just as well, and be in less of a rush, with regular cement.

Once the knobs had cured but were still a little malleable, I took them out of the mold and used that opportunity to smooth the bottom edges with some coarse sandpaper.  This helps them look a bit more finished from the front.

I then let them sit around my basement for way too long cure completely to a nice, dry, cement-y texture.

They were pretty cool as is, and I totally could have left them alone or sealed them with a bit of polycrylic and called it a (successful) day.  But of course I wanted to decorate them with some color and high-contrast pattern!

I chose to go with white, black, and yellow which are the constants throughout my home, using plain craft paint as I have on all of these cement projects.  I considered simply painting the fronts solid blocks of color, but instead cut a few different shapes out painters tape to create related, but varied, geometric patterns.

I cut holes in a cardboard box to hold them upright while I was painting, and filled in the shapes slowly, careful to only pass the brush from tape onto cement to prevent paint from bleeding under and ruining the crisp look I was going for.

I finished them with a coat of polycrylic to protect the cement and paint from wear.  I think they turned out pretty cool!

I tried them out on the little set of drawers that I made-over last winter with paint and wood polish.  To attach them, I screwed two nuts all the way on until they were nearly flush with the cement, inserted the screw through the drawer, and then held it in place with a plastic o-ring and another nut.

The o-ring helps give it a little flex, keeping it securely on the drawer without damaging the drawer’s finish or putting stress on the cement.  The other nuts provide a bit of separation from the drawer front making it easier to grasp.

I also like the industrial edge that the hex nuts add, peeping out from behind the knob.

I think they bring some fun and pattern to the piece!

I like that they all have a different pattern, but they definitely could all have been made with the same pattern or in just one color for a more unified look.

These were really very affordable.  I’m calling them $2 knobs, but that is rounded up significantly.  The hardware costs $1.03 per knob, so if you’ve got some basics like cement, craft paint, and polycrylic hanging around, then these are practically $1 knobs!

You could also skimp on the hardware – I bet these could be made without the metal washers, o-ring, and third hex nut, for a mere $0.59 each.

I’d love to make more of these to see how they’d look on a larger piece, or even in a kitchen.  I wonder if they’d hold up to frequent use?  I’ll let you know!

(Sharing at Tip Me Tuesday, Totally Terrific Tuesday, Create Link Inspire, Remodelaholic, The Creative Gallery,  Link Party Palooza, One Project at a Time, Weekend Retreat Link Party, and Two Uses Tuesday)