The Complete Handbook of Cabinet Catches

Chapter 1: Understanding Cabinet Catches

A cabinet catch is the component that keeps a door or drawer closed when it is supposed to be closed. It seems like a minor part, but it is the element that delivers the final "feel" of a cabinet. The closing action, the resistance, the sound, and the security of the latch constitute the tactile quality a customer experiences multiple times a day. A $3,000 custom maple cabinet will feel like a cheap product if the door rattles or swings open unexpectedly because of a poorly chosen or badly installed catch. Conversely, a modestly priced laminate cabinet with a well-adjusted, quiet catch feels like it was engineered correctly.

Formally, a catch is a mechanical or magnetic device that holds a door or drawer in a closed position without requiring a complex locking mechanism. Unlike a lock, a catch does not provide security. It is designed to keep a cabinet closed during normal use and to be opened with a simple pull. The holding force is low enough for a person to overcome with a straight pull, but high enough to resist vibration, gravity (if a door is slightly out of plumb), and the force of objects shifting inside the cabinet.

To understand the category, you must first understand the physics at play. A catch is performing a simple retarding function: it resists movement. That resistance comes from one of two fundamental sources: permanent magnetism or mechanical friction. Every catch on the market, from a 50-cent