Remove old drawer handles, mark and drill new pilot holes accurately, then fit and tighten your new handles.
FH-01Remove the old handlesOpen each drawer and unscrew the old handles from the inside face. Keep the screws in a labelled bag in case you want them as spares later. Wipe the drawer front clean with a damp cloth and let it dry fully before you mark anything new.
FH-02Fill old holes if the spacing has changedIf your new handles have a different screw spacing to the old ones, fill the old holes with wood filler. Press it in firmly, leave it slightly raised, and let it cure for the time stated on the tub. Once dry, sand it flush with fine-grit sandpaper so the drawer front is smooth again.
FH-03Measure and mark the new positionsHold each new handle against the drawer front and mark the centre of every screw hole in pencil. Use a tape measure to check the handle sits centrally left-to-right and at the same height on every drawer, so the whole run looks even. Measure from the same edge each time rather than from the previous handle, so small errors don't add up along the row.
FH-04Drill the pilot holesChoose a pilot drill bit slightly smaller than the handle's screw diameter, usually 2-3mm for chipboard or MDF drawer fronts. Hold a scrap piece of wood against the back face of the drawer front so it doesn't splinter as the bit breaks through. Drill straight and steady, stopping the moment the bit passes through the front, and check you haven't drilled into the drawer box behind.
FH-05Fit and tighten the new handlesPush each screw through from inside the drawer into the handle. Turn until it feels snug, then stop. Chipboard and MDF strip easily, so finish the last turn or two by hand with a screwdriver rather than using a power driver on full power.
FH-06Check and tidy upOpen and close every drawer to check the handles sit level and feel secure. Wipe away any dust or filler residue from the drawer fronts. Dispose of the old handles and screws responsibly if you're not keeping them as spares.