Introduction: Install Vintage-car Chrome Door Handles in Your House
You can install vintage chrome car door handles in your house for a cool look. Can be implemented for wooden doors, cabinets, furniture of all kinds. I din't try to make the button functional to unlock the door (this door is just a basement closet door with a deadbolt lock on it). Let your imagination fly!
Step 1: Obtain an Old Car Door Handle
Get yourself a vintage car door handle like this. This one came from an MGB (I always happen to have some around, I'm a British sports car enthusiast), but you can find them cheaply on ebay. A few things will need to be done to it before we can attach it to the door. In your case, it will depend on the kind of handle you can find. Notice that there is are two small bolts (one on the right and one on the left, these will hold the handle on to the door. Notice the big mechanism for the button, you will carve the wood on the door to let that move freely and preserve the spring action on the handle.
Step 2: Polish the Chrome
I have a buffer and I gave the handle a quick polishing to make it look better. If you don't have a buffer, you could use various chemical polishing compunds like "Blue Max", "Mothers", "Brasso", etc... Wear gloves, the chemicals are really rough on your skin! When you're done, the handle will look way better!
Step 3: Grind Off the Handle If Necessary
This handle had a lip that would prevent a flat fit against the surface of the door, so I ground it off.
Step 4: Drill the Door.
At this point I used a spade drill bit to recess the bolts at the right depth. Do this as appropriate for your particular situation.
Step 5: Bolt the Handle to the Door
I used the nuts and bolts from the original car door handle. Use a socket wrench to tighten them in (your hole will need to be wide enough to let you do this).
Step 6: You're Done!
I carved a hole big enough for the spring mechanism to fit inside the door and keep the spring action on the button on the handle, although it is not functional. But check it out, it looks pretty neat!
18 Comments
5 years ago
At least those MGB door handles didn't end up in the scrap pile.
13 years ago on Step 6
It doesn't sound as if it would that much extra work to transform this awesome idea, better fitted for cabinets (as hallifax stated), to a functional room-door handle by either adding a spring loaded mechanism to keep the door shut (like those at the bank teller's door) or even rehouse the original mechanism to work with the button. Or, heck, even have the whole handle turn. This is a great idea that, I think, should be explored into further. Nice job, Chico.
15 years ago on Introduction
I'm a car guy and I HATE seeing vintage car parts used for anything other than cars, like this instructable. We never know when we will actually need something like this to open a car door, or restore something to its former glory.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I see where you're coming from! I would never think of using something scarce. But this particular part happens to be rather plentiful in used condition and they do make decent reproductions. I restore vintage British car parts as a hobby/business and I own an old MG myself. I don't know if it's kosher to plug them on this site, but I collaborate with Mackay's Garage (www.mackaysgarage.com).
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Fair enough, as long as most people know the difference between what is plentiful and what isn't from an automotive perspective. But I tell you what, if I am in need of a 911 door handle and the only one I can find is on someone's house, well...
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
It's not like you'll ever be able to get ahold of your rare parts if they're possessed by people who don't know what they are anyway.
14 years ago on Introduction
that is a cool re-use of old stuff. people who a "preservationists" piss me off. I get the same kind of "you screwed up a good old car" comments all the time and I write them off. all you and I have done is make their old crap more rare, so you win and they win. HA
16 years ago on Introduction
i've seen that handle before... it's definitely not an old fridge handle, right? wtf primer?! you guys are just working on a different aesthetic planet. which is cool that we're all still diy dweebs with way different tastes ig uess.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
the fridge handle was what came to mind for me too. That's a creative use of some old chrome.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
Not a fridge handle, this is a door handle from an old British car, an MGB. They had those handles from 68 to 1980.
16 years ago on Step 6
Very cool idea. And it sounds like this would be better for cabinets since those typically don't require knob turning.
16 years ago
this is gayer than hell!!!!!....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....!!!
Reply 16 years ago
OK dude! Show us what you got! Show us how to make nukes or something....
16 years ago
I bet you could rig one of these up to flush a toilet.
16 years ago
1) I like the door. I bet it does look cool from a distance. 2) Who, o' great instructable friends, is going to take up the challenge to be inspired to take this to the next level? Who will make the vintage door handle FUNCTIONAL!?!?! (Not me. I'm a loser who couldn't do it if I wanted to!)
16 years ago
My basement was really creepy and dark. I used some left-over green paint to cheer the place up! The overall is really pretty cool! But guilty as charged, no priming! :)
16 years ago
looks like he didnt prime it :)
16 years ago
umm... I have to ask... Cool project, but what's with the paint on the door? It ruins the chromeness.