Over the years, we have received many questions about where to get various fixit parts for steel kitchen cabinets. But with 70+ vintage brands out there, these questions are tough indeed — we’re really dependent on readers discovering and testing options. Today: Reader Shawn hit some pay dirt, and was able to find new door pin ballstud catches that he could use to close his wall cabinet doors snugly.
Shawn says these catches worked for both the Geneva and Youngstown cabinets that he is using in his project — and he has extras, if you need a few, too:
I found a solution for missing door pins/ballstud catches. I found that these work on Genevas and Youngstowns. Thread size 8/32. I have about 90 left. PM or Email me swolfe1@neo.rr.com. $1.00 ea or 12 for $10.00
These thingies are called “Lift the Dot” Stud catches — the company that makes them says they were originally developed to hold canvas tops on horse and buggy carriages in place!
Shawn found them on ebay here.
I don’t know how Shawn got these into the doors themselves — presumably he was using pre-existing holes (replacing door pins that had been there before), so they cozied right in.
Push-in stem door / drawer bumpers, too:
Also — Shawn found a source for “push-in stem door/drawer bumpers” — those little rubber baby buggy bumper black dots on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door that let it rest gently against the metal cabinet box.
Golly.
Thank you, Shawn!!
See all our stories about vintage steel cabinets here.
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Laurie says
That’s great news. I have 27 St. Charles cabinets (they look like they’d work on them also).
I have the issue of finding the plastic square part that the lift dot stud goes in to. On 1 of my cabinets, 1/2 of the plastic is broken. Been looking everywhere, but can’t find anything like it.
Lori says
We have been harvesting off of others… The Crane had metal catches on two doors (one missing). The Geneva’s had plastic ones. One friend has a full kitchen where the previous owner used a square of cork where the plastic had broken. We need a trading forum for parts!
Mary Elizabeth says
Good idea! With a place to post a photo of what you are looking for or what you have.
pam kueber says
https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
to post photos upload to a photo sharing program then share the url
Lesa says
Currently under Youngstown cabinets they have some listed,
pam kueber says
ummm…. I closed the Forum.
Kristin Valicek says
We have a Youngstown Kitchen in an old ranch house. We are looking to refurbish the cabinets and need to replace countertops & refinish the steel/porcelain sink — we want to know our options. There is a corner piece that we are told has a water heater in it – are there options to retrofit? Do you have any info on this? Thank you very much!
pam kueber says
Kristin, this is not a DIY site per se, but we have published quite a few stories about the various methods that readers have used to repaint their cabinets.
Start digging into our Kitchen Help / Steel Kitchens category — https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/steel-kitchen-cabinets/
You might also find the stories in Kitchen Help / Readers and their Kitchens — https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/kitchens-hi-pam-reader-spotlight/
If I were going to restore cabinets, I would likely first try to find a local auto body shop to help. Industrial painting companies would be another option. Be aware that doors can warp under high heat; be aware there may be fillers [made of we don’t know what] inside the doors that may be affected by high heat. Those are a couple of the issues that have come up over time.
For your steel sink see the two lead stories in our Kitchen Help / Sinks category — https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/sinks/
Ruth Bush says
This true hardware for vintage cabinets can be found at Spencer Products. 330-487-5200. It is called “strike and latch” hardware.
john says
I am currently looking for the plastic part for the lift dot. I have 1850s farm house did not have a kitchen till 1970s. I found a whole kitchen of geneva cabinets. I found if you have the will power, sanding them and spraying with rustoleum hammer spray works well. Stands up to the kids and pets. Anybody finds a sight or a place to get the plastic square for the cabinets. I would like to know.
pam kueber says
Hi John, we don’t have a known source for all the plastic part or its and bits, as we have identified so many brands and they used so many solutions. Note, readers, please be aware that there may be potential hazards in old products such as lead paint in the finishes of old cabinets — so before undertaking DIY projects on them, get with a properly licensed professional to assess what you are working with so you can make informed decisions how to handle. For more info see our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page.