EARTHQUAKE PREP: Installing clips on kitchen doors

Before I painted our kitchen cabinets, we had safety latches on the cabinet doors that were good for protecting inquisitive small children from what lay beyond, but for a couple of grown adults, these latches were unnecessary and tricky. 

That was a few years ago and needless to say after painting the cabinets, I did not re-install those latches. Since the shocking footage of the 9.0 in Japan, our interest in earthquake proofing the house is on an upswing and concern for what might fly out of our upper kitchen cabinets became a priority. I was in denial. I did not want those child proof latches. Then we realized there were options and to OSH we went. 

We found these, but I'm sure what these are called. The receipt says "door latch". They were $1.19 each. 

This door latch is composed of two main pieces - a male and a female (that's what butch guys say, isn't it?) and the screws you'll need to install them. The two plastic rollers on the female piece are spring loaded to clamp onto the protruding male piece.

After a little trial and error, the installation of the $1.19 door latch made in China and distributed by Amerock in Rockford Illinois, became fairly easy and proved quite effective. 

First, locate where female component will be installed. 

The main concern here is making sure that when male component is installed, it will actually reach and clip into the female. To achieve successful intercourse, the two rollers need to be placed exactly where door will hit when closed, so place it a little over the edge of the shelf and close the door. This will move the piece to the exact position it should be mounted. 

Next, screw the piece into position. I had to drill the screws at an angle because of gap between face and case of cabinet. 

Now that your female is in position, we need to locate the male. To do this, I was able to use a particularly inky marker that I have. Insert the male component into the installed clip. Mark the outside edges of the man part and close the door so that the ink and a faint outline will transfer onto the door, showing where it should be installed. 

Hold door latch in position and screw into place. 

Be sure that the screws will not penetrate the door and poke out thru the front...

...and you're done!