Hinges
Hinges, the often under-appreciated member of the hardware department that holds your door in place, comes in a variety of sizes and styles.
Choosing the perfect hinges for your project depends on where you’ll install them and the finished look you’re trying to achieve.
Types of Hinges
Butt Hinge
The most common type of hinge used on doors is the butt hinge. It’s so named because the two leaves are mortised into the door and frame, allowing the two to butt up to each other. There are three different types of butt hinges: plain, ball bearing, and spring-loaded.Builders generally use plain butt hinges for lightweight interior doors.
Ball Bearing Hinge
The ball bearing hinge has lubricated bearings between the hinge’s knuckles to reduce friction caused by heavy doors. These durable hinges are ideal for heavy entryway doors or those that sustain frequent use.
Spring-Loaded Butt Hinge
To assure a door closes behind you, use a spring-loaded butt hinge. Often used on screen doors, you can calibrate these hinges to open or close with varying degrees of tension.
Rising Butt Hinge
A rising butt hinge raises the door ½-inch to clear a thick-pile carpet or threshold. When closed, it looks like a regular hinge.
Barrel Hinge.
For specialty woodworking projects, like a box or small cabinet, use the barrel hinge. This small hinge is ideal for projects where you want the hinge concealed from view. To install, simply drill holes the right size to accommodate the barrels and insert the hinge. Typically made of brass, barrel hinges are not designed for load-bearing applications.
Concealed Hinges
Designed to be unseen, concealed hinges don’t detract from the beauty of fine furniture or cabinetry. They can be self-closing and, with the aid of a couple of screws, adjusted. You can also find larger concealed hinges for doors. Since they aren’t exposed, and are therefore tamper-proof, they provide security that regular hinges don’t.
Overlay Hinge
Some hinges add thickness to the cabinetry. To reduce that thickness, consider the overlay hinge. This type of hinge folds back on itself, allowing the door to lay flush against the face of the cabinet.
Offset Hinges.
Ever try to move a couch through a doorway, only to find that the doorway is ½-inch too narrow? That’s where an offset hinge helps. This specialty hinge allows you to swing the door away from the doorframe, widening the opening up to two inches.
Piano Hinge
This long, continuous hinge is aptly named for the hinge on a piano’s lid. A long rod runs through the knuckles of this hinge’s two long leaves, holding it together. It’s the perfect hinge choice for toy boxes, fold-down desks, and storage benches.
Best Company for Hinges are:
Hettich Hinges.
Sleek Hinges.
Ebco Hinges.
Hafele Hinges.
Godrej Hinges.
HINGE FINISHES:
Different available hinge finishes are:
Antique Brass
Antique Nickel
Bright Polished Brass
Matte Black
Oil Rubbed Bronze
Polished Chrome
Satin Brass
Satin Nickel
Stainless Steel
Zinc Dichromate
