For the correct operation of the swing doors, small mechanisms are responsible, called door hinges for their design. Their fairly simple device provides free movement of the door during its opening and closing. A fully functional mechanism makes it easy to use the door leaf, without accompanying its movement with any squeaks and backlashes. At the moment, door hinges are used both in the arrangement of entrance apertures in buildings and in furniture. In the latter case, smaller mechanisms are used, but with similar operating principles. Do-it-yourself installation of furniture hinges may be necessary in the case when new doors are independently installed in a kitchen cabinet or a sleeping closet. Despite their small size, the hinges during installation can cause a lot of inconvenience due to the need for accurate calculations of their fixation places.Also, some work will have to be carried out on weight, which in some cases may require the involvement of additional hands to help with overall furniture components.
The simplicity and functionality of the door hinge mechanism has spawned many of its varieties, designed for use in various types of products for home interiors. Now similar devices are found in the following options:
Overhead. Used in wardrobes and cabinets with hinged doors;
Inserting. For small cabinets with a low weight of doors;
Heel. Most often used in interior doors, can serve well in cabinets with small facades;
Piano Found in folding tables with a book design;
Galleries. Approach the doors of false panels and fixed panels of wardrobes;
Corner Designed for the appropriate types of compartments installed in the corners of rooms and having limited space for opening doors;
Half waybills. They are used in cabinets with a large number of facades;
Mezzanine. They are the “horizontal” hinges used in hanging cabinets in the kitchen.
The use of one or another type of door hinge in a cabinet depends on many factors, including its style, dimensions, the weight of the doors and how they are fastened. In some cases, due to the physical placement of the door relative to the compartment frame, the use of exclusively corner hinges, which have a large power reserve in comparison with traditional waybills, is required. In products with a texture for classics, only such mechanisms can be applied that will correspond to this style.
Necessary materials and tools
The installation of the door hinge will require disassembling the mechanism, so you can not do without tools to perform delicate neat procedures. In addition, other manipulators will be required for general work with the door. A complete list of all the tools for installing the loop model is as follows:
Phillips screwdriver.
A set of screws.
Building level.
Ruler or tape measure.
Screwdriver.
Drill.
Pencil or easy to erase marker.
Mill with a diameter of 35 mm.
The standard layout of the door hinge involves disassembling it into three components:
The base is in the form of a strap, which is responsible for fixing the hinge to the cabinet panel.
Cup mounted on the work door.
The hinge body is a movable part connecting the door to the cabinet body.
The door hinge mechanism is installed by means of fixing screws screwed into the holes of the mounting plate and cup. For the operation parameters of the device is responsible for the adjustment screw in the housing. Thus, the hinge mechanism has up to six required fasteners, which are best prepared in advance as a spare.
Markup
Marking is an integral part of the cabinet layout for the correct installation of the door and the correct operation of its hinges. Mistakes made at this stage, at least spoil the appearance of the product, at most - make it impossible to correctly use the swing door mechanism. In the process of marking, you will need a pencil or marker, which will mark the areas for creating holes for the cup mechanisms. Therefore, it is worth starting with the main points of the markup instructions:
Depending on the weight and dimensions of the door leaf, the number of installed hinges can vary from two to five.
Do not mount the mechanism cup on the very edge of the door facade. An indent of 2–2.2 cm is recommended.
The average distance between the hinges on the meter door leaf is at least 50 cm. In this case, it is necessary to take into account its weight, which may require a larger number of fixing mechanisms.
Make sure that the areas for installing hinged canopies on the facade are not opposite the shelves of the cabinet. Otherwise, there is a risk that the door will not close until the end due to the fact that the body abuts against the platform of the shelf.
Hole preparation
Holes are created using a drill based on the marking. As an alternative tool, an electric screwdriver with the appropriate nozzle is also suitable. In addition, the use of a cutter is a prerequisite, which guarantees the preservation of the structural integrity of the door facade and cabinet panel. In the opposite case, drilling a hole can lead to chips and deformation of the wood sheet. The insert should be made with a depth of not more than 12 mm, which will be enough for a reliable hole under the platform of the hinged cup. It is better to choose the drilling speed yourself, based on the density of the material from which the facade and cabinet are made. If chipboard panels are quite easy to process like this, then natural walnut or ash are characterized by high strength indicators. For the same reason, you need to make sure that the drill works strictly at an angle of 90 degrees, from which it can easily deviate if you are dealing with solid natural wood.
Loop fastener
Due to the fact that the door leaf is the moving object, unlike the cabinet, you need to start fastening the hinge from it. So you make your work easier by eliminating the need to fit the facade under the hinges when you have to hang it. Installation work with swing mechanisms can be carried out in accordance with the following instructions:
At the stage of installation of the door hinge, all the flaws of the marking and work on the holes may appear,if you first apply it to the place of future installation. Try to conduct a similar test beforehand, making sure that the platform plate of the patch hinge fits snugly against the surface of the door leaf over its entire area. Even a minimal deflection can cause the door to skew in the future.
Using a pencil and applying a loop, a new marking is made for the self-tapping screws so that they evenly fit into the grooves of the loop.
After that, you can install the platform last, screwing the fasteners with a screwdriver or screwdriver.
Facade hanging
The complexity of this stage of work is the need to manually hang the door leaf with the installed hinges so that their bodies fall under the platforms fixed on the cabinet panel. All installation work is performed in the following sequence:
If possible, it is worth turning the cabinet to a horizontal position. So you simplify the process of fitting the facade for further installation.
Using a pencil, create a marking for future mounting plates in which the loop mechanisms will be installed.
Place the strips exactly under the marking and fasten using self-tapping screws using a screwdriver.
Install the door on the side of the cabinet, being careful not to deviate from the marked positions for the hinges.
You can start the full assembly of the hinges by connecting the front and base platforms with the help of the body. As a result, we get ready swing mechanisms, ready to work.
At the last stage, you need to adjust the loop using a screwdriver. The main role in this task will be played by the corresponding screw in the body of the central component of the mechanism.
Hinge adjustment
Despite the fact that some users carry out the “by eye” adjustment procedure when the cabinet door leaf is not yet installed on the furniture structure, this approach cannot be called correct.Getting to the stage of adjustment after attaching the facade, you will get a complete picture of how your manipulations with the adjusting screw of the hinge will affect both the appearance and ease of use of the door. Prepare in advance for the fact that it will take several times to untwist and twist the screw in the mechanism body before you achieve ideal indicators of the door leaf location. In the process, a manual rather than an automatic tool is recommended, which is why it is better to give preference to a Phillips screwdriver. The screwdriver, although it is able to manipulate the screw much faster, its load may be excessive for the component and erase its head. You will need to make adjustments according to three facade location parameters, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Horizontal divergence adjustment
The adjustment of the position of the door leaf is carried out by moving it left or right. Your ultimate goal is to eliminate too large gaps between the front and the cabinet panel. Note that too narrow a gap will make it impossible to move the door along the axis of its hinge. Also, adjustment is required in rooms with non-standard walls, where the cabinet can be located at a certain angle.
Vertical adjustment
Unlike horizontal adjustment, vertical in the up and down directions is performed by manipulating with oval mounts in the loop mechanism. The next difference from the horizontal adjustment procedure is the fact that the vertical position of the facade over time can “sag” due to the constant influence of gravity. For this reason, vertical adjustment is necessary on a regular basis.
Door Depth Adjustment
By depth, it means adjusting the position of the door relative to the cabinet body, which also affects the gap between them.Most users, with the right installation and correct layout, this type of adjustment is almost not required. Most often, the facade is set up in rooms with uneven floors, which can cause a complicated door movement.
Fastening hinges to glass doors
With the growing popularity of tempered glass furniture, the assortment of fittings capable of working properly with this material has expanded. Despite the increased strength in comparison with traditional glass, tempered is still much more vulnerable to mechanical stress than wood and chipboard panels. Therefore, under the doors of this material, certain types of hinges are produced with a fundamentally different type of fastener. The first difference between these mechanisms is the increased strength and carrying capacity due to the high weight of the glass. The following metals are used at the base of door hinges for glass:
Bronze;
Aluminum;
Zinc alloy;
Stainless steel alloy.
By the principle of fastening, looping mechanisms can be overhead or mortise. The latter traditionally require the creation of holes for fixing screws, when the former rely on holding the glass facade by high pressure on it. At the same time, overheads can work on the principle of clamping platforms on both sides of the glass door or with the help of fixing screws that press the facade inside the hinge mechanism.
Conclusion
Ensuring the correct operation of swing doors in many types of home furniture, hinges need accurate calculation during their installation. Acting in accordance with the instructions provided, you can successfully install facades on various types of cabinets and chests of drawers. Proper adjustment of the profile of these mechanisms will provide the door with free movement and tight fixation to the furniture body in the closed position.To complete all stages of the work, the expensive services of third-party contractors and the use of rare tools are not required. Hinge hinges can be installed even if there is no such automated equipment as a screwdriver using a classic screwdriver.
For the correct operation of the swing doors, small mechanisms are responsible, called door hinges for their design. Their fairly simple device provides free movement of the door during its opening and closing. A fully functional mechanism makes it easy to use the door leaf, without accompanying its movement with any squeaks and backlashes. At the moment, door hinges are used both in the arrangement of entrance apertures in buildings and in furniture. In the latter case, smaller mechanisms are used, but with similar operating principles. Do-it-yourself installation of furniture hinges may be necessary in the case when new doors are independently installed in a kitchen cabinet or a sleeping closet. Despite their small size, the hinges during installation can cause a lot of inconvenience due to the need for accurate calculations of their fixation places.Also, some work will have to be carried out on weight, which in some cases may require the involvement of additional hands to help with overall furniture components.
Content
Features and types
The simplicity and functionality of the door hinge mechanism has spawned many of its varieties, designed for use in various types of products for home interiors. Now similar devices are found in the following options:
The use of one or another type of door hinge in a cabinet depends on many factors, including its style, dimensions, the weight of the doors and how they are fastened. In some cases, due to the physical placement of the door relative to the compartment frame, the use of exclusively corner hinges, which have a large power reserve in comparison with traditional waybills, is required. In products with a texture for classics, only such mechanisms can be applied that will correspond to this style.
Necessary materials and tools
The installation of the door hinge will require disassembling the mechanism, so you can not do without tools to perform delicate neat procedures. In addition, other manipulators will be required for general work with the door. A complete list of all the tools for installing the loop model is as follows:
The standard layout of the door hinge involves disassembling it into three components:
The door hinge mechanism is installed by means of fixing screws screwed into the holes of the mounting plate and cup. For the operation parameters of the device is responsible for the adjustment screw in the housing. Thus, the hinge mechanism has up to six required fasteners, which are best prepared in advance as a spare.
Markup
Marking is an integral part of the cabinet layout for the correct installation of the door and the correct operation of its hinges. Mistakes made at this stage, at least spoil the appearance of the product, at most - make it impossible to correctly use the swing door mechanism. In the process of marking, you will need a pencil or marker, which will mark the areas for creating holes for the cup mechanisms. Therefore, it is worth starting with the main points of the markup instructions:
Hole preparation
Holes are created using a drill based on the marking. As an alternative tool, an electric screwdriver with the appropriate nozzle is also suitable. In addition, the use of a cutter is a prerequisite, which guarantees the preservation of the structural integrity of the door facade and cabinet panel. In the opposite case, drilling a hole can lead to chips and deformation of the wood sheet. The insert should be made with a depth of not more than 12 mm, which will be enough for a reliable hole under the platform of the hinged cup. It is better to choose the drilling speed yourself, based on the density of the material from which the facade and cabinet are made. If chipboard panels are quite easy to process like this, then natural walnut or ash are characterized by high strength indicators. For the same reason, you need to make sure that the drill works strictly at an angle of 90 degrees, from which it can easily deviate if you are dealing with solid natural wood.
Loop fastener
Due to the fact that the door leaf is the moving object, unlike the cabinet, you need to start fastening the hinge from it. So you make your work easier by eliminating the need to fit the facade under the hinges when you have to hang it. Installation work with swing mechanisms can be carried out in accordance with the following instructions:
Facade hanging
The complexity of this stage of work is the need to manually hang the door leaf with the installed hinges so that their bodies fall under the platforms fixed on the cabinet panel. All installation work is performed in the following sequence:
Hinge adjustment
Despite the fact that some users carry out the “by eye” adjustment procedure when the cabinet door leaf is not yet installed on the furniture structure, this approach cannot be called correct.Getting to the stage of adjustment after attaching the facade, you will get a complete picture of how your manipulations with the adjusting screw of the hinge will affect both the appearance and ease of use of the door. Prepare in advance for the fact that it will take several times to untwist and twist the screw in the mechanism body before you achieve ideal indicators of the door leaf location. In the process, a manual rather than an automatic tool is recommended, which is why it is better to give preference to a Phillips screwdriver. The screwdriver, although it is able to manipulate the screw much faster, its load may be excessive for the component and erase its head. You will need to make adjustments according to three facade location parameters, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Horizontal divergence adjustment
The adjustment of the position of the door leaf is carried out by moving it left or right. Your ultimate goal is to eliminate too large gaps between the front and the cabinet panel. Note that too narrow a gap will make it impossible to move the door along the axis of its hinge. Also, adjustment is required in rooms with non-standard walls, where the cabinet can be located at a certain angle.
Vertical adjustment
Unlike horizontal adjustment, vertical in the up and down directions is performed by manipulating with oval mounts in the loop mechanism. The next difference from the horizontal adjustment procedure is the fact that the vertical position of the facade over time can “sag” due to the constant influence of gravity. For this reason, vertical adjustment is necessary on a regular basis.
Door Depth Adjustment
By depth, it means adjusting the position of the door relative to the cabinet body, which also affects the gap between them.Most users, with the right installation and correct layout, this type of adjustment is almost not required. Most often, the facade is set up in rooms with uneven floors, which can cause a complicated door movement.
Fastening hinges to glass doors
With the growing popularity of tempered glass furniture, the assortment of fittings capable of working properly with this material has expanded. Despite the increased strength in comparison with traditional glass, tempered is still much more vulnerable to mechanical stress than wood and chipboard panels. Therefore, under the doors of this material, certain types of hinges are produced with a fundamentally different type of fastener. The first difference between these mechanisms is the increased strength and carrying capacity due to the high weight of the glass. The following metals are used at the base of door hinges for glass:
By the principle of fastening, looping mechanisms can be overhead or mortise. The latter traditionally require the creation of holes for fixing screws, when the former rely on holding the glass facade by high pressure on it. At the same time, overheads can work on the principle of clamping platforms on both sides of the glass door or with the help of fixing screws that press the facade inside the hinge mechanism.
Conclusion
Ensuring the correct operation of swing doors in many types of home furniture, hinges need accurate calculation during their installation. Acting in accordance with the instructions provided, you can successfully install facades on various types of cabinets and chests of drawers. Proper adjustment of the profile of these mechanisms will provide the door with free movement and tight fixation to the furniture body in the closed position.To complete all stages of the work, the expensive services of third-party contractors and the use of rare tools are not required. Hinge hinges can be installed even if there is no such automated equipment as a screwdriver using a classic screwdriver.