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Hinge Types A Modern Overview


in Hinge History
from The Encyclopedia of Hardware, with some minor edits [1]
Hinge types come in a seemingly endless variety, but keeping in
mind the following facts should eliminate some of the
confusion.Many companies specify that hinges are handed-that
is, designed to go on either the left or right hand of the door. In
some cases the left hand is considered left as you view the door
opening from the outside of the house; in others it is from the
inside. This can get very complicated, and the simple fact is that
unless you are involved in a very special situation, you dont
need to know the hands, because hinges are interchangeable. All
you need to do is turn them over, and they become lefthanded or
right-handed, as required.

Different types of hinges come in various sizes; in the very small


sizes they would be used on cabinet doors. In selecting any hinge
for a door, there is a variety of data one should know: door
thickness, weight, and clearance. But a long-time engineering
trick makes it simpler: If the hinge seems to be in proportion to
the door its going on, use it. For example, if you are hanging an
exterior door, you wont use tiny hinges, nor would you use
extra large ones. We are all generally familiar with hinge size
and your own judgment should suffice.

Actually, it would be extremely difficult to select hinges that are


too small, simply because hinges are tremendously strongeight
or more times, generally, stronger than the job they are called
upon to do. As a rule of thumb, though, for a normal-weight
interior sash 1-3/8 thick or hollow-core flush (flat and smooth
door use 1 pair of 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 butt hinges; for a solid door 1-
3/8 thick use 1-1/2 pairs of 3-1/2 x 3-1/2; for a door 1-3/4 thick
use 1 pair of 4 x 4 butts; for a solid-core door 1-3/4 thick use 1-
1/2 pairs of 4 x 4 butts; and for door blinds 1-1/8 thick use 1-1/2
pairs of 3 x 3 butts. The thickness of the door dictates the size
of the hinges and the weight and the number of hinges.

Butt Hinge
The butt hinge is commonly used on interior and
exterior doors because it is neat looking. It
consists of two rectangular leaves with screw
holes. The leaves are joined by a pin or metal
rod. Withdraw this pin and the leaves will
separate, handy for when you want to take down
the door. Both leaves are mortised, or recessed:
one into the edge of the door, the other in the
jamb, or door framework. When the door is
closed, the leaves meet, or butt together, with
only the pin showing.

HardwareSource carries plain bearing butt


hinges, ball bearing hinges, and small butt
hinges.

THinge

The T-hinge or tee-hinge, as the name suggests, is


shaped like the letter T. The horizontal part of
the T goes onthe door frame, while the vertical
part is screwed to the door.

This hinge is flush mounted-not recessed into the


door and youd use the plain kind where you
care more about function than about good looks.
T-hinges are commonly used on garage doors, to
hinge chest lids, and for other utility jobs.
Ornamental T-hinges are also available.

Strap Hinge

This is another hinge for utility rather than


looks. It consists of two long narrow leaves of
equal size extending from a single knuckle. Strap
hinges come in various sizes, both large and
small; but the length of the leaves militates
against their being mounted on a normal
doorjamb. Rather, they are the kind of hinge to
use where you have a lid of some sort that you
want hinged in the center. In marine use, for
example, youll find strap hinges on fish box lids.
When small fish are caught, either side of the lid
can be lifted and the fish tossed in the box. When
a large fish is caught, the entire lid can be lifted
off and the fish placed in the box. For around the
home you might use a strap hinge on an outdoor
storage box.

Strap hinges are commonly available in the same


finishes (plain and galvanized steel) as T-hinges.
You can also get them in bronze, but these are
ordinarily for boats.
Gate Hinge

The gate hinge has two parts: an L-shaped lag


screw that screws into the fence post and a leaf
with a knurled nut that fits over the L of the first
part and is screwed to the gate. Gate hinges were
specifically designed so that they could be easily
attached to round posts, but they can be
mounted on square posts as well.

While they are theoretically available in a Gate hinge. Screwing or unscrewing it raises the
variety of sizes, youll usually find them in sizes door for
of either 5 or 6. leveling and clearance.

An advantage of a gate hinge is that if the gate is


hung and it is not straight, the hinge can be
adjusted to compensate: Just lift the gate off the
hinge, turn the lag-screw part of the hinge, and
rehang the door .

Special-Purpose Hinges

A number of special-purpose hinges are of


particular interest.

One type of hinge is for dividers that you want to


fold in both directions or that you want to fold
flat for storage. This is called the double-acting
hinge. It comes in two forms; one type has two
leaves and knuckles and is somewhat loose
jointed because both leaves can open at once.
The other is more complicated but is designed to
permit the doors to fold either way; they allow
the door to open only one edge at a time.

Soss Hinge

This type of hinge (for cabinets, folding doors, and shutters but
not regular doors) is named after its inventor and is for
situations where you want a hinge that is completely concealed.
The Soss hinge is mortised into the door edges, and when the
door is closed, you cant see any part of it.

Soss hinges are very strong, but they are very difficult to install.
There is simply no room for error; they must be lined up directly
opposite each other right on the money. They are also expensive.
The Soss hinge will result in a completely concealed hinge-but
its difficult to install. Mortises are drilled and the hinges slipped
into place and tightened.

Piano, or Continuous, Hinge

Another name for this type of hinge is the


continuous hinge, but is commonly called a
piano hinge because this is what it is normally
used on. It is a long hinge with very narrow
leaves and many screw holes. It was designed for
a piano because it combines strength with good
looks. (It is commonly available in brass finish.)
You couldnt use strap or other hinges on a piano
lid without detracting from its looks.

Piano hinges are available in various sizes. They


are especially good where the material is thin
and strength and good looks are required.
Continuous hinge in action

Cabinet Hinges

Hinges are made for three kinds of doors: lipped,


overlay, and flush. The lipped door is one in
which a lip has been cut completely around the
door. The overlay door is cut larger all around
than the opening so that its edges rest on the
cabinet frame. Flush doors ride inside the frame
with their faces flush with the frame face. Each
door style dictates the type of hinge that may be
used on it.

There are various kinds of hinges, each designed


to be used with one or more of these kinds of
doors.

One of the most popular hinges is the pivot style.


It is designed for use on the overlay door. One
hinge is mounted on the top of the door and one
on the bottom, with portions of each hinge bent
over and screw mounted to frame and door. The
result is a concealed hinge.

If you prefer a hinge that lets you automatically


close the door, consider the self-closing type. This
has a light spring inside that does this. This type
of hinge can be used for any type of door-lip,
overlay, or flush.

Butterfly hinges are so called because when fully


opened they have the shape of a butterfly. They
are for flush-door application only. Many people
also like them on cabinet lids. They can add an
effective, decorative touch, particularly if theyre
made of brass, which many are. This is our
collection of ornamental hinges, including
butterfly hinges.

Butterfly hinge Hinges vary greatly in size and thickness as well


as style. Most manufacturers card hinges and
provide complete installation instructions; some
even turn the card into a tool: It becomes the
template for making the screw holes. Most
hinges have the manufacturers name stamped
on them. This should help you in locating the
proper hinge.

Hinges come in a variety of finishes Chrome,


antiqued copper, black, and brass (either plated
or pure brass) are quite common.

Youll likely want to match, the hinge to the style


of knobs or pulls, and there is a wide variety of
styles to choose from. For example, Belwith
International, Ltd., makes antique brass hinges
and pulls as well as matching units in black
antique and white gold, among others. Weiser
offers polished metal knobs, pulls, and hinges as
well as etched hardware and Early American
styles. Amerock offers, among other things,
antique copper and bronze.

Information compiled and written by Tom


Philbin
The Encyclopedia of Hardware

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