NEW! Faster Search Option

Flush mount cabinet doors - hinges and mounting

Flush mount cabinet doors - hinges and mounting (post #167356)

1948mike on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 08:00

Jigs, Fixtures, Tips & Tricks

I'm looking for articles on mounting and hinge types to use for flush mount cabinet doors. Especially the hinges, they give me trouble in almost every aspect. What type to use, and how the frame should be made to accomodate the hinge. All suggestions will be appreciated.

There are four types of (post #167356, reply #1 of 4)

by hammer1 in reply to 1948mike [original] on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 05:22

There are four types of cabinet doors, full overlay, partial overlay, lipped and inset. I think you are talking about inset. With this type of door there are many hinge choices, face mounted, butt hinges and euro style hinges. The issue is wood movement which can cause binding if the door or frame or both swell. Not a good choice when wide rails and stiles or wider faceframes are used. Since you need to maintain an even reveal around the door perimeter, the hinges need to be carefully mounted the same. Euro hinges allow adjustment and are not seen from the front. Getting the opening and the door exactly square is important. The best advice I can offer is to get a pair of hinges you like and do a mock up to practice on.

Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

Hammer is right about the (post #167356, reply #2 of 4)

by Mike_D in reply to hammer1 [original] on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 19:50

Hammer is right about the mock up. Do it full size out of poplar. This is the time to learn what you need to improve on before you have the "finished" piece lying wounded before you.

partial size mock up (post #167356, reply #3 of 4)

by Saville in reply to 1948mike [original] on Thu, 06/23/2011 - 07:06

If you are goign to use Euro style hinges, I recommend a partial mock up. I had some largish doors (approx 24 x 27") to be installed (full inset) to cover my flat screen tv. I used Euro hinges. To try and manhandle those doors and site the place to screw the hinges into the sides of the cabinet would have been tough.

So instead I took a 1x6 piece of pine and drilled the 35mm holes for the door portion of the hinge, right where I would put them in the door. The pine was sized, vertically, to fit the hole. That allowed me to site the spot where the other side of the hinge were to be fastened, without a lot of sweat and cursing.

After that, I mounted the hinges on the doors and only minor adjustment was necessary.