Butt hinges are most widely used for mounting ordinary doors. These hinges are composed of two plates attached to abutting surfaces of a door and cabinet and joined by a pin. Both leaves of the hinge are mortised (cut) into the edge of a door and frame. Butt hinges are available in both rigid (fixed-pin) and loose-pin types. The pin cannot be removed from the rigid or fixed-pin butt hinge, but the pin can easily be tapped out of the loose-pin type with a screwdriver.

Butt hinges are usually installed in recesses (mortise) that are cut into the door frame (jamb) and the edge of the door (stile). In order to ensure proper functioning, the hinges must be precisely located and set into their mortises so that the faces are set evenly with the surfaces of the door and jamb.

Materials Used

Butt hinges are usually made of metals and alloys. The popularly used materials include:

• Brass
• Nickel
• Aluminium
• Stainless steel

Types of Butt Hinges

There are quite a few variation in butt hinges. Some of the common types are:

• Half-Mortised Hinges: These are butt hinges where only one of the leaves is mortised (cut) into the door and frame.
  
  
• Loose-Pin Butt Hinges: The pin in this type of hinge can be smoothly tapped out with the help of a screwdriver. One of the advantages of this type of hinges is that the door can be removed for any purpose without unscrewing the hinges.
  
  
• Loose-Joint Butt Hinges: This type of butt hinge allows us to remove the door by simply lifting it to a certain height so that one section of the hinge can clear the pin on the other section. Cases that require frequent removal of the door, the loose-joint type hinge is probably the best choice.
  
  
• Rising-Butt Hinges: It is a special type of butt hinge designed for use where shag carpeting or any other type of thick floor covering might interfere with the opening of the door. The rising-butt hinge allows the door to rise slightly to clear the carpeting when it is opened.

Finishes

A wide variety of finishes are available with butt hinges. Polished brass finish, antique nickel finish, satin chrome and oil rubbed bronze finishes are the popularly available finishes in butt hinges.