Introduction

Hinges of all types basically perform the same function. They are primarily meant for smooth opening and closing of cabinet doors. There are two metallic plates in the cabinet hinge, which are fixed together by two detachable pins.

Cabinets are usually of two types: framed and unframed (box). Depending on the type of cabinet, there are two broad categories of hinges. Framed cabinets generally have a exposed or visible front frame aligned in the same plane as the doors in order to make all or part of the hinge visible. Frameless cabinets are completely enclosed by the door, and hence cannot have visible hinges.

Various parts of a hinge differ in appearance depending upon their type and style.

Parts of Cabinet Hinges

Standard cabinet hinge comprises of the following parts:

• Door Wing: It is that part of the hinge that is fixed to the cabinet door.
  
  
• Frame Wing: It is the hinge part that is attached to the cabinet frame.
  
  
• Knuckle: It connects the frame wing and the door wing with an interlocking pattern.
  
  
• Pin: It resides inside the knuckle and holds the hinge together. The pin allows the knuckle to rotate.

Materials Used

Hinges are basically made of metals and so is the case of cabinet hinge. Some of the common materials used for making cabinet hinges include:

• Aluminium
• Stainless Steel
• Cast iron

In order to protect the hinges from corrosion and rust, and to make them more durable, cabinet hinges are given excellent finishes. Polished brass finish, oil rubbed bronze finish, satin chrome finish, black finish, etc are very common among cabinet hinges.

Cabinet Hinges Types

Cabinet hinges are of various types depending on their usage. Common types of hinges include:

• Reversible Hinges: As the name suggests, these hinges can be reversed. They can be installed either on left-hand or right-hand cabinet doors.
  
  
• Concealed Hinges: These hinges are basically meant for cabinets. As the name suggests, these hinges are not visible from the outside of the cabinet. Concealed hinges consist of two parts fastened together by slipping one half on the other and then tightening a screw. They offer a smooth, unbroken cabinet surface. The radius of the mobile leaf opens the door out and clears the cabinet frame.
  
  
• Wrap-Around Hinges: This type of hinge simply wraps around the cabinet frame from the front end to the edge. They are suitable for cabinets that have overlapping doors. There are two types of wrap around hinges:
  • Full Wrap-Around: In this, the frame wing wraps three sides of the frame completely and screws to the inside edge.
    
    
  • Partial Wrap-Around: This type of hinge partially wraps around the back of the door frame. In this, the frame wing wraps around two sides of the frame and screws to the edge. The hinge has a plain flat leaf for the cabinet and it can also be used on a frameless cabinet.
    
    
• Surface Mount Hinges: In this type, both wings of the hinge are fixed to the outer surfaces of the cabinet door and frame.
  
  
• Face Frame Hinges: It is also known as semi-concealed hinge as the door wing is concealed. The frame wing is visible only when the cabinet door is closed.
  
  
• Inset Hinges: In inset hinges, the frame wing becomes visible on closing the cabinet door. The door wing is usually hidden and extends into the frame cavity.
  
  
• Reverse Bevel Hinges: In this type, the frame wing covers two sides of the frame thereby allowing the door to overlap the frame. The door wing carries a door with the mounting frame extending inward.
  
  
• Overlay Hinges: In this type, the frame wing of the hinge covers two sides of the frame and makes the door to overlap the frame.
  
  
• Flush Hinges: Also known as full inset hinge, or butt hinge, both the leaves of flush hinge are fixed to the inner surface of the cabinet door and frame. In this type, both the wings of the hinge are concealed and only the knuckle is visible.
  
  
• H-Style Hinges: This type of hinge resembles the letter "H" with one side attached to the frame and another side fixed to the door. These hinges do not self close and are perfect for use with flush doors.
  
  
• Butterfly Hinges: It looks like a butterfly and both wings of the hinge are mounted to the outer surfaces of the cabinet door and frame. They are ideal for doors and do not self close.
  
  
• T-Style Hinges: As the name suggests, the hinge resembles the letter "T" and is not self-closing type. The vertical piece of the hinge is fixed to the door frame and the horizontal piece is fixed to the door.
  
  
• European Hinges: It is a special type of cabinet hinge, exclusively meant for unframed cabinets. In this type, the hinge, along with the knuckle is entirely concealed. These fancy frameless cabinet hinges are sometimes self-closing. These hinges are capable of handling heavy doors.

Buying Tips Before buying a particular type of hinge for your cabinet, you must first make sure the type of cabinet construction you have. In order to ensure the stability of the cabinet door, you should determine the number of hinges required for a particular installation. As hinges come in various sizes, determining appropriate size of the hinge is important for supporting different door weights.