doors and hinges – how to fit
I am ready to mount 2 doors on a small cabinet piece I have made. Each door is about 12″ wide by 14″ tall. The doors will open with pulls from the middle. I have some nice hinges from Ball and Ball and the process of how to attach is understood. The question has to do with the fit between the door at the hinge side and the case.
Just hand fitting the doors in place looks good. I have the door tight up to the case. But in placing the hinges do I want this tight fit or do I want a gap or two of a business card? If not tight, do I just leave the hinge a little proud of the wood? And if so, proud on both surfaces or one or the other? Or maybe is this all figured out by the design of the hinge so that a gap naturally results when hingle is flush to wood?
And while I am at it, how about a gap where the doors come together? How much? It is a panel door made with poplar.
Tim
Replies
There are many different types of hinges. Those that are called butt hinges are let in flush with the surface and they already have built in space for clearance. There are a lot of hinges that look like butt hinges but they are not and are meant to mount flat on the face, not just the barrel protruding. These will often hinge bind if used as butt hinges. You can tell by closing the two leaves together and seeing if there is a space at the barrel. 3/32", the thickness of a nickel, is a common spacing method. More may be needed if there are wide stiles on the doors or cabinet that will expand in humid conditions. You can tweak the door fit a little by placing paper or business card shims under the hinge leaves on butt hinges, just in case things aren't as perfect as you thought.
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