A customer wants a coffee table with enclosed storage underneath. To match the rest of her furniture, she wants slab doors with no pulls (that sleek modern look). She would like to have the doors secured by magnetic touch latches–a gentle push on the door face and it pops open. Of course the hinges have to be hidden also. The only cup hinges I’ve ever used have the self-closing feature. Will this be a problem, using this type (self closing) hinge with this type of catch? Is there a cup hinge (or other invisible hinge) without a self closing feature? Other suggestions? Thanks a bunch.
(This is my first post since they changed the forum; a little test to see if you all are as helpful as you used to be.)
GP Westmoreland
Replies
I mixed cup hinges and touch latches only once. Didn't work for the reason you mention, so I never tried it again.
Are the doors too heavy for scissors hinges? And how about the mechanical touch latches instead of the magnetic ones. They seem to have a fairly stiff spring to push the door open a scosh.
Just checked my '50s era TV cabnet. The scissors hinges aren't totally hidden but you kinda hafta look for them.
BJ
Why not just remove the spring from the self-closing hinge? I think Blum makes hinges that are not self-closing.
D. Peterson
You might look into Soss hinges (I'm not sure if this is the same as the scissors hinge mentioned a couple of posts above.)
Soss hinges or barrel hinges will work. Barrel hinges are for light weight doors and only require a hole of the correct size in the door and frame or case side.Soss hinges are sturdy and will last many years without maintanence.Both types are invisible when door is closed.The drawback is they are not adjustable in any direction.
Grass and others make non-self closing hinges. I have done exactly what you are proposing to do and it works fine. I like the mini touch latches rather than the magnetic.
By the way, I've also done touch-opening drawers using standard sidemount ball bearing slides (without the hold-closed feature).
Salice makes all their cup hinges in self-closing and free swinging versions. Always found their quality to be excellent.
Welcome back GP.
I'm doing the same thing right now & ordered non self closing hinges from my supplier. Just to see if it would work I took the spring out of a couple ordinary (Hafele) hinges & did a mock up using single & double magnetic catches - works well.
Simply punch the rivet thru & replace it without the spring, repien & you've got a hinge that will do the job if you can't readily source the others.
Don
Thanks to all for the helpful replies. After posting this question, I hunted around in my shop, found a couple of surplus Amerock compact cup hinges. Took the springs out. No good: hinge becomes disabled, comes apart. These are the hinges I prefer to use because they're inexpensive, work well and don't protrude too awfully much on the inside of the face frame.
I think I will explain the potential problem to the lady, and see if she will be OK with these hinges and routed hand pulls in the door edges instead of touch latches.
Anyway, thanks again for all the replies. GP
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