Butt hinge size

[janner89]

Hi chaps,

Am in the process of making a set of wardrobes, with birch ply carcasses and poplar shaker doors, see picture attached. I’ve installed using some 64mm cabinet butt hinges. My only concern having added a mirror to the back of the right hand door it feels pretty heavy - maybe around 15/20kg I’d estimate…should I be worried about the size/number of hinges in this instance? Just slightly worried given the small gaps that it may drop over time…

Ta

 

[Spectric]

I think you will be ok providing they are quality hinges with decent attachment to the carcass and doors. Are the hinges recessed ?

 

[niall Y]

If in doubt, just add another hinge or two. If the doors are real wood then you can expect them to move over time. Then you may well have to plane them at some later stage to stop them sticking. This is one of the advantages of adjustable hinges and lay on doors.

One often allows bigger gaps for painted work than polished or varnished pieces. With traditional paint finishes there would have been a minimum of 6 coats of paint in these gaps, which would only be added to at a later stage with further repainting.

 

[janner89]

I think you will be ok providing they are quality hinges with decent attachment to the carcass and doors. Are the hinges recessed ?

Yes recessed into both face frame and door, and decent quality hinges - I suppose if there is any drop I’ll just add a 3rd hinge. Thanks for you reply

 

[janner89]

If in doubt, just add another hinge or two. If the doors are real wood then you can expect them to move over time. Then you may well have to plane them at some later stage to stop them sticking. This is one of the advantages of adjustable hinges and lay on doors.

One often allows bigger gaps for painted work than polished or varnished pieces. With traditional paint finishes there would have been a minimum of 6 coats of paint in these gaps, which would only be added to at a later stage with further repainting.

Thanks Niall, must admit I hadn’t factored in the thickness of future paint coats…it’s not something I’m commonly making in truth. I’d expect if there’s to be any movement it will be shrinking? My workshop isn’t particularly dry and it’s going into a centrally heated home (at least this is what I hope!)

 

[Rewby]

Personally I would add an extra hinge and allow a bit extra clearance around the doors.
What I've found with wardrobes is the door with the mirror is often left wide open (or at least not fully shut) for long periods as it is usually the most used door and as you say they can be quite heavy!

 

[Chubber]

I was taught that painted work left a penny thickness gap on door fitting. Cabinet work one half-penny at top, bottom and sides, a penny gap between two closing doors with an asragal bead. I still have some fine hard steel points used to secure them, driven far enough to hold then snapped off.

 

[Doug71]

I was taught that painted work left a penny thickness gap on door fitting. Cabinet work one half-penny at top, bottom and sides, a penny gap between two closing doors with an asragal bead. I still have some fine hard steel points used to secure them, driven far enough to hold then snapped off.

Maybe worth noting that when people talk about a penny gap around a door they are talking about a gap the thickness of an old penny not these new fangled little decimal things.

 

[Blister]

My Butt does not need hinges