cabinet hinges for 9mm mdf

[mickthetree]

Afternoon all

I've made a little kitchen unit for the kids out of 9mm MRMDF.

The doors are just slab doors out of the same MRMDF sat in frame and I'm puzzling out what type of hinge to use. Screwing end on into 9mm mdf seems like a poor choice (going to get abused by the kids no doubt).

I'm thinking some sort of cranked butt hinge that screws into the side of the cabinet and into the rear of the door may do, but I cant find exactly what I'm after.

Maybe something like this could work. I dont mind if I have to screw into the front of the doors if necessary.

any other ideas how I could do this? Misses would like it ready for christmas :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[mickthetree]

This is a rear view BTW. The doors are sat in frame on the floor (this is just a dry fit)

 

[Baldhead]

I made a few boxes out of 12mm MDF and used the hinges in your link, drill pilot holes first, you may have to glue a block on the door to fill it out so the crank side of the hinge fits, don't try to use butt hinges because you can't screw into the side of MDF. Would it be possible to use small bolts instead of screws? If it's going to get 'abused' by the kids screws may come loose.

Baldhead

 

[owen]

Have a go at making some wooden hinges?? With mdf and hardwood dowel??

 

[Mike.S]

Could you not use concealed hinges (like Mum and dad's kitchen!) and glue blocks of scrap 9mm MRMDF where the hinges are fixed to frame and doors i.e. to give the more usual 18mm thickness for strength.

 

[MickCheese]

Would a piano hinge be more suitable?

I think a hinge screwed into 9mm MDF with kids swinging from it will come lose.

Alternatively.

Sort it for Christmas then once they fall off make a face frame from proper wood and cut the doors down to inset them. You can then screw the hinges into proper wood.

Mick

 

[andypa]

I've used piano hinges on 9mm mdf. Only problem is getting screws small enough (hammer)

 

[mickthetree]

thanks for the suggestions chaps. I would really like to make proper doors and have the router bit kit, just not the time!

I've found some hinges that will do what I'm after and look pretty cool.

Screwed it all together tonight (had a nightmare trying to use a biscuit jointer on the 9mm mdf). I'll post some more pics when I've got a bit further.

We sell piano hinge at work (and the screws) but its still screwing into the end grain of the mdf which I can only imagine splitting.

Thanks again

Mike S, that sounds like a really good idea, I hadn't considered that. I think the ones I've found will do what I'm after and stand up to some abuse.