Hinge advice

[Corset]

I have been making a Tv Cabinet for what seems like an eternity and i cannot help feel i may have overstretched my abilities a little :roll: . I have managed to botch my way to hanging the doors after a variety of disaters with mortcice and tenon construction and my bright idea of having curves.
I have used some cranked knife hinges to hang the doors. In order to make the unit practical i want to have the doors fold in half when they open and i am intending to use some barrel hinges (soss hinge type things). The doors are 18mm thick oak and i am confused with which size hinge to get (10, 12, 14, 18 mm) i have the woodfit catalogue and its diagram is giving me a headache. I need the doors to fold back 180 degrees when open. Any advice on the right size hinge be gratefully received?
Also are they difficult to fit? after the saga with the knife hinges i expect most things won't feel to bad. I manged to depress myself further by picking up the woodworking issue where Philly fits some knife hinges to a cabinet, strngely enough my recess don't look his .
Its a all a learning curve is my now adopted mantra, much repeated.
Cheers Owen

 

[DomValente]

Hello Owen, if you struggled with the other hinges you're not going to like the Soss.
They require very accurate fitting, and unless you make or buy a jig for them you will suffer. If the doors are folding just use butt hinges on the folding part as they will not really be seen, my preference would be piano hinge, it's neat and will support the door top to bottom.

Dom

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[jasonB]

I would say 14mm will be the max you can use in 18mm doors. However from my experience with these hinges they are very delicate and easily broken, soss hinges would be a lot stronger.

If you do go with the barrel type you will have to make a jig to get the holes perfectly positioned in each door as there is no adjustment, practice in some scrap first.

Jason

 

[Corset]

Thanks i had considered butt hinges but i thought in for a penny etc. I had hoped with a drill press they wouldn't be to bad.
Owen

 

[Chris Knight]

Owen,
Ify ou are using Zysa hinges like these, http://www.sdslondon.co.uk/products.php ... prod=32102

they are a doddle to fit and in my experience strong enough too - unlike Jasons experience?

As Jason says, true Soss hinges are not easy to fit. I have made up a couple of jigs that help - indeed they are essential but careful work is still needed.

If using the Zysa type hinges, the size refers to the hole size to be drilled for them so I guess the 12mm (or 14mm if you can get them - I don't know) will be the max in an 18mm door - I use 16mm in a three quarter inch thick door and they have proved excellent.

 

[Corset]

Those are the boys i thought one hole and away you go. Any suggestions for dril bits etc.

 

[Chris Knight]

Owen,
Looking again at Jason's post I see he didn't comment on Soss fitting being difficult - however, I do find them demanding - unlike the Zysa. All the latter need in my experience are carefullly marked centres for the holes and holes which are absolutely perpendicular to the surface being drilled. A simple hardboard gauge will take care of the accurate marking (ensuring holes are in matching positions in the door and the carcase). Drilling at true right angles can be a bit more demanding and I usually get away with doing it freehand but that is thanks to lots of practice I guess. A homemade hard wood jig would no doubt be of assistance.

As for drills, a Forstner or a lip and spur bit will make the cleanest holes.

 

[Corset]

Thanks for the help Chris, with the hole being 14mm i am going to need a forstner bit. The jig will be a good idea.
Owen