Cabinet Hinges

Cabinet hinges come in a variety of styles, materials and designs. They can be visible, partly visible or concealed, depending on their application. This allows cabinet doors to be mounted flush against the body or extend onto the frame depending on the design of the piece. Classic furniture have visible or partially visible hinges, whereas modern pieces tend to favor concealed ones.

Cabinet hinges are made up of four basic components. The door wing, which is the bit that screws to the door. The frame wing, which screws to the frame, knuckle, which is the tube-like structure through which the pin slides, and the pin, which holds everything together. Different designs will have variations on the knuckle, but the principle will be the same. It’s a method of joining the door and frame wing together while allowing lateral movement between the two.
Cabinet hinges are most often screwed to the surface of the frame of the furniture, or into a purpose-made recess. Those that use the recess are often referred to as mortised or butt hinges. The other types of hinge include, T-style hinge, gate hinge, piano hinge, partial wrap hinge, wraparound hinge, concealed hinges, magnetic hinge, face frame hinge and butterfly hinge. Each has a slight variation is design and application and have evolved over time to either solve practical or design limitations that standard hinges didn’t.

There is no “perfect” cabinet hinge. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses and will be suitable for different applications. When building or restoring furniture, the overall design of the piece is what will influence the choice of hinge used. Often there will be limitations as to what type of hinge can be used, or the design will lend itself to a specific type. Classic furniture often requires butterfly or L hinges as these were the most prevalent at the time. They are easy to fit, but are limited as to the weight they can bear and how much they can be adjusted.

Modern furniture makes extensive use of concealed, or “European” hinges. These offer the best balance between aesthetics and application, as long as the design supports it. They are easy to install, offer a good range of adjustment and can often carry much more weight that standard cabinet hinges. Where a piece might need four traditional butterfly hinges, it might need only two concealed ones. They also allow the door to sit flush or overlay the cabinet frame, making for an attractive finish.

Concealed hinges can be more hygienic when used in kitchens because they aren't as exposed to greasy conditions. They can get away with being less attractive because they aren't visible. Some varieties of concealed cabinet hinges include a number of special adjustment screws that can compensate for imperfections in the construction or mounting of the doors themselves. This adjustment is one major advantage of this type of hinge as it allows compensation for warping or movement in the wood.