General

Types Of Hinges: Where To Use Them?

There are many types of hinges. You need to be able to choose the right style. First, it depends on the type and size of the door.

This is an important point. Many doors have problems that can be attributed to the incorrect hinge. You might consider heavy-duty hinges for doors that are heavy. There are many uses for hinges. Doors are just one example.

You have two options for hinges. You can choose to have a hinge visible or hidden. There are many choices. Here’s a list of commonly used industrial hinges by Selectlok and their usage to help you choose the right type.

Types Of Hinges

Corner Hinges

These hinges are often used on metal cabinet covers and machine covers. They can sit flush to the top of the surface. They’re installed internally to prevent tampering. External metal corner hinges are an exception. Corner hinges include a pin that can be pulled out of the door when it is open. This pin can be removed from the door to allow for maintenance or accessibility.

Lift-Off Hinges

For heavy doors, think about them as being in constant use. These applications call for liftoff hinges. They make it easier to take doors off parts of an HVAC system or industrial generator. These are also known as door removal or hinges. Particularly, stainless steel liftoff hinges are designed to last a long time.

Offset Hinges

A 90° offset corner hinge is one example. The offset hinges make it easier to maneuver through narrow doors. The offset hinges also known as swing-clear hinges allow you to open your door so that it is out of sight. This allows you to access the entire width of your doorway. You’d have to make a bigger opening and install the door without them.

Piano Hinges

Also called continuous hinges they distribute weight and minimize stress on the door/cabinet. Piano hinges can be used for doors or cabinets that are open and closed constantly and are subjected to a lot of wear and tear. You will find the right size hinge for your needs.

Butt Hinges

For security reasons, concealed mounting screws make it impossible to access the hinge from outside. Also known as leaf hinges they are compatible with plain/flush-mounted doors as well as left- and right-handed applications.

Concealed Hinges

These concealed hinges are very popular. These are mounted inside enclosures, such as outdoor telecom equipment cabinets to prevent outsiders from messing with them. Hidden hinges look minimalistic and don’t require any hardware.

Side Hinges

This high-security option is great for NEMA or wall-mounted rack enclosure server cabinets and other awkward spaces. These work well in situations where a standard hinge won’t allow for the required opening.

Weld-On Hinges

You can choose glue-on hinges to make your application permanent and unalterable. They are more durable than screw-on hinges. They are easy to use and can be used in a variety of materials. They can be painted to match metal surfaces, so they are not intrusive. These are ideal for use in vault doors as well as armored vehicles or fire doors.

What About Hinge Materials?

There are many options for hinges. The purpose of your hinge will dictate which one you choose. For instance, brass vs. steel piano hinge, if you are looking for something elegant and beautiful, then brass is a good choice. Steel is more robust.

Aluminum is ideal because of its lightness and is ideal in automotive applications. Stainless Steel is the perfect choice for hospital, kitchen, and pharmaceutical applications. Acrylonitrile butadiene butylene, also known as ABS, is a type of plastic with low melting and high resistance. This plastic is often used to make indoor protective housings.