If you buy a one-piece door block, that is, a door along with a frame, then there is nothing to worry about; such sets usually already have door hinges. The situation is completely different when everything is taken separately; there is a moment of choice. Today we will look in detail at what types of door hinges exist, how to choose them correctly, plus you will find out which hinges are better for metal doors and which ones for wooden ones.
Types of door hinges are divided depending on the weight of the door leaf.
Classification of door hinges
Modern door hinges, the types of which are widely represented on the construction market, are classified according to several defining characteristics:
- Installation location;
- Detachable mechanism;
- Method of attachment to the box;
- Material of manufacture;
- Construction type.
It should be clarified that the need to independently select door awnings affects entrance and interior doors made of wood or MDF. Doors made of other materials (steel, aluminum and plastic) are supplied already equipped with the appropriate fittings and hinges.
Only for wooden door leaves there is a need and opportunity to independently assemble and install hinges at your own personal discretion. Therefore, the classifying characteristics of door hinges will be considered in terms of their use in wooden doors.
teardrop-shaped
If you look at the “droplet” canopies from above - from the end, then their name will immediately become clear. The drop-shaped shape was invented to make it easier to weld it to the workplace. The drop-shaped loop is made in both two-section and three-section.
With two bearings on the axle at the top and bottom - the structure is hidden inside.
Drop-shaped ones are more often found with a bearing; if without it, then with a ball. Either they are generally ordinary, but only with a washer, or the axle is machined as if with a washer.
Hinges depending on installation location
Depending on the installation location, hinges are divided into two types:
- Hinges for entrance doors;
- Hinges for interior doors.
Entrance doors are more durable and massive compared to interior doors; accordingly, awnings for entrance models differ from their interior counterparts in being larger in size. The main design difference of hinge fittings for entrance doors is that the hinges are equipped with a special anti-leaf mechanism, which prevents unauthorized lifting of the door.
For this purpose, protrusions and depressions are made on the wings of the hinges, which fit together when the door is closed, preventing the vertical movement of the wing when lifting.
External welded
Welded canopies are used in many places, they are installed both on metal entrance doors and on gates, gates... Drop-shaped and cylindrical have the same modifications such as:
- with an ordinary axle - already a rarity;
- an axle with a pressed ball from a bearing;
- with a regular axle with 1 bearing;
- with an open bearing - found in cylindrical bearings, used in rare cases, since it is not resource-intensive during operation;
Modifications of teardrop-shaped ones from Italian manufacturers:
- machined axle for roller bearing with thrust bearing;
- with two bearings on the axle at the top and bottom - the structure is hidden inside;
Drop-shaped and cylindrical hinges differ mainly only in appearance. But because drop-shaped ones are more modern welded canopies; they have more different modifications of the insides than cylindrical ones. We will consider the same modifications that are found in both teardrop-shaped and cylindrical ones.
Detachable and universal hinges
Detachable hinge
A detachable hinge will allow you to remove the sash without unscrewing the hinge itself. Removable hinges are also commonly called awnings.
The figure shows a diagram of a detachable loop, illustrating the principle of detachability. The elements for fixing both parts of the loop are wittily called “father” and “mother” in everyday life. This terminology has been readily accepted by both users and manufacturers in many countries.
1. Door hinge wing (mother); 2. Fist; 3. Reinforced steel finger; 4. Frame wing (male).
Universal loop
The universal (or one-piece) hinge will have to be unscrewed first, only then will it be possible to remove the door from the frame. Universal hinges are suitable for any doors that open both inward and outward. But to this big plus is added an equally big minus - if necessary, the door can be removed only after unscrewing all the hinges from it.
1. Frame wing, has three hinges; 2. Bushing; 3. The door wing has two hinges; 4. Self-tapping screws for fastening.
Ball inside the axle
The same cannot be said about canopies with a ball bearing inside on the axle. This bearing ball is made of durable steel and is hardened. It is pressed into the axle with lubricant, so that when rotating in the axle, the loop does not deform and its movement is easier. Thus, welded with a ball will last longer.
With ball and adjustment
Types of hinges by type of design
Based on the type of design, the following types of door hinges are distinguished:
- invoices;
- mortise;
- corner;
- screw-in;
- hidden;
- double sided
Let's take a closer look at each design.
Overhead and mortise door hinges
Figuratively speaking, GOST 5088-2005 does not distinguish between overhead and mortise hinges. As can be seen from the figure below, the main details of overhead and mortise hinges are the same:
Both modifications are card hinges that are screwed to the door leaf and frame.
The only difference is in the method of preliminary preparation of the surfaces of the door and opening:
- for overhead models no preparation is required;
- for mortise models, it is necessary to cut a recess at the end of the door and in the frame in order to recess the card plate into it.
Overhead hinges have been known since ancient times; their production was entrusted only to skilled blacksmiths who could forge a beautiful and at the same time durable product from a steel strip. Manual work did not allow for the symmetry that is now imposed on the mass consumer by the conditions of modern conveyor technologies. The loops were forged in very large sizes and were given a variety of shapes.
The process of transforming design concepts towards a retro style also affected door hinges. In the antique-style interiors of country houses and city apartments, there is a place for the artistic forging of modern blacksmiths or for products shaped like the hinges of old buildings.
Owners of doors with overhead hinges are impressed by the ease of installation work when installing them, when the hinges are screwed on with screws, and the door can be easily adjusted to the design position using primitive improvised means.
An interesting design solution for the now traditional flat card of an overhead loop is an overhead loop, commonly called a “butterfly loop”. This loop can be folded to the thickness of one card thanks to an intricate cutout reminiscent of a butterfly wing. And as a result, for this model of canopies there is no need to make a cut either on the sash or in the opening on the frame.
Mortise-mounted awning models are identical in design to overhead ones, however, to install them, the hinges are cut into the end of the door being mounted and screwed with screws. When the door is closed, only the parts of the plates covering the rotary axis are visible.
In addition to dividing overhead and mortise hinges into loops without mortise and with mortise, they are also divided into two types:
Detachable
Universal
In accordance with established practice, removable mortise hinges are usually called mortise hinges, and universal hinges are called mortise hinges.
The main difference between overhead detachable hinges and universal hinges is the rigidity of the design of the universal hinge, which allows it to withstand a greater weight load with a smaller size. When using universal hinges, there is less chance of unauthorized sagging in the opening.
Another fundamental difference between these two modifications of overhead hinges is the division of detachable hinges into right- and left-handed mechanisms. There is no such division for universal loops. They are installed without worrying about the direction in which the sash opens.
Screw-in (or screw-in) door hinges
Screw-in door hinge designs are represented by two symmetrically located cylindrical parts with holes for mounting screws. The so-called “barrels” are functional analogues of flat cards. One “barrel”, that is, a cylindrical wing, is attached to the frame with screws, the other – to the door leaf.
Screw-in hinge mechanisms are universal; there is no need to select right or left hinges. The door with screw-in hinges cannot be removed, which can be considered both an advantage and a disadvantage.
It is important! Screw-in awnings are only applicable on doors with a European door (so-called quarter doors). It is impossible to attach a regular door leaf of our standards to such hinges.
Quarter doors.
Corner door hinges (corner card hinges)
The external difference between a corner hinge and an overhead or mortise hinge is that it is attached to the axial rod not of two flat wing plates, but of two profile corners. The angular shape of the cards allows them to be mounted on doors with a rebate. Fastening to the end of the door is carried out using a mortise method using screws. The hinges are conveniently placed in the opening, but they are noticeable against the background of the entire door structure.
Hidden (secret) door hinges
Hidden hinges occupy a special place due to the aesthetic appearance of the doorway (when the door is closed, hidden hinges are completely invisible) and the impressiveness of the execution. They are universal, so you don’t have to worry about which hinges are right and which are left. In the sector of elite interior structures, they are given a place of honor.
The design of hidden (secret) hinges requires the presence of at least three rotary axes. Installing hidden hinges is a complex technological process, for the implementation of which it is more advisable to involve specialists.
Double-sided door hinges
Double-sided hinges fall into the category of card canopies. Their main purpose is to ensure unimpeded opening/closing of the valves in both directions - either outward or inward. They are installed extremely rarely in ordinary apartments; their use there is simply not logical.
Conclusion
To summarize, we can note that if your budget is limited and you don’t have a lot of tools, then take butterflies or screw-in hinges. Mortise door hinges are better suited for wooden panels. It is advisable to install hidden canopy models on iron and expensive wooden doors. The video in this article shows the nuances of selection and installation. If the information was useful, then there are social network buttons below, perhaps your like will help one of your friends decide.
The simplest hidden canopy for a heavy metal door.
On bearings
Not adjustable with bearing
And, of course, the hinges on the bearings will last much longer than the previous ones, because here the friction is transferred to a durable support bearing. If in the case of an ordinary axle and a ball on the axle, over time you will need to “collectively farm”. Place washers or replace the entire canopies as normal. Then only the bearings will need to be replaced.
Screw-in
There are also screw-in types of door hinges. They have a distinctive structure. Several pins are attached to the axle, which serve as the main method of mounting such parts. The canopies are screwed into the canvas and the frame, leaving only the central part – the hinge – visible.
Screw-in door hinges
In order not to spoil the appearance of the door, you can use special overlay caps, which are matched to match the coating of the door and essentially play the role of a decorative overlay.
This type of hinge is not recommended for mounting doors made from fragile, low-quality materials, soft wood, or low-grade plastic, as they can disrupt the internal structure of the door leaf and cause cracks, distortions, and chips.
With a grease fitting
With oiler and open bearing.
For a longer service life of canopies and bearings, they must be lubricated regularly, at least once a year. To simplify lubrication, sheds with a grease fitting (grease fitting) have been invented. In order not to remove the canvas, but simply unscrew the oil can and pour oil inside, you can lubricate it without unscrewing it, but for this you will need a special tool that presses in a syringe.
Material of manufacture
The materials from which door hinges are made are: - ordinary steel - stainless steel - brass - an alloy of copper and zinc, aluminum is added for corrosion resistance
Steel hinges are made by stamping, while brass hinges are cast. Then they are sprayed in different colors, such as gold, chrome, copper, bronze, etc.
Steel and stainless steel canopies are solid, durable, wear-resistant. Brass plastic, have good mechanical qualities.
