Cabinet Hinge

What is Cabinet Hinge?

A cabinet hinge is used on the interior of a cabinet door or other furniture to allow for a smooth outer appearance without striking the cabinet frame. As for its parts, this may vary depending on the model and type, however, the most essential hinge components are a frame ring used as an attachment to the cabinet frame; a door wing that is linked to the door of the cabinet; a knuckle necessary for connecting the frame wing as well as the door one; and a pin which holds a cabinet hinge together.

Cabinet Hinge Types

Overall, you’ll find these most commonly used types of cabinet door hinges: full and partial overlay cabinet hinges - full overlay ones are classified as interior (mostly made of wood, size - 3.5 inches) or exterior (predominantly made out of metal and are thicker, size - 4 inches), and are attached to doors in the place where the end of the closed door fully covers the frame of the cabinet. Partial overlay hinges could be either external or internal only and typically leave a 1-inch gap between doors; inset cabinet hinges - these are installed inside of the cabinet frame to flush with the face of the closed cabinet and also require a doorknob to open a cabinet; soft close cabinet hinges - such trinkets employ a hydraulic mechanism to reduce the noise when the cabinet door is closed. Plus, by using soft close hinges, you minimize the wear & tear of your cabinet frame; self close hinges - hinges like this are spring-loaded, which makes the door close on its own; hidden cabinet hinges, aka concealed hinges - these have a minimalistic look and make their parts invisible to the onlooker while the door is being closed.

Materials for a Cabinet Hinge: Characteristics and Purpose

Be it kitchen cabinet hinges or any other kind, you need to pay attention to the materials they are made of. Thus, stainless steel hinges resist rust and are a better fit for heavy doors so they are recommendable for kitchens and hospitals. Aluminum cabinet hinges, on the other hand, serve better in automotive applications thanks to their lightweight and corrosion-resistant features. Lastly, the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic material has a low melting point and can resist chemicals so it’s mainly used for protecting indoor housings.