Face Frame Hinging Basics

Gus Dering

I would like to share share some logic around the concealed hinge.

This post will deal mainly with the basics of a face frame cabinet with doors over laid on top of the frame. It seems as though that is the most common type of cabinetry that the members here are dealing with so I'll start there.

If there seems to be interest I'll tackle hinging options for a door that is flush and inset to the frame next time.

There is also the frameless style that could be interesting for some as well as the specialty hinges such as a lazy susan set up with a bifolding door.

I'll start with the basic straight arm hinge. Lets note that I am a Blum shop and obviously this is geared to their hinges but the logic would pertain to all manufacturers.

These hinges are made to be 1/2" overlay straight out of the box. It is not a coincidence that most shops go with a 1/2" overlay door.
What that means is that the geometry of the hinge itself will yield an overlay of 1/2". There are two factors that can influence a different result.

One is the base plate. Each plate is measured in height, o mil, 3 mil, 6 mil, ect. That height is throwing the hinge away from the frame and reducing the overlay by the measured amount in the name of the plate.

Here are 3 plates mocked up on a 2" frame part. Note how they each provide a different elevation for the hinge to mount.





The other is the "bore distance". Some refer to it as the "tab" and there may be other names as well but they all refer to the same thing. The distance from the edge of the door to the edge of the cup hole.

That distance will be acting in the opposite direction to the plate as the edge of the door is being pushed away from the opening, toward the frame by the amount of the bore distance.

Here is a bore set up at a 6 mil bore distance. A fairly common bore distance.



Remember I said the hinge is 1/2" overlay out of the box. What that really means is you need to match up those two opposing factors to keep it that way.

6 mil plate and a 6 mil bore distance will get you 1/2" overlay.

I have 3 "doors" all with a bore distance of 6 mill mouted to those 3 plates.
Note that the overlay changes by the difference in plate height.



I scribed a line when the doors were closed to note the amount of overlay for each with no adjustments.
I know that the measurements are not exactly perfect. Remember these are metric beings. The hinge has a 2 mil + and - adjustment that you can lean on or adjust the bore distance down ever so slightly and we could have 1/2" on the money. I am here to cover the basics in imperial.





Now here is the dirty little secret that will save your bacon.

That 6 mil set up will work fine for a door that has a profile on the outside edge that removes some material making room for the door in it's fully open position.
Sorry I don't have a picture of that but I'm sure you know the basic type I'm talking about with a little ogee. Very common on the most basic raised panel door referred to as the Revere, as an example.

The pitfall is using that setup with a square edge door. Such as a "Shaker" door. Very common these days.

That set up does not have room for the front edge of the door before it binds on the frame.

This picture I have a pencil pointing to where the bore distance is using up most all the room the hinge has to offer behind the arm of the hinge. Also showing the front edge of the door making contact with the frame.



The damage would really show up where those little fingers wrap the front edge of the frame. They would dent the edge of the door.

No where are you told that but here.

The solution is to reduce that bore distance. Throwing the edge of the door away from those pesky fingers.
Oh but then we mess with the overlay you say.
Not a problem, reduce the plate by the same distance.
Next plate down I have here is 3 mil so lets try a 3 mil bore. Like this.



And pop it on the 3 mil plate Next to the 6 and 6 set up. Looks like this.




Now I'll open the door and point to the same space behind the arm of the hinge. We are tossing the edge out and away from the frame.
I know it still looks close but the edge is slightly claer of the frame. Again you can adjust it further if needed.
Also note the different angle of opening than the first one.



The 6 mil setup is best used when the door has a finger pull detail at the edge also. Because the back cut of that profile would not leave enough material for a 3 mil bore.

Always and I mean Always test your set up before boring your door. There is not a cabinetman alive that has not ruined a few doors thinking there was no need to test.
Testing will only reduce the headaches though. It is so easy to screw something up.

I'll answer any questions you have but keep in mind I still want to come at you with some more advanced stuff later.

woodtradesman

Good work Guss. It looks like your hinging methods are pretty much the same as mine, but of course I don't have a CNC

I know there are some shops that use the 6mm hole patern but for the life of me I could never understand why its needed in standard over lay conditions. When I first started making cabinets I noticed this very same problem so I switched to just under 3/16" from the edge of the hinge bore to the edge of the door and never looked back.

By the way, are those FF mounting plates cheaper than the regulars ones for you? At one of my suppliers the adjudtable pressed metal FF mounting plates are cheaper than the regular mounting plates.

KMac

Awesome post Gus - thank you very much. I must admit I never really understood hinges like I should. This post filled in a lot of the knowledge gaps for me. Looking forward to learning about inset hinges!!

Gus Dering

I think the first reason is that is the way the Blum guide directs you to set it up.
The other is that standard finger pull detail pushes you in that direction because of the back cut involved.

There is no problem when there is a profile on that outside edge.

Blum also makes a 4.5 mil plate that I do not stock, so a guy could have another option there too.

You are welcome sir.
I was the same way for most of my general days and that is why I thought it would be helpful to those that are interested.
I also believe that clearing up some of these mysteries will get some more of you to give a cabinet job a go for yourself.
This chit ain't that hard.

loneframer

Hey gus, do they make a hinge that doesn't swing the full 135 degrees? Maybe only 110? These numbers are just estimates but you get what I'm saying?

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