Flush Inset Door Hinging Options

Gus Dering

I'll start by saying I am using Blum brand hinges. The same logic will apply to other brands but there will be product differences.

When hanging a door flush with a face frame there is a basic principle that needs to be met. That involves a term called "crank". Not the street drug either.

The hinge cup needs 18 mil worth of "crank" to throw the door in towards the center of the opening enough for the edge of the door to clear the frame and leave a gap, or "margin", between the the door and frame.

When dealing with concealed hinges most movement toward the opening is handled with the hardware choice. The type of hinge and the size of mounting plate. Some minor adjustments can be made with the bore distance but only a few mils worth.

For simplicity sake I'm going to use a 5 mil bore distance, the distance between the edge of the door and the hinge cup bore, on all set ups. And the two hinges I feel give the best results. They are these two, a "half crank" and a "full crank" hinge
.
The full crank has all 18 mil of crank built into it. The half crank has got 9 mil of crank.



One thing to mention about these two hinges is they do not have the same opening angle. The half crank has 120 degrees and the full crank has 107. I have not had anyone even notice the difference so I use them interchangeably.

If that was an issue with someone there is solutions for each of the following examples where we could use the half crank. You may be able to figure that out for yourself after I walk you through these scenarios.

I'll start with what may be the simplest. Blum makes this base plate exclusively for flush inset applications. The plate has the equivalent to a 9 mil plate height yet mounts directly to the back of the frame.
The main limitation is that it needs about 9/16" of clearance inside between a partition and the opening as I'm showing.



The simple jig we use to pilot the holes for the mounting screws incorporates the use of a "vix" bit. The self centering pilot bit used for piloting screws in butt hinges.
Its important to use some kind of jig so that those plates are all the same distance from the top and bottom of the opening. Then your doors can all be bored with a jig of some kind as well.
I find it best to pilot these holes before the frame is on the cabinet but we have a jig for those times we space out and forget.



So if that plate has 9 mil worth of crank we need to use the half crank hinge that has the other 9 mil built into it, getting our 18 mil needed. Again all bore distances are 5 mil.

Here is a typical set up. 2" frame with a 3/4" partition centered on the frame. Leaves a 5/8" reveal for the plate to mount easily.
This is pretty straight forward after you set yourself up with a working jig.



Now lets take a look at another fairly common situation.
1 1/2" frame part and the same 3/4" partition centered on the frame. As I'm showing here.



There is not enough room for the plate to mount on the frame as there is only 3/8" reveal, I need 9/16".
So we will use the partition to mount a euro style plate.
This is where I will use the full crank hinge. All 18 mil of crank is handled by the hinge so I need to create a mounting surface equal to a 0 mil plate.
This picture I have a 0 mil face frame plate clamped on the frame to indicate the proper relationship to the opening that we need. There is also a 9 mil euro style plate being held next to it.
Notice the arrows are pointing to the spot where the hinge mounts. They are very close to the same. Because the 3/8" reveal is very close to 9 mil.



So I have this jig to locate the pilot holes on the partition. It is the same as the previous jig as far as locating the plate the same distance from the corner of the opening.



Then when you find that you have 1/4" reveal from frame to opening you can do the same as above only use a 6 mil plate. Again 1/4" is very close to 6 mil.
Like this.



And if you have a partition that is flush with the frame just use a 0 mil plate. Like this



So there is some reasoning behind the madness of these handy hinges. You just need the 18 mil crank and you can get any one of several ways.

In any of the above scenarios where I was creating a 0 mil plate equivalent there are options to create a 9 mil mounting surface so you could stick to one hinge with the same opening angle. Thats just not how I roll.

I hope this made sense and will clear up the mystery of these hinges. My goal is to get some of you to give this stuff a try. It can be fun, especially when outside is rather unpleasant.

Leo G

Blum...never heard of 'em

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

Gus Dering

I figured out another difference between you and I,Leo.
I have no delusions of adequacy.

I am sure there are others, give me time and I'll come up with a few.

genecarp

Gus, thanks for taking the time, I would love to see an ongoing thread that everyone takes the time to educate other members on a particular area of their expertise. G

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KMac

Thanks again Gus - your hinge threads have been a huge help for me. I have bookmarked the threads so I can go back and view them when I need to. You can't really find this kind of information easily. You the Man!

KentWhitten

Gus, you are one of the great contributors to this site. A sincere thank you goes out to you. Keep 'em coming.

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Leo G

I thought it was mighty nice of you to go through that for everyone that might be interested in learning some of the ins and outs of the Euro hinge system.... A little bored today are we?

I use the Blum Tandem Slides but I started with Grass hinges and have stuck with them. Same concept though.

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Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

Gus Dering

Aside from the horsing around that amounts to about 90% of what happens here I think it would be great to see more people throw a bone out there like this.
But by all means please don't ask me to stop the foolish posts. Color me gone if it comes to that

Thank you for getting the point of me doing it. I wish I read this years ago.
I guess I should have wrote it then.

Thank you for seeing the real me. I'll try to keep making you proud.

Leo G Blum...never heard of 'em

Funny thing is,Leo, While I was doing these threads I knew I would be enlightening you on how easy this stuff really is. I just didn't know how far from the back of the pack you would have to come. Hopefully you did some catching up today.


Thanks Leo. I'm truly here to help you out.

Leo G

Funny thing Gus...I don't remember putting it that way

I have been using the Euro hinges for only about 4 years now. Most of my clients demanded barrel hinges or surface mounted antique stuff. I had been trying to get away from them for quite some time. But when I got into my current shop, I made the transition and tried like hell to not use barrel hinges. It still happens though, some of my clientèle just want what they want. I like them because they are easy to put on and adjustable. What I don't like is the size and the limited swing. And yes, I know you can get a much wider swing, but the hinge is huge.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

Gus Dering

Its a gift and a curse to be able to read between the lines like that.

I'm a gift and a curse, I guess

send_it_all

Ok, i guess I'll contribute my expertise here.....

1st, Get a bottle of lotion and a box of kleenex, (an old sock will work too)....

Gus Dering

Teach whatchya know best.

No pictures please.

loneframer

That would be an accurate statement.You'r e top dog Augie Doggie.

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