How to fix a cabinet hinge
How to fix a cabinet hinge
Hinges are one of the most basic and durable parts of any cabinet, but even they can break down over time and require some basic maintenance to keep them functioning as they should. Depending on what kind of hinge you have, you might need to use slightly different tools to open it up and get at the broken part, but it’s not terribly difficult overall to fix just about any type of hinge yourself if you have the right information on how to do it. Learn how to fix a cabinet hinge with these steps.
What is a Cabinet Hinge?
Hinges help secure cabinets, doors and drawers. The two main types of hinges used in cabinets are concealed hinges and standard hinges. Concealed hinges hide inside a door or drawer, which gives it a sleek look. But, because they're not visible from the outside of cabinets, those kinds of hinges aren't as sturdy as other kinds. You can also choose from other kinds of hidden hinges that install on only one side of cabinets—those are good for pantries and other parts of your kitchen where you don't want to see screws holding things together. Standard cabinet hinges have screws on both sides so they're more sturdy than concealed or half-hidden varieties. Many manufacturers make high-quality options in all three styles. All brands of concealed hinges come with instructions on how to adjust them, but before you start fiddling with them yourself, take a minute to figure out what's wrong with your existing ones. If they've completely broken or need an adjustment, then follow their instructions closely. If they still work fine but just need some lubrication (which is often what happens), try spray silicone lube available at any hardware store—you should be able to find it near other lubricants like WD-40 and graphite spray lubricant for locks and tools. Then wipe away any excess lube before letting go of each door or drawer until it closes without sticking again.
Parts of a Cabinet Hinge
Each of these parts is made up of two main sections. The first is called a jaw and is attached to one side of the door frame. The second section is called an arm and fits into grooves on either side of your door. These grooves are typically constructed out of wood, but they can also be metal or plastic. One point to keep in mind is that even though each of these parts goes by a very descriptive name, most people use those names interchangeably. For example, it's common for home owners and contractors alike to call both hinges and screws jaws and both hinges and locks arms. It's not as confusing as it sounds—just don't let any confusion prevent you from taking care of your cabinet doors! Understanding how all four components work together will give you ample reason to take better care of them in the future.
Fixing Broken Cabinet Hinges
Fixing a broken hinge is easier than you think. It only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require any special tools or skills. Here are some easy steps that can help you to repair your cabinet door hinges: Check whether it’s hardware or mounting issue – If one of your cabinets is hard to open, chances are that its hinges have been misaligned from their original position. In most cases, if not all, it’s due to incorrect installation or hardware issues. In order to figure out what exactly went wrong, take off both cabinet doors and see if there’s any misalignment between them and the bottom panel. The face frame should be aligned with each other at 180 degrees. To correct hardware issues, just tighten screws until things are straightened up again. To correct mounting problems, simply reposition hinged sides into place using either wood glue or wood screws if they’re loose enough. Install new bolts – When your cabinet isn’t closing properly because one of its hinges has busted or got stuck in place, try installing new bolts to replace old ones.
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