Hinge size advice needed

[lukens]

Hi,

I'm looking for replacement hinges for the original doors in our property, but am lost as to what size I need.

The doors vary in thickness between about 30mm and 35mm (with most being on the thicker size) and are all around 2000mm high and between 750mm and 830mm wide. They're all solid wood heavy original doors on a 200 year old property.

The hinges they had on measured about 80mm x 60mm (with two hinges per door), however, I'm unable to find any new hinges in a similar size. Also, as most doors were pulling away from the frames, I'm not sure these hinges were ideal.

Thanks for any help.


Luke.
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[stephenf8542]

Get the nearest size you can put on three hinges and look at your door frame.the screw holes are worn and not holding your door.Take the screw up a size if you can if not glue and dowel the old holes

 

[big-all]

hinges are fairly standard they are 3" and 4" thats 76mm and 101.6mm

so 76m with 20 layers of paint = 80mm ish

 

[lukens]

It's more the width of the hinges that I'm concerned about.

They seem to come in 51mm widths (which would seem to narrow) or 67mm or 76mm widths (which would seem to wide).

It's hard to tell (this is looking online) though, as they don't give measurements for the actual hinge plates, or suggest a minimum door thickness for the hinge.

 

[squowse]

something like this will be ideal for you
http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/...d_Brass_Double_Steel_Washered_Hinges/12-001-B

100mm height is better for solid doors, 3 hinges is uncommon on internal doors but if they are really heavy... make sure that the middle hinge is perfectly in line with the other 2 on both frame and door recesses - use a long straight edge.

you will need to chisel your door and frame recesses slightly larger - the screws will end up in different places so hopefully avoid the holes from before. use modern sharp screws, piloting can help stressing/splitting the door stile.

67mm width should be about right, half of that gives 34mm, 4 or 5mm projection of pivot from door will give 10mm clearance to your architrave, and give you 30mm on the door stile.

if you need more clearance to the architrave (ie you want the door to open flat to the wall) then increase the hinge width and pivot projection accordingly. i recently had to use 150mm width hinges for a slightly different reason - they cost £40 a pair!

i would recommend using washered or ball bearing hinges as they give a much more precise swing and will wear much better,

i get mine from here, the stainless steel are excellent value, but delivery is extra (screws not included), http://www.reddiseals.com/acatalog/door_products_hinges.html

the 75mm and 100mm widths available there may be too much for your application though, remember the more the pivot projects from the door, the more likely you are to need to cut the lock edge of the door at an angle to avoid bumps on the frame - a "leading edge".

 

[squowse]

another thought - the thickness of hinges varies a lot (both plates and the gap) , and is not specified on the online places, so may be better to measure your existing ones and get a match in a shop. otherwise you may have to chisel the recesses deeper which is a very precise job and easy to go wrong.
or if your new hinges are thinner you will have to pack them out and it could look messy.

 

[lukens]

Thank you very much for your helpful response squowse.

I've probably spent about 20 hours searching online trying to work out what size hinges to get, and finally I can see the light for the trees.

I'm not too worried about matching the existing recesses, as I'm probably going to fill with 2-part filler and start a-fresh anyway. The doors have all been re-hung multiple times over the years, and most have at least 2 hinge recesses on each side of the door, so the edges are in a bit of a mess really.

 

[JohnD]

sorry to butt in...

squowse - do you know some lift-off hinges I could use? I am replacing my fire doors, they are very heavy and awkward to hang or remove for decorating, big furniture etc so I would like lift-offs on the new ones

 

[squowse]

they have them here - http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/...10965&Group=Hinges/Fire_Door_Hinges&/12-101-C
£13 a pair is cheapest

 

[JohnD]

Thanks

£13 a pair is cheapest

nine doors with three hinges each

 

[squowse]

saw some cheaper ones in the catalogue
http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/...yle_Lift_Off_Hinge_Grade_304_Stainless_Steel/

also they have much cheaper "loose pin" hinges