Decorative & Heavy Duty Hinges Simply Put

Amerock hinges are many and varied in both style and purpose. It can be hard to know which one is right for you. There are several ways of categorizing and choosing the proper hinge for your project. Ask yourself: what will this hinge be fitted to and what will its function be? The size, weight and shape of your project will also determine which Amerock hinge will work for you. Mechanism types vary, and you will have the option of an inset, reverse bevel or overlay hinge depending on the frame you are working with. For your benefit, here is a hinge selection guide.

Butt Hinge - The butt hinge is a nonadjustable hinge that creates an exterior corner and works well in narrow spaces. These heavy-duty hinges can be used on heavy cabinet doors. Variations on this theme include the rising butt hinge, good for doors touching shag carpets, and the security butt hinge, the preferred choice for exterior facing doors.

H Hinge (a.k.a. butterfly hinge) - H hinges are decorative hinges that form an interior corner and can be used for lighter projects such as small doors and shutters. H hinges are installed onto flush mount doors and the full hinge is visible when doors are closed.

Flush Hinge - This is easy to work with because it requires no recess to be installed. The frame wing remains stationary while the door wing revolves. This Amerock hinge can also be used for lightweight closet and cabinet doors and projects, and the hinge is concealed except the pin.

Concealed Hinge - This hinge conceals all the hardware within the cabinet (hence the name). The concealed hinge was designed for use with chipboard or MDF construction. The frame wing of the hinge requires a dug out hole, and the hinge is adjustable once mounted.

Continuous Hinge (a.k.a. piano hinge) - This hinge is good for projects that require consistent support throughout a length of the wood. Examples would be a desktop, piano lid, or chest lid. Aside from the additional support, the continuous hinge provides protection against warping.

Self-Closing Hinge a.k.a. spring loaded hinge) - Self-closing hinges have a unique mechanism that is spring loaded to close the door automatically behind you. Self-closing hinges are made from a thicker material than the usual door hinge and require no latch to keep the door closed.

Full Wrap Hinge - A full wrap cabinet hinge, as opposed to a partial wrap hinge, wraps around three sides of the frame and screws into the inside jamb. A partial wrap hinge touches only two sides of the cavity. The wrap will depend on the design and thickness of the door.

Partial Wrap Hinge - See full wrap hinge.

Single & Double Demountable Hinges - Demountable hinges allow one or both sides of the hinge to be detached from the mounting surface. A single demountable hinge separates from the door only, while a double demountable hinge demounts from both door and frame.

Face Frame Mount Or Semi Concealed - When working with this hinge, the frame wing is revealed when the door is closed and the door wing is concealed on the inside face of the door.

Surface Mount - This hinge is fully revealed, both the frame and the door wings are mounted on the outside of the door and frame and are, therefore, visible.

Inset Hinges- Inset hinges distribute the weight of the door to the hinge, door and cabinet cavity. The frame wing is shown when the door is closed. The door and frame wings are both mounted to the inside surface respectively. You will notice a small additional edge on inset hinges to provide for the frame/door design. Full inset hinges are flush hinges.

Overlay Hinge - An overlay hinge allows for some door overlay onto the frame. This is a matter of door and doorframe design, not an indication of durability or a lack thereof. A reverse bevel is an overlay hinge that allows for a wider arc, usually due to a sloped door edge.

When choosing an Amerock hinge, think how much of the hinge you want concealed, how heavy is the load and whether you're working with framed or unframed doors.