There are many types of hinges, be careful when buying_Hinge Knowledge 4

As more and more people embrace DIY projects, the trend of self-installing cabinet hinges is gaining popularity. When purchasing hinges for your cabinets, it's important to understand the different types available based on the position of the door panel and the side panel of the cabinet. Hinges are categorized as full cover, half cover, or no cover.

A full cover hinge, also known as a straight arm hinge, is used when the door panel fully covers the vertical side of the cabinet where the hinge is installed. On the other hand, a half cover hinge is suitable when the door panel covers only half of the cabinet's side. Lastly, a big bend hinge is used when the door panel does not cover the side of the cabinet at all.

The selection of full cover, half cover, or inlay hinges depends on the specific side panel of the cabinet. Generally, the side panel thickness ranges from 16-18mm. The cover side panel is 6-9mm thick, while the inlay hinge allows the door panel and side panel to be on the same plane.

In practice, if the cabinet is built by a decorator, it usually comes with half cover hinges. However, if the cabinet is custom-made at a factory, full cover hinges are more commonly used.

To summarize, hinges are essential and widely used hardware for cabinets and furniture. Their prices vary from a few cents to tens of yuan, making them a crucial component for upgrading furniture and cabinets. Hinges can be divided into regular hinges and damping hinges, with the latter further categorized as built-in or external. Different hinges have distinct material choices, workmanship, and prices.

When choosing hinges, it's important to inspect the material and feel its quality. If budget allows, opting for hydraulic damping hinges, such as those from Hettich and Aosite, is recommended. It would be best to avoid external damping hinges as they tend to lose their damping effect over time.

When purchasing non-damping hinges, there is no need to solely focus on European brands; domestic brands can be a suitable choice. Depending on the position of the door panels and side panels, there are three types of hinges: full cover, half cover, and big bend. In practical use, decorators generally opt for half cover hinges, while cabinet manufacturers prefer full cover hinges.