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Stealth Door With Heavy-Duty Hidden Hinges

comments (23) February 7th, 2011 in Blogs

Matt Risinger, Blogger

Video Length: 4:27
Produced by: Matt Risinger

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Have you ever picked up a piece of nice hardware and smiled? If so, then you're an official hardware geek like me! It seems like Germany and Japan have some really nice hardware manufacturers and Sugatsune is one of my favorites. Check out their Model # HES3D-190 hinge.

This beefy hinge screams high quality. It can be found online for about $150 per hinge which isn't cheap but is so worth the money when you're doing a hidden door installation. In this video you'll see some fantastic work from my finish carpenters utilizing this hardware for an amazing "James Bond" hidden door installation. -Matt Risinger

posted in: Blogs, finish carpentry, entryway, Hidden Door, James Bond Door, Foyer, Closet

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Comments (23)

texwoman writes: Ok, here's a contractor who cares about his work, gives the customers what they want, employs others, & it seems like many of you resent it. I would hate to be your clients ! That's what is wrong with our country.
Posted: 10:16 am on August 20th

Matt Risinger writes: @hardwareguy: Excellent information, thanks for sharing. I need you on my supplier list! Good hardware is what I dream about at night... Matt Risinger
Posted: 8:34 am on August 14th

hardwareguy writes: Hi all, i am a profesional hardware consultant and first off just wanted to compliment the install. I have sold SOSS hinges for years and began selling the adjutable version of the concealled hinges about 5 years ago. I can say with 100% confidence the adjustable hinges are the vastly superior product. With that said the original adjustable hinge seen here was invented by a german company named simonswerk. The hinge goes by the name tectus hinges. The sugatsune is an asian copy and although not as good as the tectus still a nice hinge. There is another copy out there as well know as KU hinges which claim to be italian but are made in asia also. Lastly to those who like this adjustable factor there are now adjustable but hinges from the same company simonswerk that go by the name variant hinges. Also great for installation. If anyone wants more info on any door hardware questiions check out hingehardware.com and call any of the profesionals there
Posted: 10:49 pm on July 6th

hardwareguy writes: G
Posted: 10:35 pm on July 6th

TheTimberTailor writes: Matt,

Cool project and nicely done. Thanks for taking the time to share it.
A client had me build a somewhat similar door for a room to store a fully decorated Christmas tree. The door ended up 8' tall and 6' wide with wall texture and paint applied to make it "go away". I used some very large (and not inexpensive) Soss hinges which worked well, but they didn't have the adjust-ability like the Sugatsune brand you use. I'll shop for some of them next time the need arises.

Matt
The Timber Tailor
Posted: 8:54 pm on May 28th

gegegoo writes: good
Posted: 3:53 am on May 27th

ExcavatorMan writes: The issue for me is the latch. I hate to think what that cost. There must be a commercial solution somewhere.

Anybody know of one?

The fingerprint issue can be solved with paint. I have three kids and low gloss or matte paint fixes that until the littlest draws on it. Then the fingerprints become moot!

I would NEVER have those stairs in a house that might have kids in it. An office, yes, a home, never. I don't know code, but I can see a toddler crawling between those steps and SPLAT! or dropping things on people below or...

Thanks for the lovely demo, I would love to build something like this into a safe room door.
Posted: 5:28 pm on April 20th

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Posted: 11:07 am on April 5th

Matt Risinger writes: Thanks for all the comments guys! One of my favorite parts about being a builder is working with craftsmen who enjoy what they do AND the satisfaction of a home well built. I believe it's my duty as a builder to serve my clients like I would serve my Lord. -Matt Risinger
Posted: 10:40 am on March 24th

Bitchincamaro writes: Enjoyed the post, Matt. Maybe I've abused my hearing after 35 years in the trades, but I'm willing to bet others strain to hear your narration. Maybe a remote mic would help. Keep up the good work.
Posted: 8:27 am on March 22nd

tundrarocks writes: Nice work Matt. Kudos to the crew. I worked in commercial cabinet making where these types are installs were used in financial institutions, usually an executive.s office. Nice to see it in an alternative application.
Posted: 7:26 pm on March 21st

Hella writes: I have an even better idea. How about cranks? They are plentiful, as shown by this thread of comments.
Posted: 9:09 am on March 21st

IronwoodConst1 writes: I would also be concerned with fingerprints.
How about an electro magnet and spring setup with a remote switch.
Posted: 12:40 pm on February 21st

nautow writes: That is quite a deep mortise. Do they make a router template for these? Do you have to make your own?
Posted: 1:03 pm on February 15th

NWRain writes: This whole idea is old news. My parents house in Florida had pecky cypress walls that used this concept. The closets even had automatic lights that turned on when the doors opened. The cypress was just slightly whitewashed and because of the grain did not leave fingerprints. They are still there today. That is over 50 years later!
Posted: 2:20 pm on February 14th

mstephenj writes: I don't know where the commenters are getting your prices but, after I googled the model number, the first real site that came up listed the price at $134 a pair - $67 each. Not bad for a three-way adjustable hinge!
Posted: 1:52 pm on February 14th

nosmo writes: You have a stair that is a prime candidate for "Play the Inspector". There are some code issues, and remember the code is a minimum compliance, one step ahead of a felony.
Posted: 7:15 pm on February 10th

mp83 writes: very nice place and work. at the end of the day you get what you pay for. and cussnu2, i'm sure people with a house like that will have a cleaning lady to wipe their grimey handprints.
Posted: 9:09 pm on February 8th

pilgrim writes: those type hinges have been around since the 30's..SOSS was and still is that type hinge..I do like the adjustment factor but the hinge I believe originated here about 80yrs. ago..you can still get a wide range of sizes and the router template for each size..I'm not knocking the video or install as they were great just wanted to mention where they started..here in the U.S.A. .....

pilgrim,oregon
Posted: 3:54 pm on February 8th

cussnu2 writes: $300 bucks just for hinges to hide a coat closet???????? Time you throw in the extra labor we are talking a grand at least to hide your coats. And within six months, your door will give itself away by the grimey hand prints at the push point.

Nice work but it seems ample proof that some people have more money than sense.
Posted: 9:42 am on February 8th

jyang949 writes: Beautiful work on the house. The only problem is the "shaky cam"; if you could eliminate that, it would be a perfect blog.
Posted: 6:54 am on February 8th

gsummerfield writes: Boy, only 150 bucks per hinge - that's like giving them away!

;-)
Posted: 4:43 am on February 8th

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