I need to hang a set of custom double-hinge doors (cafe style doors) I built. I have 2 hinges for each door. The question I have is if there is a trick to lining them up. There doesn’t seem to be a way to secure the hinges to the door or the hinges to the jamb at the point of having them lined up. I can set the hinges on the jamb but since the door side of the hinge gets screwed from the side of the door, I’d have to line of the doors and then open the door without letting the door slip from the position on the hinge to secure it from the back.
It may be just a matter of trial and error but if there is a trick to doing it right the first time, I’d love to hear it.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
Replies
I'm not sure if I get the message. You mortice the hinges into both the frame, and the door - using a jig (or measuring very carefully is what makes it level
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Thanks. I guess what I was asking is about where to make the marks for the mortises. Yes, I will measure very carefully and level across the door. It's just I don't do a lot of finish carpentry (although I'm doing more lately) and I'm worried that they might not line up perfectly once in place. I will just have to see. Thanks.
It doesn't really matter where you put the marks, so long as they're identical on either side. The mortices on the doors are cut 1/16th of an inch 'higher' (or more, so long as the same on each side - the 16th of an inch provides the gap between the frame and the door, beveling the door's edges give you some fudge-room and jam-proofing).
Just so that a drastic mistake doesn't happen, the term 'higher' means that you measure down 1/16th of inch less from the top of the door than you did from the bottom of the top-jam.
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Phill Giles<!----><!---->
The Unionville Woodwright<!----><!---->
Thanks for the replies. This helps.
The other thing that occurred to me is that if the jambs are not set square to the walls and parallel to each other then the doors will close flush to eachother. If this is the case, I'll just shim the hinge appropriately.
Thanks
After installing the hinges, you add shims to the backside(s) till you get them to line.
I mortised the door, pre-drilled, and attached the hinges. Then removed them. I attached the hinges to door frame, then using wood shims, I set the door in place in the open position, and fastened the hinges to the door. Then closing the door, I tightened the hinge spring till the door was as close to centered as possible. Then you attach metal shims to the back of the hinge till you get them lined up the way you like.
Good luck. I had some cursing to do trying to get them "perfect"
Slight twists in the jamb or doors, even the hinges , can screw up the alignment of cafe' style doors. I set the top hinges into the jambs with one screw each and teist the bottoms to get a decent fit. Enough room should be allowed between the doors to bypass each other at full opposite swings.
Spring adjustment is up to the customer, some like it easy, some like it stiff, but it also depends on the quality of the hinges. Double swing hinges go from $10 a pair to $200 a pair.
May neighbors respect You, and troubles neglect You.
Gord