I will soon have to decide where to place the hinges on the kitchen cabinet wall units that I’m making. I will have two separate sets of 3 adjacent doors. Is there some standard approach regarding which side to mount the hinges when you have a row of three doors?
Thanks for any help.
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just think about where you will be primarily working that involves using those cabinets, then have the doors swing away from that area
My rule #1: always ask the person who will be working there. If they are unhappy it doesn't matter how reasonable the rationale for hinge placement - it is wrong to them.
general rules used: swing away from appliances, hinges at wall edge,
for one double door cab and single: if single on rt hinge on rt, if on left of double -hinge on left. but rule #1 rules -
Chileab
the difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them.
Have it both ways -- put hinges on both sides.
Have it both ways -- put hinges on both sides.
I see. So I can open the door inward or out.
Not a bad idea...can visualize a rather complicated but worakable way of doing that. The end result would be a balanced look because pulls would be located on both sides of each door.
The idea would be to use conventional butt hinges that have been modified so that the stile half would slide into a metal channel that is mounted on the stile. Each channel has an electromagnet behind it that is normally energized. The electromagnet, while energized, holds the hinges/door in place. Touching the metal pull on one side of the door would deenergize the magnets on the same side and permit the door to swing open on the other set of hinges. The opened end of the door carries the hinges with it as it swings open (they are maintained in a closed position while open by a small permanent magnet). When the door is closed the hinges slide back into the channel and await new instructions.
Touching both pulls at the same time on a given door prevents deactivation of all electromagnets and essentially locks the door. A small microprocessor takes care of those details.
Installing the door is pretty straigtforward. Turn the power ON and slide all four hinges into their appropriate channels at the same time; the electromagnets will assist with the holding and securing of the door until it is fully seated.
BTW in the event of a power failure a mechanical latch falls and secures the door in place, (a fine screwdriver pushed up through a release access in the stile unlatches the hinges on the selected side)
re-read your post -
are there any interior stiles in the cab with 3 doors?
Chileab
the difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them.
nope
my question was rather stupid - looking back
if you don't have any stiles on the inside of the cab - What is the middle door hinged on?
Chileab
the difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them.
This is conventional construction with face frames. I plan to use european hinges.
The two center stiles are 1-3/4 wide. The rails span the three door openings.