Butt hinges are made of two plates, or leaves, attached to a central knuckle and pin. They are the most common type of hinges used on entry doors and passage doors, as well as some cabinet doors. The hinge consists of two leaf plates, one anchored to the edge of the door and the other to the door jam. The leaf plates come together and are hidden between the door and frame when the door is closed so that the only thing visible is the barrel of the hinge, containing a pin that holds the hinge’s leaf plates together. This type of hinge is also known as a mortise hinge because the two leaf plates are recessed into mortises cut into the edge of the door and door jamb. For indoor use, butt hinges are usually made of steel; exterior doors and outdoor applications call for stainless steel. A flush hinge is a special type of butt hinge in which one leaf plate fits inside a cutout on the other mounting plate. Therefore, it requires that only one mortise be cut in the door or door frame, offering a space-saving technique. It is usually used for lightweight doors, such as those on cabinets or decorative boxes. A spring hinge is another variation of the butt hinge, in which the leaf plates and joint barrel (larger knuckle and pin) are fitted with a metal spring that causes the hinge to automatically return to a closed or open position. With large, heavy doors, they are often installed in groups of three to provide sufficient closing force for the door. A strap hinge has two long steel, brass, or bronze straps or plates connected by a center knuckle and pin. Unlike a butt hinge, a strap hinge has leaf plates that are fully exposed when the door is closed. One leaf is attached to the face of the door on the pivot side, the other leaf is attached to the face of the casing. This type of hinge is often used for utility applications, such as doors on sheds and garages, although some decorative hinges are also available for use on ornamental boxes and chests. A less common form of strap hinge is known as a T-hinge, where one of the straps is hidden in a mortise on the inside of the jamb. A butterfly hinge is designed with two leaves connected to a central knuckle and pin that allows a door to open as wide as possible without getting in the way. It is a variation of the strap hinge, featuring leaf plates that are decoratively shaped in a manner that resembles the wings of a butterfly. They are always surface-mounted. Often, they are made of brass or another decorative metal and are most often used on ornamental boxes or cabinets. A barrel hinge looks like two small barrel-shaped pieces of brass connected by a small knuckle and pin that expands to lock the hinge into drilled holes. The jointed connection between the pins pivots to allow the door to open and close. It is a special type of hidden hinge usually used for light-duty applications, such as hinges on doors for small cabinets and chests. It is so named for the two-barrel pins that are recessed into the edge of the door and the frame, which means you will need to drill holes for installation. Also called a continuous hinge, a piano hinge is a long metal hinge designed to provide continuous support along the entire length of a door. It is usually used for lids on large chests or toy boxes—or the lid on an upright piano, the application that gave this hinge its name. Piano hinges can either be mortised into the lid and frame to be hidden when the lid is closed, or they can be surface mounted as a type of strap hinge. A pivot hinge is designed to help a door swing in both directions. It is often used for overlay cabinet doors or entertainment centers. A hinge is attached to a plate, one hinge and plate at the top and one at the bottom of the door. It’s installed where one arm of the hinge is mounted on the inside frame of the door, the other on the inside surface of the cabinet. A single pivot point allows the hinge to open and close. These hinges are normally sold in pairs, with one installed at the bottom of a door and a mirror-image hinge installed at the top. A Euro-style hinge, also called an invisible hinge, can be found in most contemporary cabinetry because it is concealed and creates a streamlined aesthetic. It is a special form of pivot hinge used for overlay doors, where the hinges are entirely hidden. In some styles, one plate of the hinge contains a recess that is mortised into the door. The other half of the hinge is mounted to the sidewall of the cabinet. When closed, the hinge pivot mechanism fits inside the mortise, allowing the door to fit perfectly flush with the cabinet frame.
A 60-inch-tall door needs two hinges.A door measuring 60 inches to 90 inches needs three hinges.A door measures between 90 inches and 120 inches needs four hinges.
For other woodworking projects, the kit or template will indicate what type of hinge you will need to use.
