How to mount an overlay hinge

When making doors out of 16mm SupaWood you have to take into consideration the weight of the finished doors. If you are building a largish cabinet, say anything from a height of 800mm upwards, the doors will be heavy and require heavy-duty hinges rather than standard butt hinges. Using an overlay hinge is the answer.

 

An overlap hinge is the quickest and easiest way to mount large doors that overlap a frame - see below. Original used on wardrobes and cabinets, an overlay hinge offers far more support for both the door and the frame.

When you first look at these hinges it can be confusing to know what piece goes where, especially for a blonde like me! Here's a quick 'how to' for fitting an overlay hinge.

GOOD TO KNOW

Always drill a pilot hole when mounting hinges, especially in the frame, as this prevent the wood or board from splitting or popping when you drive in a screw.

The drill bit should be 1mm smaller than the size of the screw. EG. Use a 3mm bit for a 4mm screw.

When attaching to the door section, take into consideration the thickness of the wood or board being used. A 13mm or 16mm screw is generally used in this instance and the pilot hole is only 5mm to 6mm deep.

1. When mounting a hinge always used the pre-drill screw holes as a reference. These should have a tapered hole [top] that allow for the head of the screw to sit flush with the surface. Always make sure that you use screws that will not protrude through the wood or board the hinges are being applied to and that they have a small screw head.

2. Start by attaching the hinge plate to the back of your door. As you can see above, the barrel or pin on the hinge sits over the edge of the door. This is important if you want the hinge to work properly. It also helps to align the hinge correctly when fitting.

3. The frame mounting part of the hinge now fits nicely onto the edge and side of the frame. Secure the frame side section first.

4. Finally, attach the hinge to the edge of the frame. Below you can see how the hinge plate and hinge side are secured.