What are concealed hinges?
We’ve put together this guide to introduce you to concealed hinges, which are sometimes called invisible door hinges, invisible hinges or hidden hinges. We’ll cover:
What is a concealed hinge?
A hinge is a mechanical bearing attached to two surfaces, such as a door frame and door, enabling the door to rotate. They lie flush within the doors, concealed from view when the doors are closed – hence the name.
The style of kitchen cabinet hinges are typically concealed, as are those for machine covers. Almost all cabinet hinges also tend to be concealed. One reason these lid, furniture and door hinges are popular is due to their durability. They also provide a minimalist look and feel by not showing any hardware.
Benefits of using concealed hinges
For industrial applications, there are several reasons to use a hidden hinge, they have number of benefits that traditional hinges don't offer. Here are the main advantages of any concealed door hinge (or invisible hinges)::
- Appearance
Concealed hinges are used to improve appearance, and that’s no different for industrial uses. As already mentioned, invisible hinges are hidden from view, which can give you the appearance you’re after.
- Security
Concealed hinges are used in the interior of outdoor telecom equipment cabinets and other enclosures for cabinet doors.. They’re perfect for preventing tampering with the door.
- Adjustable
They’re adjustable to allow you to line up doors for easy and smooth opening and closing: up and down, left and right, in and out. A concealed hinge can give you your required results.
What are the different types of concealed hinges?
Cabinets, entry and interior doors, corner units and other furniture are just some applications that use a concealed hinge. Styles available on the market vary, from those suitable as machine-cover hinges and cabinet hinges to kitchen cupboard hinges, such as inset concealed hinges – and hinges for wardrobes.
Concealed door hinges offer different types. We’re going to look at a variety of industrial types, such as heavy-duty concealed hinges for doors, commercial refrigerator doors, machinery covers, tightly sealed enclosures and cabinet door hinges. Popular choices include:
Spring-loaded, removable concealed hinges
This concealed hinge type comes in a variety of styles. They’re ideal for internally mounted doors and access doors on machinery.
This concealed hinge contains a spring that provides tension so that doors or lids automatically close or stay open at a maximum rotation of 135°. The spring also makes door removal easier.
This spring-loaded concealed hinge is also a type of corner hinge. It offers a maximum rotation of 110°. The body is copper plated for easy welding installation.
Screw-on concealed hinges
Screw-on concealed hinges are popular for metal enclosures, such as outdoor utility cabinets. They also work well for machine covers, such as those needed for industrial generators. They’re mounted with screws. The removable pin allows easy access when lifting the door from the frame.
We’re also including weld and screw-on hinges here. These offer a two-part mounting solution. The frame is screwed on and the door is mounted by a nut to the welded stud.
This hinge is ideal for applications such as lightweight panels and vehicle tool boxes. With a hinge rotation of 90°, it’s easily and quickly installed with screws. Made of ABS. Universal mounting method with M6 screws.
This screw-on concealed hinge is suitable for both light and heavy-duty applications. Made of zinc-plated steel, it offers high mechanical strength and a 90° hinge rotation angle. Its reinforced, multi-links articulation design offers a high resistance to bending and twisting due to high rigidity.
This zinc-plated steel concealed hinge is ideal for metal enclosures and machinery covers. Install by screw or welding. The hinge rotational angle of 120°. Screw-on version is also available with a rotational angle of 135°.
This removable concealed hinge is zinc-plated steel with a maximum hinge rotation angle of 120°. Allows for quick and easy door removal and suits M5 screws.
You can learn about other hinges in our guide, Types of hinges and where to use them.
How concealed hinges work
There’s no one way in how hidden door hinges work – it depends on the hinge and the door. Some concealed door hinges require you to screw the hinge onto the door frame and then weld the other part onto the door. Others simply screw on, as in this example.
This spring-action concealed hinge suit cabinets, boxes and metal containers. It has a retractable pin, which allows you to quickly remove the door from the frame without the aid of a tool. Made of stainless steel, it can be used as both a locking and positioning device. The reason points back to the retractable pin, which is spring loaded.
This enables you to lock it into a retracted position for easier door installation or removal, and then lock it into the desired position for secure operation.
You’ll also come across concealed hinges designed for a specific direction: left-hand or right-hand. For example, a right-hand concealed hinge goes on the inside right of the door as you look at it. Sometimes, both are possible.
When we talk about angles on concealed hinges, we’re talking about the opening angle. Some, as you’ve seen in the examples, have a rotational angle of 110°.
How many concealed hinges per door?
You have to consider several factors when choosing concealed door hinges and numbers of them. The number of concealed hinges you use will depend on the weight, height and width of the door.
While manufacturers will tell you how many of your chosen hinges to use, these are the general rules to follow:
Door height and weight
101.6 cm (40 in.) door in height usually needs two hinges. Another 50.8 cm to the door height requires a third hinge, regardless of your door’s weight.
| Door height | Number of hinges needed |
|---|---|
| 152.4 cm (60 in.) | 3 |
| 203.2 cm (80 in.) | 4 |
| 254 cm (100 in.) | 5 |
A door weighing 6.8kg (15 lbs) requires two hinges. For every 6.78 kgs added, you’ll need to add another hinge. This is regardless of the door’s height.
Note: if the door’s height and weight require a different number of hinges, always use the larger number.
What about the sizes of your hinge? You can learn about determining sizes in our guide, How to size hinges.
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. You can also request free samples to ensure the product you’ve chosen is exactly what you need.
If you’re not quite sure which solution will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you. Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast despatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.co.uk or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 0345 528 0474.