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HINGE SIZES

Hinges come in a variety of sizes to fit just about any door and frame setup you encounter. Most common applications will fall in between the 3-inch by 3-inch to the 6-inch by 6-inch sizes. The size of hinge used is usually determined by the application. If a door and frame were manufactured to use a specific size hinge, for example a 4.5" X 4.5" butt hinge. Then only that size hinge or a swing clear hinge would be the proper size to properly replace it without modifying the door or frame.

STANDARD OR BALL BEARING

Residential hinges are designed for the knuckles of the hinge to rotate against each other. In a residential setting, the usage is such that the wear of metal against metal will still allow a long life. When the wear becomes excessive, the door can begin to sag, become misaligned and will eventually bind. It is usually when the door no longer closes will the hinge be replaced with a new one.

When do you determine if a ball bearing hinge is better than a standard hinge. The weight of the door and how frequently the door is used will determine the type of bearing required. Plain bearing hinges are designed for low frequency use of a door of standard weight.

Concealed or ball bearing hinges are designed for use on standard weight doors in medium frequency service. The use of ball-bearing hinges is most common in commercial and industrial settings. The ball-bearing hinge is usually permanently lubricated and is designed for use on heavy exterior doors. Although it is more expensive, any interior or exterior door in a heavy use application can benefit from the use of ball-bearing hinges.

HANDING

Most hinges are non-handed and can be reversed. With a loose-pin hinge be sure it is installed with the pin inserted from the top of the hinge. If the pin is left upside-down, it may fall out during normal usage causing the door to come partially off the hinges. For some special application hinges they are specified as left-hand or right-hand and cannot be reversed.