Cabinet Furniture Knowledge: Special Angle Hinges

Introduction

The most important hardware in cabinet furniture is the hinge. There are many types of hinges used in cabinet furniture. The most common ones are full-overlay hinges, followed by half-overlay and inset hinges. Additionally, there are special hinges designed for specific door panels, such as 175 degree hinges and special-angle hinges, including 90°, 45°, 30°, 135°, 155°, -30°, -45°, and others.  

Hinges are generally made of cold-rolled steel, 201 stainless steel, or 304 stainless steel. At our company, Eastmax, the primary material used for hinges is 304 stainless steel. Today, we will discuss the types of special-angle hinges used in cabinet furniture and their applications.

SUS304 Hinge

1. Standard Hinges

Mid-to-high-end cabinets on the market typically use quick-install soft-closing hinges with built-in hydraulic mechanisms. Soft-closing hinges have a longer lifespan and provide a smoother opening and closing experience, enhancing user comfort. Additionally, the detachable base plate allows for faster and more convenient installation and maintenance.  

Hinges are also categorized into full-overlay, half-overlay, and inset types.

•      Full-Overlay Hinge (Straight Arm Hinge): As shown in the diagram, when the door is closed, it completely covers the side panel.  

•      Half-Overlay Hinge (Medium Bend Hinge): As shown in the diagram, when the door is closed, it covers half of the side panel.  

•      Inset Hinge (Full Bend Hinge): As shown in the diagram, when the door is closed, it does not cover the side panel.   

Therefore, based on the characteristics of the hinges, different accessories should be selected according to specific requirements when designing cabinets.  

These are the most commonly used hinges in cabinets. However, special-angle hinges are required for unique cabinet scenarios, such as corners.

Hinge Angles

Opening Angle:

Refers to the angle formed between the door panel and its closed state after opening. Common angles include:  

1. 100-Degree Hinge: Allows the door to open up to 100 degrees. The installation process is simple and does not require complex tools.  

2. 105-Degree Hinge: Allows the door to open up to 105 degrees, suitable for situations where a larger opening space is needed.  

3. 180-Degree Hinge: Allows the door or drawer to fully extend to a horizontal state when opened, making it easy to view and access internal items.  

4. 360-Degree Hinge: Allows the door or drawer to fully extend and rotate 360 degrees around the pivot, enabling full accessibility.  

Closing Angle:

The closing angle is based on the 90° angle between the door panel and the side panel when closed. It refers to the inward or outward tilt of the door panel.  

What Are Special-Angle Hinges?

 

For standard hinges, the door panel and side panel form a 90° angle when closed, with a closing angle of 0°. Special-angle hinges generally refer to hinges with a closing angle other than 0°. An inward tilt of the door panel is negative, while an outward tilt is positive. Commonly referred to angles such as -30°, +30°, -45°, +45°,  90° and 135° indicate the closing angle of the hinge. For example, if the door panel tilts outward by 45°, meaning the angle between the door panel and the side panel is 135° when the cabinet is closed, a +45° hinge is required.  

Application Scenarios of Angle Hinges 

1. -45° Hinge:

Suitable for angles between 45° and 60° between the door panel and side panel, such as triangular or trapezoidal cabinets.  

2. -30° Hinge:

Suitable for angles between 60° and 80° between the door panel and side panel, such as triangular or trapezoidal cabinets.  

For -30-degree hinges, the door panel should ideally be inset. To achieve full overlay on the cabinet, the side panel of the cabinet needs to be cut at a 45-degree angle.

3. +30° Hinge:

Suitable for angles between 120° and 135° between the door panel and side panel, such as pentagonal cabinets.  

4. +45° Hinge:

Suitable for angles ≥135° between the door panel and side panel, such as pentagonal cabinets.  

5. +90° Hinge:

Typically used for cabinets without a center stile, where the door panel is flush with the fixed sealing plate.  

6. +135° Hinge:

Note that this refers to a closing angle of +135°. It is commonly used for linked doors, where the door panels are connected. Linked Door in Corner Cabinet Using 165-Degree and 135-Degree Hinges.

165-degree hinges also come in full-overlay, half-overlay, and inset types. The outermost door panel of the linked door does not require hinge holes, while the inner door panel requires double-sided hinge holes.

Linked doors are not recommended for wardrobe corners due to the excessive height of the door panels. When opened, the hinges bear too much force, which can easily damage the hinges and deform the door panels.

Linked Door

Closed Linked Door of Corner Cabinet