Stainless and steel piano hinges, features of their use and installation

Piano hinges: where to use and how to install?

Piano hinges (also called card hinges) are a single-hinged multi-tubular mechanism consisting of two plates:

• one of which is attached to the inside of the facade (both with and without grooves),

the second - on the end of the side wall of the furniture body.

In furniture production, piano-type hinges are usually used as hidden fasteners, as well as for heavy loads on doors (facades). Since it is attached along the entire length of the end, it therefore holds the entire door better.

Such hinges are usually used in kitchen cabinets, bedside tables, corners and ottomans with a top-opening seat. You will also see them in corner wardrobes (one door has a sliding system, and the second one has piano-type hinges).

magnetic holders are also installed for proper operation of vertically located doors . Since, unlike standard four-hinged furniture hinges, card hinges do not have springs, without a magnet they will not fit tightly to the body.

The main advantages of card loops are:

• Ability to withstand heavy weight of the facade,
• Providing additional rigidity,
• Inexpensive price,
• Almost invisible fastener.

In addition to the advantages, card loops also have disadvantages:

• There is no possibility of adjusting the facade (completely),
• Inconvenient installation
• Furniture using such hinges is a bit reminiscent of outdated, “grandmother’s”

How to choose the right furniture hinges

Many manufacturers of furniture hinges produce low-quality fittings because they want to save on production. To purchase a quality product, it is worth looking at the thickness of the metal. If it is thin, it is better to refuse the purchase. It is worth paying attention to the price equivalent - it is better not to purchase cheap accessories. The number of items depends on the size of the façade and its weight. The hinges must be durable; this determines how long they can last.

Dimensions

The height of this fastening mechanism varies from 100 to 3500 mm in 15 mm increments. The thickness of the loops can be up to 1.5 mm, and the width ranges from 20 to 40 mm. The rotation angle of this design is 90 degrees.

Typical dimensions of piano hinges:

• Height: 100 mm, 250 mm, 500 mm, 815 mm, 1000 mm, 1700 mm, 3500 mm.
• Width: 20mm, 25mm, 28mm, 30mm, 32mm, 35mm, 40mm.
• Thickness: 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm.
• Pitch: 15 mm.

If the hinges do not fit in length, they are usually cut to the required size of the facade.

Installing a piano hinge

What we need for this:

• Piano type hinge,
• Screws 3*16,
• Screwdriver or screwdriver,
• Awl,
• 8 mm drill bit (for countersinking, optional).

The holes in this loop are staggered. This is done so that when closing they do not fall on one another. Sometimes this is not enough, then the holes have to be countersunk to fit the screw head. This is done with an 8 mm drill.

Also, in some cases, a groove is made on the inside of the facades for a tight fit of the card loop on the structure.

But in most cases, neither countersinking holes nor grooving is usually necessary. Then you can start installation right away.

First of all, the loop is screwed onto the facade (its inner side). The tube should lie on its inner side. We mark the fastening points with an awl and fasten with self-tapping screws.

Next, we need to most accurately attach the facade with the hinge to the end of the body, align it in height and screw it to it. Those. First, our piano is screwed to the facade, and then, with the other side, to the end of the case.

When trying on, after aligning the parts to be fastened, first mark the highest and lowest fastening points and immediately tighten the outermost screws.

After this, check whether the door closes correctly, and then, if everything is fine, you can continue tightening all the other screws.

In principle, this concludes the installation of the piano hinge. As you can see, there is nothing overly complicated here, just maximum care and effort (as in any other matter).

Article source: https://mebsam.com/royalnye-petli.html

What are the advantages of piano hinges?

Application of a piano loop

Although they are not as commonly used as standard hinges, there are several good reasons to choose piano hinges over another hinge mechanism:

• Ability to withstand heavy weight and intensive use.
• Installation along the entire length of the door ensures uniform distribution of the weight of the door leaf on the frame.
• The continuous hinge is fixed to the entire height of the opening, thanks to which it holds the door in a stable position without the risk of sagging or distortion.
• Solid hinges also help to avoid warping of wooden doors, which is especially useful when the doorway width is 1000-1200 mm.
• Smooth, effortless turning action.
• The continuous hinge helps close the gap between the door and frame, creating a tighter seal and eliminating heat loss from the room.
• The absence of a gap between the door and the frame helps prevent fingers from getting caught, which improves safety, especially when children use the door.
• Possibility of cutting into pieces according to the length of the door leaf, leaf or lid.
• Invisibility on furniture doors and facades.

But there are also disadvantages:

Piano hinges are long and narrow, so they can bend if handled or transported roughly. However, they can be aligned. After installation, they do not make it possible to adjust the furniture façade (the size of the gaps between the elements), unlike standard adjustable furniture hinges, so installation of the “grand piano” requires extreme precision. During operation, serious problems rarely arise with it, with the exception of squeaking, which can be easily eliminated with lubricant, for example, WD-40 in an aerosol can.

Types and installation of piano hinges

Despite the fact that piano hinges today are considered to be obsolete fittings, they can still be found quite often in new furniture. In this article we will talk about the design features, purpose and installation method of piano hinges.

Types of fittings

Depending on what is supposed to be closed - a room, an apartment, a closet, a bathhouse, as well as on the material and size of the sash, the appropriate fittings are selected. There are a lot of options here:

• overhead - have the simplest design, in fact, these are ordinary card loops, quite thin and durable. The main feature is that you can attach them both to cabinet doors and to interior doors without inserting them. Typical representatives are piano bars, for example, used for installation on furniture doors, or butterflies. The butterfly is of the one-piece type, which makes installation somewhat difficult;

Features and purpose

The piano hinge is a simple mechanism that is used in the production of furniture and other household items. It provides the ability to install hidden fasteners. It can also be used when other mechanisms are not able to withstand the weight of the element.

Despite the fact that a huge number of other canopies are used in modern furniture production, the presented device continues to be in demand.

Piano hinges are also called card hinges. These are single-hinged multi-tubular structures that contain 2 plates. One side is attached to the inside of the facade; for this you can use the grooving method. The other side is fixed to the end of the side wall of the body on the furniture product.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages of piano hinges

Despite the fact that piano hinges are considered outdated fittings that were widely used several decades ago, they can still be found quite often in new furniture. Piano hinges have the following advantages that cannot be ignored:

• Simplicity of design, which includes a minimum number of elements.
• Easy installation that does not require the use of special equipment and tools.
• Problem-free operation and maintenance of the fittings.
• Affordable price on the furniture fittings market.
• Ensuring increased rigidity of the entire structure.

The list of advantages is really long, but with piano hinges not everything is so rosy. The main disadvantage of such fittings is that they are obsolete, which is why they are being actively replaced by other types of hinges. If performance characteristics are of decisive importance to you, do not pay attention to the history of this fitting - it copes well with its purpose and can be safely installed in furniture.

Below you can view photos of piano hinges to clearly see how they differ in design. You will undoubtedly notice their resemblance to card fittings.

Piano hinges installed on furniture

Piano hinges are completely devoid of adjustment. If you need hardware that can be customized, opt for other types of hinges.

Design features

Piano hinges are almost identical in design to card hinges that are familiar to the eye - they have the same structure, with the exception of a higher length, which is significantly larger than the width of the fittings. Such hinges are often made by skilled home craftsmen in artisanal conditions due to the fact that factory production of piano hinges is gradually disappearing, and such fittings can now only be found in wooden furniture.

Loops can be cut to the desired length

Advantages and disadvantages

During the existence of these hinges, many people have appreciated the strength and reliability of this type of fastening. Consider the following positive points:

• ability to withstand various loads and impressive weight of the façade;
• providing additional rigidity;
• affordable price;
• The mounting location is almost invisible.

In addition to the listed positive qualities, card loops also have disadvantages. You should also familiarize yourself with them before purchasing products, although the disadvantages do not greatly affect installation. The following weaknesses can be noted:

• inconvenient installation;
• The piano hinges are too large, as a result they often resemble furniture from the USSR era.

Despite all the imperfections, piano hinges do not allow distortions during use. The load is distributed proportionally along the entire length of the product. All modifications of piano hinges are distinguished by their reliability, even products made of thin sheet steel.

How to properly install hinges on a cabinet - installation, proper adjustment and alignment

How to install hinges on a cabinet: instructions and recommendations |

Furniture assembly usually ends with hanging the doors, so it is important to know how to install hinges on the cabinet. The lifespan of the product and its appearance depend on how well this is done. There are various types of hinges on the hardware market. Each of them has its own characteristics. To understand the technique of installing hinges, you first need to understand the differences between each type of fastener.

Scope of application

These devices are ideal for installation on heavily used door openings, as well as furniture doors and drawer lids that are regularly opened and closed. They are truly indispensable in moving structures that require additional rigidity.

Here are a number of examples where you can practice them:

• security and fire doors;
• sliding partitions in the form of an accordion;
• fence openings, cage doors;
• folding sides of the tractor hood;
• entrance doors to showers, basements, storage rooms, sheds;
• hatches, instrument panels and other equipment of ships, yachts, aircraft;
• cabinets, folding seats, reclining tables, book tables, chests, ottomans;
• boxes for equipment, toys, tools.

Overview of species

Based on the design and size of the furniture fronts, suitable piano hinges are selected. There is no special classification for card loops. In many ways, they are divided according to the material of production. Here you can highlight designs made from:

• become;
• brass;
• nickel;
• stainless steel (stainless steel);
• aluminum;
• alloy using all kinds of galvanizing.

In the version with zinc, the technology of galvanizing various alloys is practiced. A galvanized loop can be either brown, black, red, yellow, white, or accurately reproduce gold, silver, bronze and more.

Steel has the highest strength and is sold at a reasonable price, but it is not resistant to rust in unstable conditions. Such hinges are recommended for use in a controlled environment, for example, inside buildings, where normal levels of temperature and humidity are maintained.

Stainless steel is also very durable, and it is also resistant to corrosion in wet and outdoor environments. Non-corrosive card loops meet hygiene requirements, which makes it possible to use them in food and medical equipment. In addition, they have a beautiful satin finish or have a glossy polish.

Brass does not rust, is resistant to oxidation and is very decorative. But it has less strength when compared with steel and stainless steel. Aluminum is a lightweight metal with high anti-corrosion characteristics. Aluminum hinges are aesthetically pleasing and inexpensive, but under significant loads they can bend, making them unsuitable for use in heavy door systems.

Products can also be systematized by size, dividing them by length, width and thickness. It is recommended to pay attention to the thickness characteristics. There are ordinary loops or reinforced ones made of thicker material.

Selection of piano hinges by material

They are available in a wide range of materials and finishes such as steel, A2, A4 stainless steel, galvanized, nickel and brass plated steel, aluminium, solid brass, ensuring their versatility for a wide range of applications across all manufacturing sectors.

• Steel:
  Has the greatest strength, moderate cost, but is not resistant to corrosion in unstable conditions. The best application for steel hinges is in a controlled environment, such as inside buildings, where temperature and humidity are maintained at normal levels.
• Stainless Steel:
  Also has great strength and in addition, it is resistant to rust in humid environments and outdoors. Stainless steel piano hinges are hygienic, which allows them to be used in medical and food equipment. They also come in a beautiful satin finish or high-gloss polish.
• Brass:
  does not corrode, is resistant to oxidation and is very decorative. However, it has less strength than steel and stainless steel.
• Aluminum:
  a lightweight metal with high anti-corrosion properties. Aluminum hinges are characterized by aesthetics and low cost, but under high loads they can bend, which is why they are not suitable for use in heavy door structures.

Dimensions

The height of this fastening device ranges from 100 to 3500 millimeters in increments of 15 millimeters. The thickness of the loops can reach up to 1.5 millimeters, the width parameters range from 20 to 40 millimeters. The turning radius of this design is 90°.

Here are the standard hinge dimensions:

• height: 100, 250, 500, 815, 1000, 1700, 3500 mm;
• width: 20, 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 40 mm;
• thickness: 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 mm.

When the devices do not fit in length, they are usually cut to the required size of the facade.

Piano hinge loads

It is difficult to say unequivocally how much weight your piano hinge will support, because it depends on several factors. First of all, its load-bearing capacity is determined by its length, secondly, the number of fasteners, and thirdly, the base material. It is known that chipboard, fiberboard, and laminated chipboard hold screws worse than solid wood. Moreover, a screw screwed into the face of the slab holds better than at the end.

Here are some examples:

It has been experimentally established that a standard 600 mm piano hinge for furniture is capable of holding a door weighing up to 27-30 kg

. And since the load is distributed along its entire length, the weight spread is approximately

5 kg per 100 mm length

. Considering that 1 m2 of chipboard weighs 11 kg, this fitting can easily support the weight of the doors of large kitchen cabinets.

The 20-25mm wide "grand pianos" are small in length and thickness and are great for use in a horizontal position and in light-duty projects such as furniture ottomans, drawers, caskets and folding tables.

If you prefer a piano hinge or another common type of canopy, know that you have a choice in the Krepcom online store. Here you can buy exactly the fittings you were looking for - doors, windows, furniture, drawers, gates and gates, which are easy to install, visually attractive and durable.

Installation Rules

When the loop is made in accordance with GOST, it will be extremely strong, reliable and of high quality. However, choosing from a photo on the Internet is not the best option. It’s safer to visit a retail outlet, check the mechanisms by touch, and test their performance on site.

Before you begin installing card loops, you should prepare the following tools and materials:

• installed mechanisms;
• a screwdriver (if you don’t have one, you can use an ordinary screwdriver);
• a set of screws for fastening (a large number may be required);
• ruler and awl to mark surfaces.

Additionally, countersinking may require an electric drill and an 8mm drill bit. However, a countersink is not needed if the holes on the hinge are staggered.

A positive point for these mechanisms is that almost always when installing them there is no need to make grooves in furniture facades - it is enough to install the fittings using the overlay method. If you don’t know how to do this, then this step-by-step instruction can help you:

1. take a loop whose length will exactly match the length of the furniture facade;
2. attach it to the facade and, having made sure of the correct location, use a regular awl to mark the places for fixing the screws (press firmly);
3. using a screwdriver and screws, carefully fix the overhead device so that it does not move in space;
4. Before final tightening, once again make sure that the card fittings are actually installed correctly.

Each card loop installed at this stage is screwed to the furniture facade in a similar way. You can control the process using a small building level.

Do not forget that it is necessary to tighten the outermost screws first, and only after checking the accuracy of the position of the door in relation to the body can you slowly tighten the remaining products.

HANGING DOORS

After installing the ties, all that remains is to attach the plinth, hang the doors and

insert the box into the niche. The first and last of these operations do not require

explanations, but more details should be said about the doors.

To hang the doors you need to purchase hinges, preferably piano hinges

Such hinges are suitable for any piece of furniture, regardless of

door heights. They are relatively cheap, very easy to install and

extremely reliable. In addition, they serve as a kind of decoration. IN

Loops with lengths of 500, 1000 mm and more are available for sale. You need to cut

hinges of such a length that is exactly equal to the height of the door. Do it

easy with a hacksaw.

Don't throw away any short loop scraps. They may be useful for others

pieces of furniture. The fact is that the door does not have to be hung with

using a solid loop. The loop can be made up of separate, closed

closely, along no interconnected parts (). If

sawed off loop, the first hole for the screw turned out to be too far from

end (more than 45 mm), then for better pressing of the attached loop

It is advisable to drill an additional hole at a distance of 15 mm from the end

and countersink it.

To hang the door using a piano hinge, just attach

loop one turning strip to the door, the other to the side wall. If

the door is insertable (located between the walls), as in your case, a hinge

must be attached to the edge of the door (). If the door is overhead

(hangs over the walls), you need to attach the loop to the inner plate

doors (). For inset doors, the hinges are attached first to

walls, with overhead ones - to the doors.

The hinge should be fastened so that its hinge is flush with the edge of the wall.

To attach the hinges, use small 2.5X15 or 3X15 screws. Screws

can be placed not in every hole, but through one, but at the ends of the loop

screws are a must.

Before connecting the hinges to the doors themselves, it is necessary to

checking and, if necessary, adjusting the doors. To do this, place the table on the back

wall and, using a temporary lining, insert the doors into place

If both doors fit freely and there is no gap between them

exceeds 1 mm, no adjustment is necessary. Can be hung immediately

doors. If the doors are wider and one door bumps into another,

it is necessary to make bevels, or, as they say, chamfer the sash

door edges (). Usually the bevel is made at the left door outwards, and at

with the right one - inward, so that the right door overlaps the left one. Bevel size

taken equal to 3 - 5 mm. Sometimes you can limit yourself to chamfering only

on one right door. To remove a chamfer, you need to cut a deep hole with an awl.

mark on its border (parallel to the edge) and then trim off the excess

wood first with sherhebel and then with a plane.

If there is too much of a gap between the doors, it means the doors

tapered. You will have to nail it to the side edge of one of the doors with small

nail the strip of the required thickness and hide the seam when finishing. In general, in

To avoid mistakes, it is advisable to cut one of the doors to width and

plan not in advance, but only during a trial assembly, when

Useful tips

The installation of piano hinges must be treated with great care, since it will not be possible to adjust them, even if you really want to. The impossibility of adjustment is due to design features, so from the very beginning you need to achieve an even position of the door in space. To create conditions for long-term and stable operation of the hinges, remember about timely maintenance - lubrication.

If the mechanisms begin to creak during use, you should not immediately dismantle them and install new elements. As a rule, such extraneous sounds are associated with a lack of lubrication inside the hinges. Furniture fittings can be lubricated with a special aerosol or automotive lubricant WD-40, which can be purchased at any auto parts store.

You can see more information about piano hinges in the following video.

Source of the article: https://stroy-podskazka.ru/dveri/petli/royalnye/

Where else is it used?

Furniture fittings perform not only operational functions, but often also serve as decoration. Most modern components have beautiful finishes and good design. Therefore, piano hinges often act as decorations. In the construction sector, this includes not only furniture, but also the production of screens and light partitions for small apartments. Regarding musical instruments (except grand piano and upright piano) - cases for other instruments and props.

In higher education institutions and schools - boards, teaching aids, advertising structures. These are all kinds of boxes, cases for collections, museum display cases, display cabinets, chess sets. A piano hinge (small sizes, for example) opens and closes cases for many precision instruments, such as binoculars, microscopes, spectrometers. Church utensils are also equipped with a similar mechanism: folding icons, frames and much more.