Attn cab builders: What kind of hinges did you use?

[Heartburn]

Hi there,

I'm about 60% of the way through my first MAME cab, using the recently published "Build Your Own Arcade" book (which uses LuSid's plans).  I'm not sure I want to use European hinges, as the book recommends, because I'd rather not drill 35mm holes in the MDF.  I can't see how to use normal hinges and still achieve the 3/4" recessing.  It seems like most normal hinges assume that the door will overlay the opening, or at worst be flush with it.

For those of you who put a hinged front door on your cab, could you give me a hint about how did you did it?

Thanks!

[jbeersm]

My cabinet is only about 80% complete and I went with the European hinges which are working just fine.

[paigeoliver]

There isn't a hinge anywhere on my cabinet, maybe I did something wrong?  

[bionicbadger]

There isn't a hinge anywhere on my cabinet, maybe I did something wrong?  

My cabinet has no hinges either, other than the tiny ones on the coin door....

I used a modified lucid plan too, just screwed the front panel on permanently and built it so that I could remove the entire back panel for access.

[ras2a]

no hinges here either...but then Im using different cab plans.  You could say Im 'unhinged'

[Tahnok]

I've heard you are supposed to use "flush mount hinges" on the LuSID cab. Go to this link http://users.adelphia.net/~seanhat/arcade/ and then click "Coin Door" to see what I'm talking about. Good luck finding them in stores though (I have checked many places and still haven't found them. I will probably end up having to go to a cabinet shop).

[melarky]

Those flush mount hinges are called "European Hinges" and I found them at both Home Depot and Lowes.  Doubtful that an employee would be able to know off the top of their head whether they have them, but if you go to the knobs and hinges isle and poke around a bit, you'll find the "European" style hinges.  I used those on my coin door and on a fold down keyboard drawer on mine, and they work great.  I used a piano hinge on my control panel top.

[SpamMe]

European hinges for the front panel. Piano hinge for the CP lid.

[crashwg]

Piano hinge for the back door and also for the CP which flips towards you and down.