Need Help with Front Door Hinge

[RxBrad]

So, I tried using these hinges to mount the front door on my cab with less than ideal results.  I wasn't able to inset the door as far as I wanted, and even still, the door doesn't totally clear the side panels when you open it. Also, there's a lot of sag and vertical play.



The door is 3/4" MDF - 2ft x 2ft, weighing 12lbs.  Would it be possible to mount it as a hanging door, using a piano hinge along the top edge?  My concern is that the screws would eventually strip out of the MDF and the door would fall off.  Maybe I could put some small L-brackets on the sides to support some of the weight from underneath?

Or maybe I should just buck up and mount the piano hinge on the side of the door instead (the asymmetry of seeing that hinge on one side bothers me).

[knave]

Take this with a grain of salt since I have not built a door like yours...

My cabs don't have hinges. The back panal slides into place on one side and is held by a can lock on the other.

Any reason you don't replace the MDF with lighter pliwood? Use the right screws and your swing door will be fine.

I'm just brainstorming for you.

[wolcott27645]

Have you thought of using a hidden hinge?  Would require some routing and chisel work but would be a nice result.

[RxBrad]

Have you thought of using a hidden hinge?  Would require some routing and chisel work but would be a nice result.

Yup. I ordered this, and picked up a 1 3/8" forstner bit to mount it. Hinge should show up in a few days.

1 3/4" Satin Nickel Inset Concealed Cabinet Door Hinges Pair

[n3wt0n]

That is a great way to go. Please share finished pics when completed.

[RxBrad]

Those hinges worked great. A lot sturdier than the ones I tried first; and unlike the ones I tried first, they allow you to adjust them after they're installed.

First, I quickly installed one hinge on a couple pieces of scrap MDF, just to make sure it'd work with the door inset a bit from the front face.  Worked just fine.







So then I installed it on the cab. The instructions assume you're installing the door flush with the front of the side panel. Since my door is inset 3/8", I added 3/8" to the distance they said to drill the pilot holes from the edge of the side panels (something I figured out when I hinged the scrap wood).  Also, the instructions didn't say where to drill the 1-3/8" pocket holes in the door (Google told me the centers had to be 7/8" from the edge of the door).



Still need to do a bit of adjusting on the door, but overall I'm happy.



Plenty of clearance when opening the door.

[n3wt0n]

  looks great!

[BGoulette]

Yeah, that came out really nice!