Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/23/2009

Question
Just bought a house that was built in 1983.The kitchen cabinets are the original,with overlay brass hinges.83 stamped on back.these have a spring in order to close door,most are broken. I am looking to find a replacement,can you Help
                                            Thanks Jim
ps. I live in las vegas

Answer
Jim,

The real key to these hinges is the amount of overlay the door has over the cabinet box. These euro-hinges come in full or half overlay, and inset (no overlay) as well. If you figure out the overlay, buying replacements isn't that hard. You just need to buy a self-closing hinge and it should swap out pretty easily.

Just a guess, but the .83 on the back of the hinge might indicate the year it was stamped. If there isn't a manufacturer's name stamped on it, it's hard to know what make it is. But they're all somewhat similar.

Here's a link to help find your hinge: http://www.rockler.com/articles/display_article.cfm?story_id=11

Once you figure out what you need, you can simply order them from Rockler, or you can try going to Woodworker's Emporium and see if they stock what you need. They carry a line of Rockler hardware, so there's a chance they might have what you need. They're located on Arville, off Tropicana. Easy to find.

One last thing - if you buy a different brand hinge from the one you have, you will probably have to buy a new mounting plate that goes inside your cabinet box, too. The new hinge might not fit the old mounting plate you have. Make sure you bring the old hinge with you when buying the new one.

Hope this helps!


Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com