Expert: Jamie Yocono - 6/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have to make a frameless cabinet that is 84" wide x 27" high with two doors side by side, for a Mannequin. My question is, how do I hinge these doors so they don't sag. I wanted to use Grass cup hinges.

ANSWER: Mike,

I'm not sure you can hang these doors without having them sag, since the dimension (if I understand your dimensions correctly) would be 42" x 27" for each door. Generally, doors are taller than they are wide. That gives you more space between the two hinges, which will helps keep the door from sagging.

A better solution would be to hinge the doors from the longer side, so if you can hinge them from the 42" side, you would probably be OK. Can they be hinges from the top, sort of like lateral filing cabinet doors?

One of the best hinges for reducing sag is a piano hinge. Can you use one of those instead? Some of the newer piano hinges have slots in them, for getting the adjustment set correctly. I generally put in the top and bottom screw into those slots, and adjust the fit until you have the right spacing. Then install all the screws, once you've got everything in the right spot.

But with Grass cup hinges and the size of the door you mentioned, you're going to have a hard time keeping that door from sagging, even if you used three hinges. You could always try it with a piece of plywood and see how it works with three hinges, but I think over time, they will sag. The door is just too wide, and there's not enough spacing on the hinge side of the door to keep it in place.

Good luck, sorry I couldn't help you more,


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








---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Jamie,

Do you know where I might be able to find the piano hinge with slotted holes?

Answer
Mike,

Try this link: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=20

You can also make your own slots with a small round file, altering the screw holes a bit for your particular application. I like doing this better, as sometimes you might want the slots going in a different direction the way they've run the slots. Or you might be cutting the hinge to a shorter length, so you'll lose one of the end slots.

Hope this helps,

Jamie in Vegas