Thread: Euro-style hinge for three-door bookcase

Something like this? http://www.hafele.com/us/products/Ax...ding-Doors.asp

Do you want the centre to open outward on it's own without disturbing the end door it is hinged to, or to open both the end and centre doors with the centre folding back against the inside of the end door.

Elan's suggestion will work for a folding back against the inside of the end door situation, but won't provide for the centre door to open on its own.

A full length piano hinge could provide a stable hinge and allow you to decide which way you want the centre to hinge. It wont provide spring tension to hold the door closed but that can be achieved for the centre door with rare earth magnets set into the carcass and door frame.

As another alternative you could probably hinge all three doors with knife hinges, and use insert RE magnets for the hold closed function. This has the advantage of being able to open any one of the doors without disturbing the rest.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Something like this? http://www.hafele.com/us/products/Ax...ding-Doors.asp

Yep, pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I'll be using Blum hinges throughout the rest of the project, do you know by chance if they make anything similar? Nothing jumped out when I searched for 'blum folding door hinge' or 'blum institutional' (I'm not sure if Institutional is a type of hinge?).

Originally Posted by malb

Do you want the centre to open outward on it's own without disturbing the end door it is hinged to, or to open both the end and centre doors with the centre folding back against the inside of the end door.

Elan's suggestion will work for a folding back against the inside of the end door situation, but won't provide for the centre door to open on its own.

A full length piano hinge could provide a stable hinge and allow you to decide which way you want the centre to hinge. It wont provide spring tension to hold the door closed but that can be achieved for the centre door with rare earth magnets set into the carcass and door frame.

As another alternative you could probably hinge all three doors with knife hinges, and use insert RE magnets for the hold closed function. This has the advantage of being able to open any one of the doors without disturbing the rest.

The latter--so both end and centre doors open together with the centre door folding back.

The rare earth magnet idea is brilliant, I love the simplicity of that solution. That said, I love the look of knife hinges and maybe they're the best way to go... have never played with them though and wonder if they're tricky to install. Are they strong enough to hold up a 1.4m glass pane door?

Originally Posted by michhes

Yep, pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I'll be using Blum hinges throughout the rest of the project, do you know by chance if they make anything similar? Nothing jumped out when I searched for 'blum folding door hinge' or 'blum institutional' (I'm not sure if Institutional is a type of hinge?).

I don't think Blum make them, I certainly don't remember seeing them in the book. They make the best hinges and runners you can get (I think), but if you want anything specialist Hafele is the go-to place.

I've never used knife hinges, but a big enough hinge should take the weight. Just bear in mind that you won't get any adjustment out of them and they will be more fiddly to install than Euro hinges

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

I don't think Blum make them, I certainly don't remember seeing them in the book. They make the best hinges and runners you can get (I think), but if you want anything specialist Hafele is the go-to place.

I've never used knife hinges, but a big enough hinge should take the weight. Just bear in mind that you won't get any adjustment out of them and they will be more fiddly to install than Euro hinges

Interesting, thanks for your thoughts elanjacobs! Good point about the knife hinge adjustability, I think for that reason alone I'll forego the knife hinges and see if I can dig up these Hafele hinges. I'll likely buy my Blum hinges from Wilson Bradley here in WA so will have a look see for anything comparable when I'm up to their showroom.

)