Hinges are underrated devices that undoubtedly help in daily living. When homeowners open their doors or gates, the hinges play their role in turning and holding them. Generally, hinges have two faces called leaves. In most cases, one of the leaves is attached to the door while the other is fastened to the jamb.
Different hinges are used for various purposes. Some of the common hinges are butt, continuous, ball-bearing, overlay, and friction hinges. Among these types, friction or torque hinges are widely used for keeping a door open at a specific angle and preventing sudden closing. If you’re working on something in your home exterior, you may want to consider using friction hinges.
This article will provide you with some tips and tricks to help you better understand the clever uses of friction hinges:
1. For Toy Boxes
Children tend to close or open whatever it is that has doors and lids. With traditional hinges, kids could get their hands or fingers caught between boxes and their doors or covers. In most cases, kids may get hurt pretty badly. On the other hand, kids are more likely to be safe with friction hinges because these have the ability to prevent abrupt closing. For this reason, friction or torque hinges are ideal for toy boxes and any boxes that kids typically use or play with.
2. For Heavy Doors
Getting slammed by heavy doors can cause significant pain. Friction hinges prevent this from happening. With this type of hinge, you can adjust or hold heavy doors in specific positions. Hence, people rushing into a house won’t be troubled by the idea of a heavy door slamming their faces. This can be extremely helpful, especially when people need to carry heavy loads and repeatedly pass through a heavy door with torque hinges.
3. For Windows
Traditional hinges are typically used in windows. However, the windows could be broken or chipped when slammed. This happens when the hinges have loosened due to natural wear and tear. To prevent this, homeowners could replace the traditional hinges with friction types.
Moreover, certain friction hinges can help a person close and open heavy windows and doors quickly. This is ideal in the kitchen and other areas in the house that require open windows, such as cooking or getting rid of the smoke. Thus, friction hinges may be just what you need for your kitchen restoration project.
4. For Cabinets And Dividers
Friction hinges can hold the doors of cabinets and lockers open. This way, whoever needs to put objects inside a cabinet or locker won’t be bothered by the cabinet door since it’ll stay at a fixed angle. In addition, friction hinges can keep room dividers in place, making them easier to move whenever needed.
5. For Ventilation Hatches
Friction hinges are ideal for keeping hatches partially open. This way, homeowners can easily adjust the airflow in their houses. Moreover, if they decide to shut the ventilation off, they can simply close the hatch without much hassle.
6. For Electrical Boxes And Control Panels
Whether homeowners need to do a quick fix or an hours-long repair, recurring swinging and closing of the panel doors can be annoying. It can also slow down the task. When this happens, the homeowner usually calls for somebody to hold the door until they finish the job. With friction hinges, the doors can be put on hold without a person holding them. This way, homeowners can continue working without being bothered by the doors.
Wrapping Up
When choosing the hinge type for your project, your primary consideration should be the door’s weight. This will be the basis of the length and size of your friction hinge. Aside from this, you should also think of the mounting type and the hinge’s purpose. Ask yourself these questions: Are you going to select the hinge to help you work hands-free? Or do you just want to place a door in a specific position? Whatever hinge type you’ll choose, just keep in mind the insights you’ve gained in this article. Above all its benefits, friction hinges are ideal not just because of their apparent usefulness but also because they help homeowners prevent injuries.
Aside from the uses mentioned above, friction hinges are also applicable for emergency doors and airlocks. To learn more about friction hinges, you may also visit sites that provide information regarding their benefits and advantages. Moreover, you may ask professional carpenters which hinge types they prefer in various situations. By doing so, you’ll have more ideas on how to use friction hinges.
