Hinges for Subpanel Door

[crokett]

The door is finished and I am painting it. It is 2 1/4" wide rails/stiles with 1/2" ply screwed to the back w/ 3/4" overlap. That leaves 1 1/2" of frame over the sheetrock. The door is designed so the frame fits flush to the drywall with the ply recessed into the opening. I got some at HD but I don;t think they will get the door far enough way from the wall to open. Do I need something like the 1 7/16" overlay pictured here? Is that what the overlay is?

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21311

[pelligrini]

I believe overlay is how much the door extends over and covers the face frame at the hinge.

*edit: I'm not sure how much the 1/2 ply will affect the geometry of the hinge swing. I don't think the ones you linked to would work with your door design.

**edit: If I understand the design correctly you are really dealing with an inset condition. Like the sketch for this barrell hinge.

[crokett]

I believe overlay is how much the door extends over and covers the face frame at the hinge.

Right. Think of the drywall as the face frame. In my case the door extends over the wall between 1.25 and 1.5" on each side of the opening. The ply is just screwed to the back of the frame - not set into rabbets. I did that because of the very real possibility that in future my wife might want the door turned into a picture frame instead. When the door is closed the frame is flush against the sheetrock with the ply panel inside the opening. So I think I need a hinge that will accomodate the 1.25" (at least) overlay.

[pelligrini]

Ok, that's what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure I understand your design.

The hard part is the 1/2" ply. Most of the hinges I've seen are designed to be mounted at the back of your frame plane. Having the 1/2" ply creates an inset condition. With as much overlay as you have I don't think the pivot point will be in the correct position to allow the door to open if you mount the hinge flush at the back of the ply.

[crokett]

It won't be mounted on the ply, it will be mounted on the frame. there is 1 1/2" of space between the edge of the door frame and the edge of the ply. I hope that is plenty of space to install a hinge in.

[pelligrini]

I did a rough drawing of what I think the design is. Those euro hinges (like the ones you linked to) either attach to the edge of the face frame of the cab or the inside wall of a frameless cab. Check out the installation instructions for them. You'll probably have to use conventional exposed overlay hinge.

[crokett]

Oh crud. You are exactly correct. Thanks. I will think about an exposed hinge vs rigging a way to hang it.