Wherever you see a door, you will find a hinge. Its basic concept has been taken from the joints found in the knees and elbows of the body. The hinge is a type of bearing that normally connects the two panels of a door, to allow a limited angle of rotation that allows the door to be opened and closed.
Hinges were found in Europe, Asia, and Africa in ancient times. The metal was a rarely found commodity and significant status. In ancient times they served more as status value and were therefore large and massive, mostly made of bronze. They were found at gates protecting frightened structures and other places of state importance. The bigger the hinge, it showed that the king was richer and more powerful. Since then they have evolved into smaller and more delicate shapes.
It is an intrinsic part of a door. Now they are found in different materials, sizes and stiffness of the angles of rotation. A typical gate normally has three placed at the same distance from each other. They are also placed on the windows.
They are classified according to their purpose. Here are some types:
The butt hinge is the most common household hinge and will fit all cabinets and doors. They are generally very resistant. It is also the easiest hinge to replace by one person without the help of a technician. However, it is important to make sure that the existing hinge and the new hinge are exactly the same type and size.
Flush hinges are found on cabinets and are lightweight. Otherwise they are exactly like the butt hinge. The continuous hinge is called a piano hinge because it was first used to secure the top of pianos. Now used on objects that require extended support. The concealed hinge is used on cabinets where you do not want the hinges to be visible.
Pivot hinges are used on doors. The pivots rotate from the top and bottom of the door. They are usually large and thick and are ideal for heavier exterior doors.
They also differ from each other in their configuration. They are found in single or standard type, reverse mount, swage, single blade half boot, single blade full boot type, multi blade, uneven blade, multi coil, and foamed hinge. Multi-barrel hinges are made to order due to the variations of barrels and blades available.
They can be purchased in plastic, aluminum, stainless steel or brass. Hinges can be painted to complement decor and add beauty. They can be found in pretty shapes and custom made when desired. Hinges can be selected from catalogs or can be found in hardware stores in all major markets.