Furniture hinges with a closer are expensive fittings with a complex design. Thanks to the shock absorber built into the hinges, the doors will close independently. The closer ensures tight fixation of the sashes, and smooth closing reduces the likelihood of mechanical damage. Hinges can be different, each type has characteristic features that are important to consider before purchasing accessories.
Furniture hinges with closer
Popular manufacturers of hinges with closers
In furniture stores you can see products of various brands. These can be both expensive and cheaper fittings options.
Table 1. The most popular brands of furniture hinges
| Brand | Description |
| Polish manufacturer of self-closing hinges. Fittings from this brand are widespread not only in Europe, but also in Asia. Hinges differ from GVS:
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| Russian manufacturer of furniture fittings. For the manufacture of canopies with closers, high-quality materials are used. The manufacturer claims that its products are resistant to:
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| Bloom | An Austrian manufacturer producing high quality fittings. The hinges are different:
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| A German furniture manufacturer that offers consumers a wide range of high-quality furniture hinges with various functionality. Hettich produces guides with a closer for quick and slide-on installation, with the possibility of spatial adjustment. Good reliability indicators are ensured:
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| The Spanish manufacturer, which has been operating for more than 55 years, produces high-quality furniture fittings. INDAUX has its own development department, thanks to which the range of soft-close hinges is regularly updated. Manufactured parts comply with European standards - they constantly undergo quality checks. |
It is better to choose accessories only from proven popular manufacturers
Purpose of awnings with closers
Such fittings are widely used in furniture production today. Thanks to the self-closing design, the furniture will retain its appearance during long-term use and will become less susceptible to any damage.
The hinged door closer can be installed on a variety of furniture
Table 2. Designs that are most often equipped with self-closing hinges
| Furniture type | Description |
| Bedroom | It can be:
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| Kitchen | This is furniture by type:
|
| For living room, children's room | Desks and various cabinets can be protected from damage. The child will be able to close the doors without slamming them. |
| Office | Often, hinges with a closer are equipped with:
|
| Trading | Often such fittings can be seen on glass display cases. Typically, glass cabinets and display cases are installed in commercial establishments to display goods. To install hinges to such furniture, additional frames made of aluminum profiles are used. It is not recommended to install hinges directly on the glass itself. You will have to make holes for the fittings, which is why the rather fragile material may lose its strength qualities. The metal frame will make the design more hopeful. |
Adjusting the location of the hinges does not cause difficulties even for a person who has never worked with furniture fittings
How to choose
The furniture fittings market offers a wide range of hinges of various types of application, configuration and size. Hinges with a four-hinged overhead type closer with an installation hole for a 35 mm bowl are considered standard. These are universal hinges used for the production of cabinet furniture. When choosing accessories, take into account the quality of the products and the filling of the closer (gas is more economical, oil and silicone liquid are more reliable). Among the world's manufacturers of hinges, the recognized leaders are:
- Blum - characterized by three-dimensional adjustment of the facade in plane and space, equipped with a short mounting strip to simplify installation;
- Hettich - high quality materials and assembly of hinges and damper mechanisms. They are characterized by a long service life, durability and reliable fixation;
- GTV - the manufacturer's hinges show good results in terms of durability and smooth movement of façade elements. Do not require complex installation and adjustment;
- Boyard - products of a domestic manufacturer have conquered the market thanks to the high quality of hinges with closing, a wide range of fittings and the affordability of products.
If the manufacturer is not indicated on the product, you should not rely on the quality and reliability of such hinges. An important indicator is the parameter declared by the manufacturer - the number of closing/opening cycles of the valves. The optimal value is 60,000-200,000 times. The owner of the furniture can confidently open and close doors hung on hinges with a lock every day, the spring mechanism will not fail.
Types of hinges with closer
Manufacturers try to regularly update the fittings they produce, which is why there is a huge variety of furniture hinges on the modern market. Today there are 3 main types of loops that are especially popular.
An example of what door closers look like
Table 3. Types of hinges with closer
| View | Description |
| Standard | The closer in such hinges is built into the arm connected to the bowl. Externally, they are distinguished by a complex shoulder design and have a spring-like shape. |
| With built-in shock absorber | They allow you to adjust the degree of shock absorber force - closing the door can be made fast or slow, it all depends on the weight and size of the facade. Also, these hinges come with full or partial “absorption” of energy upon impact with the body. |
| With overhead door closer | The main advantage of such hinges is that the closer is a separate structure and can be purchased without the canopy itself. Such hinges can be removed and installed at any time, however, during installation you need to take into account the manufacturer (both structural elements, hinges and closer, must be the same). If the door is held by three canopies, then the damper can be installed alone, on top or bottom. Overhead closers are:
|
Shock absorbers (dampers) for furniture can be installed together with conventional and complex hinges (with a closer). They prevent the door from slamming by absorbing the impact. Thanks to shock absorbers, any furniture will close silently. Dampers for furniture are:
- invoices;
- mortise.
A damper is an excellent addition to self-closing hinges
. They can be:
- screw or glue to one of the surfaces of the cabinet;
- cut into the end of the housing.
Features of hinges with closer
This type of fittings is actively used in furniture production instead of conventional hinges. The entire design of this part is a canopy with a shock absorber, which allows you to smoothly open and close the doors.
All types of canopies are different:
- type;
- size;
- configurations;
- purpose.
The most common type of closers that are found on almost any modern furniture.
The main difference between a hinge with a closer and a regular one is its silent, smooth operation. When closing the door there will be no bang or impact, thanks to which the furniture is protected from mechanical damage.
Inside the hinge body there is a spring with a characteristic filling. It could be:
- oily;
- with silicone medium;
- gas.
Doors with such canopies can be opened at different angles, for example 180 or 270 degrees. It all depends on:
- type of furniture;
- the width to which the cabinet needs to be opened.
Thanks to these hinges, doors can be opened to any width.
The principle of operation of the design
When the doors are closed, the special contents of the spring begin to flow into the sleeve located in the closer capsule. When the loop is acted upon, the liquid begins to move, activating the piston. The door closing speed can be adjusted.
Advantages of hinges with a closer
If you need to equip furniture with high-quality fittings, then you cannot do without hinges with a closer. This part has a lot of advantages over its analogues. Among the advantages, we can highlight:
- silent, smooth operation of doors;
- high operating period;
- possibility of installation even on massive, heavy doors;
- high-quality fasteners on the facade;
- ease of adjustment;
- big variety;
- various manufacturers;
- the design is protected from leakage of working fluid.
A canopy with a closer is a more practical solution than conventional hinges
Operating principle
The mechanism inside the hinge structure acts as a shock absorber. The internal spring itself will not provide the required result. For this reason, a piston was provided for the hinges. It moves under the influence of pressure exerted by the liquid during the transition towards the closer capsule. Such a medium initially contains a spring. The slowdown of its operation (compression, extension) is ensured due to the viscous medium (oil).
The closer is distinguished by its functionality, as it also works in the closing mode. At the same time, the door response speed decreases or, conversely, increases. When the door is in the open position, it rests against the protruding part of the closer. To close the cabinet, more significant force is applied to the canvas. In this case, the lumen of the channel for the outflow of the piston decreases. Door closers of all types operate on the basis of this mechanism.
There are devices that operate on the basis of a gaseous medium. In this case, no oil is used. The function of a viscous medium is performed by gas. Such models of door closers operate effectively, but in most cases they do not work for long, which is due to their insufficiently reliable design.
Nuances when choosing hinges with a closer
It is impossible to say unequivocally which brand of furniture hinges will be better. Each type of fittings is manufactured in accordance with the established requirements of GOST. Typically, the lifespan of furniture hinges starts at 20,000 cycles (opening and closing). However, this figure may vary depending on the load on the fittings. Most modern manufacturers produce canopies that have an average cycle life of 80,000.
When choosing hinges for furniture, it is better to focus on the manufacturer rather than on GOST indicators
It is better to choose hinges from well-known brands. It is not recommended to pay attention to Chinese manufacturers, since there are similar types of fittings that have a relatively low cost and high quality.
It is important to consider the thickness of the material from which the loops are made. If the metal is thick, the entire structure will be heavy, and vice versa. Thin metal, while outwardly presentable, will turn out to be of lower quality, especially if the doors are massive (the hinges are deformed under the weight of the facade).
The material from which the hinges are made must be of high quality
You can also rely on the seller's recommendations. It is unlikely that large stores will sell frankly low-quality accessories, since they are all sales-oriented. A bad part can only be sold once - the buyer will never return to the store.
Manufacturing materials
High-quality fittings for opening/closing furniture doors, mainly made of cold-rolled steel. A hinge with a closer may have a lock. A durable alloy of zinc, copper and aluminum is used for its manufacture. To increase the anti-corrosion properties of the material, surface brass plating is used. For decorative purposes, hinges with closers are coated with enamels that imitate bronze, chrome, nickel, and gold. The main elements of the loop are:
- platform for mounting on the body;
- a strike plate with a cup or overlay on the facade;
- movable hinges with a spring mechanism;
- integrated type damper (built-in);
- shock absorber as an additional option (not built-in).
Depending on the purpose, hinges with closers may have a different structure and composition of materials from which the fittings are made. For glass doors there is no hinge bowl; operation is provided by movable hinges with a spring mechanism, and there is an additional lining (o-ring) made of synthetic material. World-famous manufacturers of hinges use high-quality high-strength steel for the manufacture of fastening fittings, so the service life of products is measured in years.
Each manufacturer specifies guaranteed opening/closing cycles for doors on hinges with closers.
Myths about installing furniture hinges with a closer
Quite often on the Internet you can find “life hacks” that allow you to save money or time when installing hinges. However, such recommendations are not always justified, and in some cases, they can even be harmful.
Not every “life hack” will be useful
Myth one
Closers are not suitable for all doors in the kitchen, but only for the most frequently used ones. This is a rather dubious recommendation. The fact is that you always get used to good things quickly. If you have already developed a habit of a certain type of opening doors, which also close smoothly and silently, then all other facades in the house will close with some “go-ahead”. At such moments, irritation will arise. Therefore, you should not limit yourself, install such accessories on any desired furniture, because their cost is not so high.
You can install fittings in the form of self-closing hinges on almost all furniture
Myth two
To save money, it is better to combine different types of fittings on doors, installing one of the hinges equipped with a closer, and the second without it. This is a wrong recommendation. The fittings installed on the door must belong to the same category, and preferably be produced by the same manufacturer. The fact is that the mechanism of action and rigidity of hinges with a closer and conventional ones are different. If initially after installation there are no problems with setting up the awnings, then after a few days of operation they will certainly appear, for example, deformation, skewed doors.
Saving on accessories such as hinges can negatively affect the reliability of the entire structure
The only justifiable saving option is to install regular hinges on a façade that opens upwards and has a locking mechanism. The fact is that such a mechanism will not allow the closers to function normally, so ordinary hinges are more appropriate in this case.
Self-installation of overhead awnings
Installing hinges is not difficult; anyone can do it. Therefore, it is not necessary to call a specialist to carry out the installation.
Step No. 1 – preparing tools
An important step when installing hinges is preparing the workplace and tools. For installation you will need:
- pencil with ruler;
- drill;
- cutter of appropriate diameter;
- screwdriver;
- set of screws;
- building level.
The diameter of the cutter should be similar to the size of the cut part of the hinges
Step No. 2 – marking and preparation for installation
First you need to mark the area for the awnings, following simple recommendations.
- Hinges should be placed no closer than 2 centimeters from the edge of the door.
- The distance from the top and bottom edges of the loops should be no more than 12 centimeters.
- If more than two canopies are installed, the middle one must be placed strictly between the upper and lower ones.
- There should be no obstructions, such as shelves, in the places where the hinges will be located.
Making the marking is quite simple - you need to attach the loop to the desired location for further installation and outline it with a pencil.
If the distance between the hole and the edge of the door is too small, the furniture may be damaged during use.
Step No. 3 – installation process
The installation process of each loop occurs according to the following algorithm.
- First you need to put the cutter on the drill, then use it to make a hole on the prepared marking.
- Now you need to insert the canopy into the connector and check the tightness of the fixation. If everything is good, you can proceed to the next step.
- Using a screwdriver, make holes for the screws.
- Secure the loop in the socket with self-tapping screws.
- Screw the second part of the hinge to the door.
Installation work with hinges does not require much time or effort; you just need to follow the recommendations in the instructions.
Such manipulations must be repeated with each installed hinge. If all recommendations are followed, the fittings will hold the door securely.
Recommendations for installing furniture hinges
Video - Furniture hinges with a closer. Installation
Installation Rules
When it is planned to place a powerful closer on a lifting door, the main part of the structure (piston) is placed on the stationary part of the cabinet. The remaining elements of the device are fixed to the door. To install an overhead door closer, you must follow the instructions:
- The area of the door and the cabinet wall is marked. The closer is installed at a distance of at least 20 mm from the edge (adjacent to the fixed part of the furniture). 120 mm depart from the upper/lower edge of the canvas.
- When installing, take into account the possibility of movement of the top drawer. Nothing should interfere with him.
- A cut-in is made along the marked lines: excess material is removed with a milling cutter, which allows the hinge bowl to be positioned.
- At the last stage, the product is fixed with self-tapping screws at different points.
What materials are furniture hinges made from?
When choosing accessories, pay attention not only to appearance, but also to compliance with safety standards. All fasteners that perform a connecting function are manufactured for different types of furniture. You should focus on your product, where such fittings will be installed. For the production of connecting mechanisms the following is often used:
- steel;
- brass.
Steel hinges with a closer are considered one of the most reliable.
The choice of such materials is completely justified and understandable. Steel and brass:
- durable materials;
- resistant to the destructive effects of corrosion;
- have a good slip rate;
- withstand heavy loads during operation.
Many are attracted not only by these characteristics, but also by the ability to easily and independently install these elements. The hinges are also highly adjustable. The proposed connecting structures allow you to adjust the façade of all furniture in several planes:
- vertical;
- horizontal.
A variety of hinges allows you to choose fittings for a specific type of furniture
Alternative solutions
See also
How to update an old cabinet with your own hands: brilliant ideas for a master
If we don’t talk specifically about closers for kitchen units, varieties of which have already been presented, other devices that perform similar functions are used in furniture production.
Here you should pay attention to the following products:
- Lifting mechanisms
. Designed for hinged doors that open downwards or upwards. They are not used on a regular swing door. There are spring, as well as spring-oil, just gas and advanced electric. If you are interested, you can read about lifting mechanisms in our previous material; - Gas elevators
. There will be no strong emphasis. There is also a detailed article about gas elevators from your humble servant. I will say one thing that there will be a smooth opening effect; - Dampers
. But you won’t believe it. I also already wrote about furniture dampers. This is the easiest option to cheaply make your kitchen cabinet silent. But the “soft closing” effect itself is absent here
What to choose among this, you will decide for yourself.
Lifting mechanism
Read, look, compare the features of their work and ease of use.
Of course, there are certain types of door closers designed directly for installation on a drawer.
How to adjust hinges
After installation work, it is important to adjust the closer mechanism and hinges. Thanks to the correct adjustment, the facade will fit tightly to the body or, on the contrary, will be loosened. The adjustment provides:
- presentable appearance of the structure;
- equal gaps between all parts.
Correctly adjusted hinges are the key to a reliable design.
When setting up the fittings, you need to consider the following nuances.
- Furniture must be installed relative to the level. If it has legs, leveling it will be easy. First, the gap is adjusted vertically, and then vertically. This adjustment helps to set the necessary gaps if it is not possible to install the furniture clearly in level.
- The easiest way to adjust the hinges is with a screwdriver. There will be two screws on the canopy body, which are responsible for the diagonally opposite corners of the facade. By turning the screw closest to the edge, you can turn the sash left or right.
- To adjust the height, you need to turn the screws located on the furniture body. To do this, they are weakened, then the desired height of the facade is set, and then fixed again. To make this adjustment, it is also better to use a screwdriver.
- To get rid of the gaps that appear between the doors and the body, you need to make adjustments along the plane. If the upper edge of the facade is not held tightly, you need to turn the second bolt on the lower hinge. If the problem is with the bottom edge, the screw on the top hinge should be adjusted.
Hinge adjustment example
Video - Adjusting a furniture hinge with a closer
Nuances of adjustment
If necessary, the loops are adjusted. This allows you to change the speed of the door movement. The simplest option is to move the canvas under its own weight. This ensures its smooth closing without human intervention. The speed can be adjusted up or down. A Phillips screwdriver is used for this purpose. Adjustment recommendations:
- first adjust the position of the door in the vertical plane, then in the horizontal plane;
- It may be necessary to adjust the level of the furniture itself; if necessary, it is adjusted;
- to level the canvas in height, proceed to changing the position of the fasteners on the fixed part of the cabinet;
- There should be no gap left between the door leaf and the furniture structure; for this, bolts on the closer body are used.
The advantage of such devices is the ability to perform three-dimensional adjustments - in different planes. Adjustment allows you to hide various defects: unevenness of the floor, load-bearing structures of the object. Thanks to this, the straight line of the facades helps to visually correct defects in other coatings in the room.
However, significant curvature of the floor and walls cannot be hidden in this way. Further use of furniture on these surfaces will lead to damage to the closer, and the doors will become deformed along with it. For this reason, furniture should be placed on a prepared floor.
