On 12/11/2004 5:32 PM US(ET), Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott took
fingers to keys, and typed the following:

On 12/11/2004 2:00 PM willshak wrote:

On 12/11/2004 4:26 PM US(ET), Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott took
fingers to keys, and typed the following:

(Cross-posted to rec.woodworking, alt.home.repair)


snip

I have a sketch of the kind of hinge I'd like to use -- it's like
that 2'' utility hinge but with one long leaf, folded back. The
local HD and Lowe's have no such thing, and it may not exist. Please
see my admittedly crude drawing at

http://users.adelphia.net/~elliottfamily/hinge.gif




I don't know why you can't screw the loose pin hinges into the end of
the MDF. Just use longer screws to catch more material.
But here's a look at some like your drawing:
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/cabinet_hinge_types.php


Great page to help the newbie w/ hinges! Those hinges -- like the
overlay hinges -- seem to throw the knuckle forward into the room, and
I want this door to have as close to hidden hinges as possible. That's
why something like a regular utility hinge with folded-back wing on
the frame side seems so attractive, because the knuckle will lay
against the wall.

But onto your suggestion about just mounting into the edge of the MDF.
The cabinet door won't be super-heavy, just a 17'' wide by 28'' tall
poplar frame w/ 1/8'' mirror glass in it. But given that most of my
woodworking projects show the hand -- and foot -- of my craftsmanship,
I would not be surprised to have the MDF split when installing the
screws, even with careful pre-drilling. Or see one of the hinges come
loose a few years down the road. Screwing through the side of the
frame rather than into the edge just seems more secure. Or maybe I'm
just ascribing to MDF the weakness of particle board?

If you are going to use the 1/2" hinge screws into the MDF ends, then
yes, they may pull out. But, you are going into the MDF at its greatest
depth. You can use 1-1/2" or longer screws and probably be able to hang
yourself from the doors, or at least bend the hinges trying. :-).