Butt Hinges
Butt hinges are a type of hinge with rectangular parts, which fasten to two separate, parallel parts that close on each other, thus connecting them and allowing for swinging movement up to 180 degrees. One of the two most common types of recessed (or mortised) hinges, butt hinges do not necessarily have to be mortised and can be surface-mounted as well.
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Applications of Butt Hinges
Compared to any other hinge, the butt hinge is by far the simplest in design, most affordable, and used most often for hinge applications. Butt hinges are typically used to hang and swing doors, cabinets, gates, trunks, chests, and other common items that open and close.
As the premier type of hinge used in furniture applications, butt hinges are used to mount interior and exterior doors, cabinets, and more in residential, construction, commercial, public, architectural, military, marine, and other industrial contexts. When used for commercial and residential furniture applications, butt hinges are usually constructed from steel, though butt hinges for exterior doors may also be made of brass or stainless steel for high corrosion resistance.
For residential cabinetry, butt hinges can be made of more aesthetically-pleasing materials, such as satin nickel, antique brass, polished nickel, and satin brass. For industrial applications, heavy duty butt hinges are required and are most often constructed from such materials as steel, stainless steel, and brass. Aluminum butt hinges are mainly used for lightweight applications.
Butt Hinge Design and Customization
The hinge is made up of two leaves attached to two adjoining parallel parts. The leaves are bent together at their edges to create knuckles, which a pin is inserted into to secure the two leaves together, allowing for movement to take place. This pin can either be loose or fixed depending on the application. A loose pin allows the two pieces to be separated without removing the hinge from the object. These are commonly used on interior doors of a home for easy removal and reattachment. Fixed pins are secure and will not come out as their name suggests. Gates and garage doors are common places for this type of hinge to be found, as they are more permanent fixtures that are not often tampered with.
Hinges can be decorative and match any other hardware mounted on a particular piece. A variety of lengths and thicknesses are available to get the right combination of strength and durability for any application. Manufacturers typically create hinges with pre-drilled screw patterns to accommodate fasteners easily for quick placement.
Materials Used in Manufacturing Butt Hinges
Butt hinges are made out of various materials, including brass, copper, stainless steel, bronze, titanium and more. They can be used indoors and outdoors. However, when using them outdoors, a corrosion and rust-resistant material should be chosen to lengthen the life of the hinge. Materials for butt hinges are typically extruded for additional tensile strength and then drilled and cut to shape.