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 |
GTV | 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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Boyard | 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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Hettich | 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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INDAUX | 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:
|
| 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
Scope of application
The design of almost any item, including lids or doors, also contains hinges. The shock absorber and door closer in this device are not mandatory, but desirable elements, although they are often used separately:
- In wardrobes where hinges are not needed, but a closer is useful.
- In shelves and drawers that open upward, where the closers (aka shock absorbers) are usually more massive, and the hinges are standard.
- In display cases and other glass furniture, where recessed hinges are not used.
You can often find interior items with doors made of glass, which is enclosed in a wooden or metal frame. Such a frame, especially one made of wood, is quite suitable for cutting the installation cup of the hinge into it.
Most other products need hinges with a closing device, for example, children's wardrobes or desks, the doors of which fall off due to careless use. Also included in this category are office and commercial furniture and kitchen sets.
Types of accessories for upholstered furniture, functionality and characteristics
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:
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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.
The 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
Peculiarities
The main difference between furniture hinges with a closer is the silent and smooth closing of the door leaves. Each product is equipped with an auxiliary device (closer or shock absorber), which allows you to fix the furniture facade to the body carefully, without slamming. The hinge body contains a spring filled with oil, gas or a viscous medium. Depending on the type of loop application, the fittings can be overhead, semi-overlay, or internal. Undoubted advantages of the design with a closer:
- silent and smooth closing of doors. A slight force is enough for the sash to close neatly. In this case, the door does not hit the furniture body;
- increasing the service life of furniture. It is impossible to slam a door equipped with a closer, which prevents mechanical damage to the door leaf;
- the fittings can withstand significant loads, so massive facades can be installed on furniture products. The closer is securely secured inside the hinge with screws or latches;
- The hinge mechanism can be adjusted to ensure a tight fit between the door and the body. No professional tools are required for adjustment;
- the filling of the cylinder with the spring is isolated by a fuse against the leakage of oil or working fluid, so if the hinge fails, the mixture does not fall on the furniture surface.
By adjusting the closer valves, the closing speed of furniture doors is increased or decreased. With a little force (push the door slightly enough), the door closes under its own weight. When the doors are closed, the liquid covering the spring flows into the closer capsule sleeve. The narrowing (expansion) of the fluid outflow channel causes the piston to move. Adjusting the valves sets the speed of movement of the piston element and controls the time for complete closing of the doors.
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.
Hinges for aluminum doors produced by KM-TECH
Closer hinges from this manufacturer are also installed in doors made of aluminum profile systems. Like the previous type of fittings, they have controlled self-closing and are endowed with the functions of hinges and hinged closers at the same time. As a rule, a “damper hinge” is installed in one sash, in addition to which “spring hinges” are installed in the amount of one or two, depending on the weight of the leaf.
Hinges for doors made of aluminum profiles organically combine the properties of hinges and door 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.
Tips for choosing
The brand and country of origin testify to the quality of furniture hinges with closers in the same way as when choosing any other product. When purchasing, it is advisable to pay attention to the nuances that are noticeable to the naked eye:
- weight of hinges with closer;
- smoothness and clarity of movement of moving parts;
- absence of play in the operation of the hinge itself, as well as the closer;
- no chips, cracks, scratches;
- evenness, smoothness of the coating;
- Aesthetic, reliable packaging.
It will be useful to study the documents: instructions for the hinges, passports, warranty cards. Solid hieroglyphs probably won’t say anything good. In addition, a manufacturer who cares about its reputation will not hide the true place of manufacture of its product. Nevertheless, there are products whose passport does not indicate either the city or the plant.
Hinges, hinges, closers, shock absorbers without a factory mark, engraving or at least a sticker do not deserve much trust.
Perhaps one of the most serious indicators is the cost of hinges with a closer. A high-quality German item, for example, cannot cost the same as Chinese consumer goods. Although decent products from the latter country are no longer uncommon. The following manufacturers are popular:
- Boyard (Russia) has been making hinges with closers and other furniture fittings for decades. The products combine accessibility, acceptable quality, and a wide range.
- Blum (Russia) is a company that produces technologically advanced furniture fittings. Their hinges are designed so that adjustment is possible in three planes, and installation is simplified by a special mounting strip.
- GTV (Poland) - durable fittings for furniture, the class of which is above average, works smoothly and clearly, is easy to install and configure.
- Hettich (Germany) - produces models of hinges from economy class to luxury, including options with a closer. The products are distinguished by the quality of metals and assembly, ease of use, impeccable appearance, and durability.
Types of furniture fasteners, their characteristics and application features
The quality of the hinges is clearly indicated by the warranty period and the specified resource, that is, the number of opening and closing processes. According to Russian GOSTs, 20,000 cycles are considered acceptable; prestigious models can withstand up to 200 thousand.
Bloom
Boyard GTV Hettich
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 loop. If all recommendations are followed, the fittings will hold the door securely.
Recommendations for installing furniture hinges
Video - Furniture hinges with a closer. Installation
Closer hinges
Door hinges that act as automatic closers began to be produced not so long ago. Externally, these products are practically no different from ordinary hinges and are installed according to the same principle as standard analogues. However, due to design features, the dimensions of the loop-closers are larger than conventional models and have a number of significant disadvantages:
- The force exerted on the door being closed is too small, so closing hinges are only capable of closing light doors.
- The hinges cannot support the weight of heavy sashes.
- The operating life of the devices is very small compared to simple loops.
- Installation of specific hinges is quite difficult for untrained craftsmen.
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
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
