Super heavy duty Tee hinges?

Mark A · 13 May 2013 at 14:08

hola,

I'm adding a door to the rear of my shed, to make it a pair of doors (as I have already made one door). The hinges I used were a pair I removed from a big garage door we removed at work. They are really heavy duty 18" ones, with a 4mm leaf thickness and the pin actually fits!

Been looking online and also went to B&Q, screwfix, Howdens and Wickes and they all sold what I'd consider to be very badly made medium duty Tee hinges. The main problem is that the pins don't fit very well and this will lead to the door catching on the top or bottom etc, as I have made the door with a 5mm gap at the top and bottom.

So, anyone know where I might get some hinges that are decent quality, with no play in them? Or are the ones I already have one of a kind and now they're all just imported from China?

SB118 · 13 May 2013 at 14:09

Toolstation?

Mark A · 13 May 2013 at 14:16

The ones on screwfix appear to be cheaply made as one of the comments says there is a lot of play in the hinge.

Looked at the ones on toolstation and they don't give enough detail about it. I will email them to ask what the leaf thickness is, but doubt they will go and check.

Thanks.

SB118 · 13 May 2013 at 14:38

The 450mm medium duty hinges (biggest of the zinc plated stuff) are 2mm thick. Just measured the ones I bought yesterday

Mark A · 13 May 2013 at 16:12

Thanks, so i'd imagine the heavy duty ones will be 3mm. Do they seem well made?

I have just found a place that does Extra heavy duty hinges, but the 450mm is out of stock and they come with a heavy duty price tag as well.

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/MTL9497620K

£27 inc del for the 450mm, which is over twice the price of regular heavy duty hinges

. I'm not too bothered about going for a slightly lower weight hinge, as long as it's well made and there is no play.

SB118 · 13 May 2013 at 16:36

They seem to be a solid build, there's no wiggle on the pin.

Nightglow · 13 May 2013 at 16:39

If it's a heavy door, then use 3 T hinges per door.

Use these T hinge, found nothing wrong with them.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Iro...edium+Duty+Tee+Hinge+450mm/d170/sd3274/p98708

Mark A · 13 May 2013 at 19:42

Thanks guys. i think i'll get the heavy duty ones from Toolstation then. Ideally I wanted them to match on both sides, but it's only on the back of the shed so doesn't really matter.

It's not a heavy door, but I want it as secure as possible with it being at the rear of the shed. I have also put 3 dog bolts on the hinge side and put a few stainless bolts through the hinges, so if they do manage to pop the pins out they still cant get the door open.

bitslice · 13 May 2013 at 21:30

The problem with the T hinges is they wear just like cheap hinges and the door will drop out of alignment after a while. Add a bit of rust and this wear rate increases.

If you get stainless ball bearing hinges instead, they will never wear out and they will turn like liquid silk. It might look like you are losing some strength, but really the hinge screws are the weak point anyway, so just use mahoosive 100mm ones to secure (or 250mm joist screws for overkill).

You can break a T hinge with a crowbar, but nothing is ever going to break a ball bearing hinge.

They are a couple of quid more expensive, but try them on a bathroom door and you will see how nice they are to live with.

/

Mark A · 14 May 2013 at 04:40

I was thinking about just putting some decent butt hinges on, but then it might look a bit odd with the other side having big 18" Tee hinges on.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/security-hinge-grade-13-satin-stainless-steel-102-x-102mm-pack-of-2/52484

These would be perfect actually, but they are out of stock and can't seem to find them anywhere else

. I'd need 102mm x 102mm hinges, to clear the 16mm cladding.

bitslice · 14 May 2013 at 09:40

Oh I haven't seen them with integral security bolts before, I like those, thanks for the spot

Nightglow · 14 May 2013 at 09:50

bitslice said:
Oh I haven't seen them with integral security bolts before, I like those, thanks for the spot

Even better than using seperate hinge bolts, didn't even know Screwfix stocked these hinges.

Mark A · 14 May 2013 at 17:39

I hadn't seen them before either. Shame the 102mm x 102mm isnt available, it would have been perfect.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320863084036?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I'll probably get this one and might try and drill and tap one side and put a M8 countersunk machine bolt in, then drill a hole at the other side. Should do the same job as the proper security hinge then.

Thanks for the help guys. I think this is actually a much more secure solution than the Tee hinge and like you say it should hold up much better to wear with the ball bearings.

Nightglow · 14 May 2013 at 19:07

Have a look for Carlisle Brass, they do Security hinges, has a 120kg loading,which are the same type as Screwfix ones.

http://www.housegoblin.co.uk/produc...knuckle_security_stainless_steel_hinge_102x76

Mark A · 14 May 2013 at 20:27

They're 102 x76 x 2.5mm, needs to be 102 x 102 ideally, otherwise i'll have to put 2 of the screws into the cladding. Or set the hinge further back and notch out for the knuckle. I'll have a look in a min and see if I can get away with using a 102x76.

Have found a few that are 102 x 102, but none anywhere that have the security bolt. But I'm not too bothered about that as I will be putting 3 hinge bolts on anyway.

Nightglow · 14 May 2013 at 20:43

Mark A said:
They're 102 x76 x 2.5mm, needs to be 102 x 102 ideally, otherwise i'll have to put 2 of the screws into the cladding. Or set the hinge further back and notch out for the knuckle. I'll have a look in a min and see if I can get away with using a 102x76.

Have found a few that are 102 x 102, but none anywhere that have the security bolt. But I'm not too bothered about that as I will be putting 3 hinge bolts on anyway.

http://www.pickardhardware.com/102m....html?osCsid=f717961c103b7cdea2639657665c9fb4