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Need advice on cabinet doors hinged from top

2K views 13 replies 6 participants last post by  JennyMM 
#1 ·
I've exhausted my research, hope someone can help. I'm making glass doors for a cabinet housing my sound equipment, want the doors to open from the top, one for each shelf. Would be about 12" x 32" each, 3 of them. No frame. I would like the doors to open upward and stay up until I closed them.

I've looked at all kinds of hardware including lift-up and stay-up hinges (some pretty expensive considering I'd need 6 of them). Thought about modifications on drop-table hinges. I've thought about using rails (like drawer slides) so the door would rise up and then could slide into the cabinet on the rails. Blum has a lot of hardware hinge options but can't find anything at a reasonable price that would keep the door up/open. Doors will go on a simple frameless cabinet, will be similar to old antique library units.

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist? There's got to be a solution that won't break the bank. Any advice is appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Look for "torsion hinges" "torque hinges" or "toy box hinges". These are hinges with resistance, designed to stay in whatever position you put them.

This is obviously not the ideal solution for you, but it would work. I bought three heavy duty torsion hinges for a future project - a bathroom mirror that hangs at an angle below a window that is above the sinks. The mirror will allow adjustable angles so people of different heights can use it easily.

It isn't much, but it is all I can offer. I hope this helps.
 
#6 · (Edited)
#13 ·
This is a Lawyer's bookcase where the doors have pins on the top corners which follow a routed track along the bottom of the shelves:


From Rockler:
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/...-for-lawyer-39-s-bookcase-paper-plan-no-700hk

More Images:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/sea...cc0010c6/detail.jpg?c=1480923612&action=close
Yes, exactly what my first thought was, just didn't know how to proceed. Unfortunately the cabinet is already built so I'm not sure if and how I could route out a groove. There should be enough headroom for sliding the doors in though. I thought I might need something like drawer slides mounted in there. I will look at your links. Any further suggestions would be appreciated.

P.S., I have a 1/4" straight bit that could do the groove (but it doesn't have a bearing), and rabbet bits.
 

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#8 ·
#9 ·
I think in order to make those hinges work like the stack bookcases you would have to run a dado at the top for the pin to fit into that stopped short of coming through the front. Then when you slid the door back something would have to hold the door up in the front. I thought about a small wheel like on a pocket door but the hinge itself would hit the wheel.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I'm thinking the easiest (maybe best) way to do this is to use gas stay hinges, one per door, and hinges. Like this: 4 for $13.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KPW4YQI/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2LQF8G71HFM3F&colid=2UE003LVTR35B&psc=1

For hinges, I could use anything but am hoping the soft-close would work ... and want some adjustable to be able to properly align the doors to the cabinet. Like these? Only $5.99/pair.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073VVWBB4/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3BBLQBGHWO4RV&colid=2UE003LVTR35B&psc=1
Or these: https://www.amazon.com/Blum-38N355B...rd_wg=RdBko&psc=1&refRID=X97QPDTTJM3E0DN0XM77

Any thoughts out there? Thanks much!
 
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