How to Change Exposed Cabinet Hinges to Hidden？A Step-by-Step Guide

Tired of traditional exposed hinges that detract from the overall aesthetic of your cabinets? Upgrading to concealed cabinet hinges (hidden hinges) instantly elevates your cabinet doors to a more modern look and streamlined lines! Оборудование Baoertai, a professional custom cabinet hinge manufacturer, provides detailed replacement steps and explains the advantages of our high-quality wholesale cabinet hinges, making the upgrade easy!

Tools and Materials:

• New concealed hinges (must match the door overlay type/overlay – full, half, or inset)
• Electric drill
• 35mm Forstner bit – Baoertai recommends!
• Hinge mounting jig – precision is key!
• Screwdriver
• Wood Filler
• Sandpaper
• Matching paint or finish
• (Optional) Offset Screwdriver Attachment – for tight spaces

Measure & Select Hinges:

• Remove an old hinge.
• Determine Overlay Type: Measure the dimensions of the overlay side panel when the door is closed. This determines whether you need a full overlay hinge, a half overlay hinge, or an inset hinge.
• Measure Door Thickness: Ensure it’s at least 19mm (3/4″), the minimum requirement for concealed hinges.
• Select New Hinge: Choose the appropriate concealed hinge based on the overlay type, thickness, and whether a damping feature is required. Baoertai Hardware offers a full range of custom overlay types, opening and closing angles, and features (such as a wide 165° angle and integrated damping)!

Removing Old Exposed Hinges:

• Carefully remove all screws connecting the door panel to the side panels.
• Remove the door panel and all old hinge components and store them separately. Be careful to protect the edges of the door panel.

Preparing the Door Panel and Drilling the Hinge Cup Holes:

• Using a Template for Positioning: Attach the dedicated drill template (Hinge Mounting Jig) precisely to the inside edge of the door panel. The template will indicate the center position and depth of the 35mm cup hole.
• Drilling: Using a 35mm Forstner bit, drill a blind hole approximately 12-13mm deep (refer to the hinge instructions for the exact depth) on the inside edge of the door panel. The drill template and Protech’s high-precision drill bit are essential for ensuring the hole is straight and has a consistent depth.

Drill Screw Holes:

• Holding the template in place, use a drill bit of the appropriate size (usually 3mm or 1/8″) to drill the screw holes for the new hinge bases through the pilot holes in the template. Be careful to control the depth.

Attach Hinges to the Door:

• Place the cupped portion of the concealed hinge into the newly drilled holes.
• Use the provided self-tapping screws to secure the hinges to the door panel through the holes drilled in Step 4. Ensure the hinges are flush with the edge of the door panel.

Frame Preparation & Fill Old Holes:

• Fill Old Holes: Carefully fill the screw holes and grooves in the framing where the exposed hinges were previously located using high-quality wood filler.
• Sanding: After the filler has dried, carefully sand it until it is completely smooth and flush with the framing surface. Clean any dust from the surface. (If necessary) Finishing: If repainting or painting is necessary, this should be done before installing the new door panel to ensure the best appearance.

Mounting the Door to the Frame:

• Replace the door panel with the new concealed hinge roughly into its original position.
• Align the other hinge part (base or arm) with the rim (usually about 37mm from the front edge of the door panel).
• First, drill a small pilot hole in the rim (to prevent the wood from splitting).
• Securely fasten the hinge arm/base to the rim using suitable screws. (A punching rod/flexible shaft tool can be used in narrow spaces.)
• Don’t fully tighten all the screws yet.

Fine Adjustment & Finishing:

• Three-Dimensional Adjustment: Use the adjustment screws on the concealed hinge (usually located at the junction of the hinge arm and the cup) to carefully adjust:
• Up and Down Adjustment: Correct for any discrepancies in the door panel’s height. Left-right adjustment: Adjusts the gap width between the door and side panels.
• Depth adjustment (in/out): Ensures the door is flush with the cabinet surface or slightly concave or convex when closed.
• Once the door gap is even, opens and closes smoothly, and stays in place when closed, tighten all fixing screws.
• Inspect the repaired holes and apply touch-up paint if necessary for final touches.

Professional Advice:

• A template is essential: Manually measuring and drilling holes is prone to errors. A dedicated drilling template is a key investment to ensure consistent hole placement across all door panels and a neat finish after installation.
• Measuring the cover type is essential: Choosing the wrong cover type can result in doors that don’t close properly or unsightly gaps.
• High-quality putty is crucial: The quality of the wood putty/repair compound determines the visibility and durability of the repair.
• Consider a damping upgrade: Concealed damping hinges (soft-close concealed hinges) can significantly improve the user experience and are a highlight of high-end projects.
• Professional Help: If you’re unsure about the procedure or the installation involves valuable cabinetry, hiring a professional cabinet installer is a wise choice.

Резюме

Upgrading from exposed hinges to concealed hinges is an investment that can significantly enhance the aesthetics and modernity of your cabinetry. The key lies in choosing the right type (and coverage) of concealed hinges, using a dedicated 35mm cup hole drill bit and drilling template to ensure precise drilling, and meticulously patching the old holes and adjusting the new hinges. While DIY is possible, attention to detail and specialized tools are key.

Оборудование Baoertai is dedicated to providing high-quality, customizable, and bulk-produced concealed cabinet hinges and other hardware solutions to customers worldwide. Whether it’s a personal upgrade, a custom designer project, or bulk hardware procurement for a cabinet manufacturer, we have the capabilities and service to meet your needs. Contact us for samples and wholesale catalogs to explore the precision hardware that will make your cabinets stand out!

FAQ