How to repair and strengthen chipboard cabinet hinges

Cabinet hinges tend to loosen or fall off over time. This can be preceded by a number of problems and causes. In order to strengthen or repair the hinges from the chipboard cabinet, there are many options. This can be done with epoxy, glue, restoration mortar, sawdust, and more. Let's consider in more detail why the problems arise and how to fix the cabinet door hinges.

The most common problems with furniture hinges

Adjusting the hinges involves properly tightening or loosening their components. It is worth remembering that each hinge consists of several elements. These elements are:

• The hinge foot is an unadjusted part of the hinge that is permanently fastened with two fastening screws to movable doors or furniture fronts.
• Hinge attachment - the second part of the hinge (also screwed on with two screws, but adjustable - fixing the door height), which is attached to the cabinet itself.
• Two adjusting screws - screws located on the hinge of the mount; the first (located deeper in the closet) adjusts the deflection of the door from the furniture, the second (located closer) is used to raise them.

The most common malfunctions of furniture hinges: the door disappears completely, the hinges are torn out by the roots, the fasteners have been deformed, factory defects, frequent disassembly, loosening, improper fit. These problems can occur due to various reasons. From factory defects to poor-quality installation or wear and tear. In this case, it is necessary to restore, strengthen, or simply replace the loop with a new, durable and reliable version.

Possible causes of malfunctions

The reason for each malfunction is different, we will consider each separately:

1. If the door falls off, then the load is too large for the hinge. The reason in this case may be a weak screwing in of screws or self-tapping screws.
2. If the hinges have been torn out completely, then the incorrect depth calculation for the screws was made or the door has a very large weight.
3. When fasteners are deformed, delamination of the wood coating is most often observed. This is due to improper wood processing technology or wear of moving parts.
4. Due to a factory defect, defective fasteners may turn out.
5. If furniture is often disassembled and reassembled, the holes in the seats can no longer hold the fasteners.
6. If the doors are opened carelessly, then loosening occurs. It can cause shear, and as a result, deformation.
7. Incorrect seating can also be the cause of the problem.

How to repair the hinges on the cabinet door with your own hands

In order to repair the hinges or install them, you will need special tools.Your arsenal should include:

• drill;
• screwdriver;
• drills for metal;
• pliers;
• hammer;
• hacksaw;
• construction level, vertical;
• tape measure or ruler;
• pencil;
• hexagon.

You can eliminate the trouble with glue, sawdust, epoxy resin, wood or metal dies, or purchase a new loop.

Chipboard cabinet door repair manual

Long-term use or manufacture of furniture from budget materials, including chipboard, can lead to weakening of loop fittings and even to their breakage. How to repair a chipboard cabinet door? Fortunately, there are easy ways to fix them that will restore the ability to open and close the door smoothly.

Buttonhole position offset

The easiest way to fix a torn hinge is to move it 1 to 2 cm up or down. However, we must remember that in order to change the position, it is necessary both on the door and on the cabinet itself. To make it easier to screw in the new location, it is recommended to first make small holes, which will make it easier to fix the screws.

This method will be a little more problematic in the case of cup hinges, for which we additionally have to cut holes in order to insert the hinge into them. The easiest way to do this is to use a carpenter's chisel. Changing the position of the hinge is associated with leaving unsightly holes after the previous fixation of the entire mechanism. Fortunately, the holes are inside the furniture and will remain invisible to outsiders.

Using glue and sawdust

A less reliable but very quick method is to fill in the hole from which the screws were removed. To do this, we fill it with wood glue with the addition of sawdust or paper. Then we leave the holes for about an hour to let them dry a little, then screw the hinge (without the door) and leave it overnight so that the filled hole completely hardens.

Epoxy resin

Another option is to fix the door. This requires:

1. mix resin with sawdust;
2. close the hole with the resulting solution;
3. leave work for 24 hours to dry everything;
4. drill new holes for self-tapping screws;
5. install the mount;
6. secure the door.

Special repair agent

There are also special tools for repairing hinges. They allow for restoration. If you bought such a tool, then you must:

1. knead the composition;
2. wet the area to be restored;
3. close up the hole and let it dry;
4. install the loop.

Wooden or metal die

A more time consuming method is to use a wooden or metal dowel that we insert into the screw hole. However, the dowel should be slightly wider, so we need to drill a hole the size of the dowel we want to put there. During this operation, you must be very careful not to drill the other side of the furniture and cause further damage.

Then fill the hole with wood glue and insert the dowel into the hole. Then we leave everything for a few hours. When the glue is dry, cut off the protruding part of the dowel to the level of the plate. In addition, you can additionally sand the area with fine-grained emery paper. The last step is to screw the hinges back on. The use of the above method ensures reliable fastening of the hinges for a long time.

Purchasing a new hinge

Purchasing a new hinge is advisable if you do not want to waste your time and energy on repairs. In this case, hinges of a different type and size are bought, then they are installed in a different place. At the same time, the unnecessary hole is covered over, and the new mount is installed lower or higher than the old one.

How to install correctly

In order to correctly install the loop, the following order must be followed:

1. Select the correct distance to place the fittings. If there are defects at the selected distance, the marking is displaced.
2. Apply loops at the selected distance to outline the contour.
3. Using a chisel, cut out a recess similar to the thickness of the metal fittings.
4. Cut the wood for the holes. If you accidentally cut out an unnecessary part, then use special pads.
5. Install the hardware and fix the hinges in the correct position.

If this is the first time you want to install the hinges yourself, then it is best to choose lightweight designs with a simple installation method.

What to do if the door falls off completely

If the cabinet door falls off completely, it means that it has pulled out the hinge. It is possible to find a loop of the same dimensions so that the landing dimensions are the same, and fix them on the wall at a different distance.

Another option is to leave the same loop, but fasten it through and through. However, this will affect the appearance of the structure. Or fill up the holes with any of the above options and proceed with the installation.

Ways to strengthen furniture hinges

If the furniture hinge is loose, then it must be strengthened so that it continues to serve in the future. How to fix the hinges on the cabinet door:

1. Insert a drill into the holes for furniture screws and drill. Careful not to make a through hole. Drill sizes 5 and 10 mm are suitable.
2. We take a stick and make several chopiks of the same size with drilled holes out of it.
3. Fill chopiki and holes with glue. Then we hammer them in and leave them for 24 hours.
4. We insert the loop and make marks where it will now be located.
5. Then the loop is put in place and screwed back on.

Helpful hints and tips

When buying furniture, you should pay attention to specific sets of hinges in terms of their durability. The right hinges help you open or close the door effectively, and the drawers will not get stuck on the runners. Hinges for kitchen furniture are quite intensively used, so it is necessary to choose reliable and durable options, not to save on hinges.

The exceptions are those found in rarely used furniture, such as a closet. The most common problems with hinges are loosening or pulling. A broken hinge cannot hang in the same place where it used to be. It should be moved 1-2 cm up or down. Changes should apply not only to the door, but also to the cabinet itself. Screwing in the screws should be preceded by the creation of delicate holes.

Installing hinges on the cabinet is necessary for self-assembly of furniture or in case of breakage of parts. This process does not take much time and is quite affordable even for inexperienced craftsmen. The only thing worth paying attention to is correct and clear marking. The success of all subsequent actions and the positive result of the work depend on this stage.

When installing the hinges, follow the instructions, take your time when disassembling and restoring, let the materials dry well. Refurbished doors and high-quality installation of hinges can last a long time.If you choose complex fittings and have no idea how to install hinges, then it is best to contact a professional.

When working, take your time, carefully measure each part of the mount, so that the markings coincide with an accuracy of 1 mm. If this is the first time you are engaged in installation or restoration, then look at the tutorials; they clearly show all the stages of these processes.

Chipboard has problems with hinges, but they are easy to solve. In order to solve the problem quickly use the instructions and carefully monitor each step you perform.

Installation of simple hinges does not require any special skills. They are easy to install if you follow each step step by step.

Video: what to do if you pulled out the hinges from the chipboard cabinet