Install Hidden Hinges in Cabinets and Furniture

Hinges for cabinets and other casework come in a wide variety of designs and finishes. The correct hinges will complement the design and finish of your cabinets by carefully balancing form with function. A lot of modern cabinet designs, however, look their best without visible hinges on the surface. These designs often use “European” hinges, the kind that are out of sight when the doors are closed. Installing ordinary leaf hinges on the surface of the door and frame requires little more than a drill and a screwdriver. With hidden hinges, however, the working parts must be inset into the rear of the door frame. To install this type of hinge you'll need different tools and different techniques.

What You'll Need

A set of hinges (template usually included)
Tape measure
Pencil
Power drill or drill press
Forstner bit (may be included with hinge set)
Drill bit

Instructions

1)  Unpack the hinges and study the instructions. Typically, a hinge is in two parts: a plate that mounts on the inside wall of the cabinet or the inside surface of the face frame, and a plate that mounts on the door. 2)  Separate the halves. Use a pencil and tape measure to mark approximate locations for the hinge mounts on the inside surface of the door.  3)  Follow the instructions to fix the template on the door or, if there is no template, measure the precise location of the mount point. You'll be drilling a flat-bottomed hole called a "cup," usually 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge of the door rail.  4)  Mark the center of the cup. Mount the specified size Forstner bit in your drill or drill press. Set a hand drill on low speed or reduce the drill press speed for a Forstner bit.

5)  Drill a cup for the hinge with the Forstner bit, centering it on the marked location. Proceed slowly and with frequent stops to clean shavings from the hole. If using a drill press, use the stop to control the depth; with a hand drill compare the hole depth to the thickness of the hinge plate. Do not drill too deep.  6)  Repeat the process for the second hinge and on the other doors. 7)  Mark the locations of the screw holes from the template and drill pilot holes with a twist drill bit. Install the door plates and tighten all screws firmly. 8)  Locate and drill pilot holes for the door plate mounting screws with the template or by measuring to the specifications. Mount frame plates according to the included instructions, leaving the mounting screws loose.  9)  Attach the door plates to the frame plates and adjust the mounting screws to insure proper alignment.

The two halves of a typical Euro hinge, showing the size and placement of the cup installed on the rear of the door. This hinge style from Salice America requires that the hinge be installed on a flat surface, so it cannot be used with a face frame.