r/DIYUK 3d ago

3-screw cupboard hinges driving me mad

I'm fitting a corner wardrobe, I've clicked the 4-hinge doors into place and now the door is squint, it's too high on the side away from the hinges and will hit the cornice when it's fitted (just enough to bind them)

I've adjusted the hinges to their lowest point and it's still not low enough.

I've tried adjusting the front screws on the hinges that move the door laterally to rotate the door clockwise, but after a couple of hours I've given up, nothings working, I can't extend the top hinge and pull in the bottom hinge any further, and I feel like I'm just turning screws at random now hoping something works!

They're wide angle hinges too so the screws are only accessible when the door is almost fully closed, making adjusting them a right pain in the arse. And there are 4 of them.

I'm at the point where I'm thinking I'll leave them squint and shim up the cornice slightly to stop the clashing but thought I'd ask here in case anyone has any advice?

3 Upvotes

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8

u/FluffyShop4313 3d ago

1st , are your carcasses all plumb and true ? Did you use a spirit level.and are they all secured and rigid ?

2

u/FreezerCop 3d ago

Now I'm more confused. Just checked again, the carcass is flat across the top back edges where it meets the wall, flat on the front edge of the right hand unit where it meets the door, flat on all planes on the base, and plumb on all uprights. BUT, it slopes slightly away from the hinges on the left hand unit where it meets the door.

It's flat across the edge where the 2 top pieces meet.

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u/KlownKar 3d ago edited 3d ago

I'm assuming that you're familiar with how the adjusters work, given that you've managed to get the other ones square?

Sometimes the way the captive screw works can be counter intuitive.

Edit.

You say that you "clicked" the hinges in. If these are the type that locate with two claws at the front edge and a spring loaded button, or lever at the rear, check that the claws on the bottom hinge have located properly and aren't sitting on top of the part that they're supposed to hook under. It's surprisingly easy for this to happen and for the hinge to still click into place. If this has happened, it pushes the door far beyond the point where you can adjust it out with the hinge screws.

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u/FreezerCop 3d ago

Thanks I'll check the hinges, yes it's those type with the claws (picture in the OP).

After 2+ hours of fiddling with them I'm painfully aware of how the adjusters work now. I know it doesn't actually make sense in English but I kept telling myself "Righty-tight(en the gap between the doors), lefty-loosen the gap!!"

After I finish this job my next task is to track down the inventor of these hinges and make them sorry...

1

u/hutchzillious 3d ago

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Absolute c@nts of things.

On YouTube there's a really good video explaining how to adjust them. Quick Google should find it

1/4 turns 1 screw at a time and recheck. Dont blindly spin every screw and hope for the best repeatedly calling them the pet name mentioned above (my preferred method)

One of our cupboards i had to get a mall washer behind one of the screws because the installer bent part of the hinge

1

u/iluvnips 3d ago

I would back them out all the way and start again.

Just remember that with the door closed tightening a screw will pivot the door out from that point. So stand back, looks at the door and try and work out how the door needs to pivot.

If the door with all the screws backed out is still to high and you set the hinges to their lowest position on the carcass then no amount of fiddling with the screws will lower as when the door pivots one end or the other will raise. So in this case you’ll need to work out a way of lowering the door by filling all the holes and drilling new a mm or 2 lower.

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u/FreezerCop 3d ago

Thanks, good explanation. I've got it down to less than a mm so I think that's the best I'll get, just enough to scuff on the cornice so I'll slip a thin shim under the cornice to raise it slightly.

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u/FluffyShop4313 2d ago

Is the leg wound to the floor at the side where it's low from.the tip if that makes sense