graffis Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 I'm building a solid cherry credenza for my daughter (see attached drawing) having two "shaker style" frame and panel doors centered in the unit with solid wood floating panels. There is no divider between the doors. I plan to install the doors using offset ("L" shaped) knife hinges--something I've never done before. The overall dimensions of each door are 19" high x 13" wide. All rails and styles are 1 3/4" wide having a thickness of 3/4". Everything I've read and seen on videos indicate that for proper installation of knife hinges, the space surrounding each door should equal the thickness of the washer between the two hinge leafs. For the hinges I purchased (which were not cheap), that space is equal to about the thickness of 2 - 3 playing cards (0.022" - 0.033"). My concern is this: Is this enough space to allow seasonal expansion without the door getting stuck or jammed? Planning down the doors to fit after installation would be problematical since the hinges need to be mortised and precisely fitted into the top and bottom of the doors and the carcass frame. Also, cutting the mortise in the frame (divider) needs to be done before assembly and glue up so "fixing" the problem by modifying the frame dimensions would not be easy. Has anyone had any experience with this? Do you think the space to allow expansion is adequate given the dimensions of the doors? My daughter lives in the Sierra foothills--hot and dry in the summer, cold and wet in the winter. Any advice would be appreciated. Credenza.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgreenb Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Frame and panel doors should have little to no movement in the critical dimensions. The panel will move inside the frame and should be allowed to float, but the rails/stiles should have very little movement - they're not wide enough to make a difference. Especially if you use quartersawn stock for the frame parts, as most people do for aesthetics. I wouldn't worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) 3/32 reveal is the standard for cabinets. For furniture 1/32 - 1/16 is standard BUT you'd need to back bevel the doors. If you just use dime or nickels its easy. Dimes you back bevel, nickels you do not. Edited March 31, 2015 by Particle Board 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 I have built quite a few cabinets using Brusso knife hinges and had absolutely zero problems due to seasonal movement. One of the cabinets is in a wet room (a shower room) which has big variations of humidity and have no problem at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graffis Posted March 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks guys. I feel a lot better and I like the bevel idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks guys. I feel a lot better and I like the bevel idea. Better safe than sorry. Nobody can say for sure exactly how much it will move so might as well prepare for it in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 I sure think it will depend on moisture swings. I live in an area that in winter is drier than a desert, and summer, it could be georgia. My frame & panel doors do swell & shrink. I have even tried the overlapping lip routine. I have gaps and sticky doors on occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 For inset doors if you stick with industry standards and keep you stiles at 2 to 2 5/16 wide you will not have any problems anywhere in the world as long as your reveals are right. 3/32 is industry standard with doors cut at 90 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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