What am I doing wrong? Cabinet doors.

[BellyUpFish]

Ok, I'm an amateur woodworker and I just built a built in bookcase.

Everything is going fine except for my doors.

I'm getting a pretty awful gap on the hinge side.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[fivespdcat]

It doesn't look too bad, but you should be able to slide the hinges back to tighten up that gap. It's hard to tell from that picture if your hinges can do that but loosen the cabinet screw and slide it back.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can't you adjust the hinge so the door comes closer to the cabinet facing when it's open ?

 

[fivespdcat]

Oh and add some door pads on the contact edge, it will ensure the doors don't slam shut.

 

[Cyberbear]

I didn't see any pictures of what you are talking about, but it would help to know if you are using flush or raised face doors.
My old rule of thumb when I ran my cabinet shop was to make surface doors 1/2" larger than the cabinet face opening, then add a 3/8" x 3/8" rebate to the door and go from there. There are certain "tricks" used to tweak the doors after properly mounting them.

 

[BellyUpFish]

The 3/8"x3/8" strip sounds like a great idea.

The adjustments are maxed out on the hinges..

 

[wagzilla]

The 3/8"x3/8" strip sounds like a great idea.

The adjustments are maxed out on the hinges..

When you put the pads on it should even it out.

James

 

[JCByrd24]

On those hinges the adjustment you are talking about should be that screw all the way to the right or farthest inside the cabinet, my kitchen ones look identical anyway and that is the one that does it. You may have to loosen the screw that folds the hinge to the frame to adjust it. However I don't think you'll be able to **** it in tight, all of mine are at their tightest and there is a pretty good gap, and I do have little bumpers on the opposite corners so the gaps are even and they don't bang closed.

 

[rbjenterprises]

That gap on that style of hinge is normal. Once you stick the silicone bumpers on the non hinge side the door will be parallel to the face frame on the cabinet.

 

[yeldogt]

Some of those hinges don't have an adjustment -- as others have said they are designed to have a bumper on the side opposite the hinge.

You see these on upper cabinets and the lowers under a drawer -- so you don't see the gap.

 

[Hornman]

That hinge you are using should be adjustable to move the door closer to the cabinet, by moving the mount on the face frame inward.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Thanks guys.

I've adjusted it all I can. I guess I'll just add the pads and we'll go from there. The wife doesn't mind the gap, but it is driving me nuts. LOL

 

[Need more space]

Any closer the hinge side of door might rub the actual cabinet when opening and closing.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Yeh, I guess I just picked the wrong type of hinge.

 

[2nrguy]

Its a learning curve, if you go with a different set of hinges save those. they might be perfect for the 'next' job.