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icopus

Can An Adjustable Hinge Be Bent?

5 years ago

I've seen videos of bending a standard hinge to adjust a door that sticks or is hard to open. But I can't find the fix when the hinge is of the adjustable type.

The adjustable hinge is installed at the top and bottom of the door while the middle has a standard hinge.

Can the adjustable hinge be bent in the same way as a standard hinge to fix a sticking door?

Thanks in advance.




Comments (24)

  • 5 years ago

    The door has three hinges. The middle hinge is a standard hinge. The upper and lower hinges are adjustable hinges. I've pictured the upper hinge. That same hinge is installed as the lower hinge.
    The door gets stuck on the upper door jam.
    I'm sorry for the confusion.

  • 5 years ago

    Also, to be clear, the adjustable hinges are currently adjusted without any spring tension.

  • 5 years ago

    I would advise you to shave the door down on the top edge if that is where it is sticking. Trying to bend those hinges: 1) probably wouldn't work; 2) could bang up the trim; and 3) could damage the hinges. Hinge bending to me has always been a rather iffy approach to such problems, and in this case it's a way to turn a minor problem into a bigger one.

  • 5 years ago

    The only videos I've found for adjusting adjustable hinges is for adjusting the spring tension. That means I don't know how to adjust them in order to adjust the gaps between the door and the door jam.
    Where can I find the how to?
    Thanks for your help.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you, kudzu9! This is a Penron UL File #: R21804

    It appears the adjustment is for the spring tension only. Thanks for the help.

    I'll have to figure out something else. The second picture of the middle hinge clearly shows the widening gap at the hinge side door jam. Shaving the door will fix the sticky opening but won't fix the unsightly problem.

    Thanks all.

  • 5 years ago

    icopus-

    Sometimes you can fix things by taking out the screws on a hinge, putting a shim made out of a thin piece of cardboard (like from a cereal box) under the hinge plate and then reinstalling the screws. However, since your gap narrows as it goes down, doing this on the bottom hinge would push the top edge of the door up, increase the amount of material you would have to plane off the top edge of the door. If you shimmed the top hinge it would possibly allow you to avoid doing anything to the door, but would increase the width of the gap where it is already too wide. Sometimes the only solution is a compromise....

  • 5 years ago

    I'm thinking that maybe I could replace the adjustable hinges with regular hinges. We're not using and don't want to use the spring feature anyway.

  • 5 years ago

    icopus-

    I'm not sure what that would gain you. If you did, though, you would want to get a replacement that has exactly the same hinge plate shape/size, and ideally the same hole location. Otherwise you've got a much bigger job than simply planing the top edge of the door.

  • 5 years ago

    I'm sorry for the confusion kudzu9. It's the actually the outside upper edge of the door that is catching the door jam.

    Anyway, replacing the hinges is just another consideration to solve the problem.


  • 5 years ago

    Why not fix the door as it is probably not hung hung plumb and square? Your reveals are off which to me indicates it is not hung properly.

  • 5 years ago

    icopus-

    Well, then, you can plane and repaint that upper edge, and/or chisel out a little more of the upper hinge pocket to set the hinge slightly deeper. Hope you're not thinking of installing new, regular hinges just so you can bend them to "fix" he problem.

  • 5 years ago

    That is a steel door that carries a fire rating. You are not doing anything to that door.

  • 5 years ago

    millworkman, I did not know it is a sleel door, but now that you mention it, it does feel heavy. Sure glad I didn't get to planing it yet! I will look into fixing a non-plumb door. Thank you.


    Kudzu9, I WAS thinking of installing regular hinges just so I could bend them. Online videos make it look so easy to fix this problem. Thank you.

  • 5 years ago

    Is the jamb that the hinges are set into steel as well? A magnet will tell you... ;-)

  • 5 years ago

    Looks to be a fire door from a garage so it should be the adjustable/expandable type steel frame to pass code, but you never know.........................

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Depends on location, but it could be a solid core fire rated wood composite with a hardboard skin (Masonite etc) hung in a wood or composite jamb. These meet current code in many locations.

    Not square in the jamb. It's possible it could be helped by replacing the upper hinge as it may be the issue. A good finish carpenter could determine if that is needed before moving the jamb (partially rehanging the door). Also check if hinge screws are loose.

  • 5 years ago

    Look at that panel detail in the first picture, that is about as a perfect looking steel door detail as can be.

  • 5 years ago

    I tried a magnet. There is no attraction.



  • 5 years ago

    kudzu9, both the door and frame are not steel.


  • 5 years ago

    I do not buy that. Show us the hinge stile of the door please.

  • 5 years ago

    I'm not sure what you're asking for. I don't know what that is. My apologies.

  • 5 years ago

    The edge of the door where the hinges are mounted.

  • 5 years ago