Ball Bearing Door Hinges

[bruegf]

Anyone have any experience/recommendations regarding ball bearing door hinges.  I need something that will support approx 250 lbs.  I've found a few sites w/ bearing hinges, but not that give a safe working load number.

Thx

Fred

 

[dirtydeeds]

250 lb equates to about 114 kilos

that is some MOTHER of a door (i weigh only 72 kilos)

three options, hinges taking, 120 kilos, 160 kilos and 200 kilos

hafele produce stainless steel ball bearing butt hinges for a maximum adjusted door weight of 120 kilos

catalog numbers

926.90.130 satin finish
926.90.131 polished finish
926.90.138 brass plated

hafele do a good half dozen other ball bearing hinges rated at 120 kilos adjusted door weight

second option

hafele also produce a loadmaster butt hinge (bush bearings) for a maximum adjusted door weight of 160 kilos

this might well be the hinge for you

its tested for 200'000 cycles at 160 kilos, high corrosion resistance, its also a fire rated hinge

that is in satin finish stainless steel

catalogue number 926.91.120

third option

again with bearings, catalogue number 926.91.130

aparantly these are tested to 200 kilos

remember these are european specifications not north american

 

[dirtydeeds]

can i also suggest that at this rather extreme door weight

that you let somebody else take some of the risk

what i mean is contact the technical department of the hinge manufacturer (rather than the supplier)

and ask for their written recomendations, not only of the hinge specs but of the frame fixing methods

then pass on ALL this information to the engineer, architect or designer of the project for his approval

it is possible at these weights that the door MIGHT tear the walls out of a light weight construction

 

[bruegf]

That's a good idea.  I'm looking making a bookshelf closet door that will be loaded w/ books.  Won't get a lot of use but definitely will be heavy.

Thanks

Fred

 

[dirtydeeds]

with that much weight

you could look at a different type of hinging method

one that would take the weight off the wall and transfer it to the floor and ceiling

IE the pivot is fixed to the floor and to the ceiling, much like a swinging door in a shop or a circular door in the lobby of a hotel

floors and ceilings are much better at taking heavy weights than stud / internal walls

this hinging method is thousands of years older than butt hinges

it still has much to offer when door loads are particulary heavy

the door frame becomes cosmetic rather than load bearing so can be very slim

 

[Per Swenson]

Fred,

Take a lookee here.

Per

 

[Eli]

I knew you were gonna do that. You beat me there. 

 

[bruegf]

Thanks.  I saw that a while back and then completely forgot about it.  Thanks for reminding me. 

My wife saw the closet door bookshelf idea on one of the TV home improvement shows a few weeks ago and now I get to do it too. 

Based on how my plans are starting to firm up I've revised my weight estimate considerably.  My shelves will only be approx 23" wide x 6" deep and based on a small stack of books I weighed this afternoon I think I'll only end up w/ 80 lbs of books plus the weight of the door/bookcase which I'd guess shouldn't be more than another 50-60 lbs.

Think I can get away with regular hinges or would I be best off sticking with the ball bearing hinge idea.

Thanks for all the input.

Fred

 

[dirtydeeds]

for easy running in the long term

my personal view is ball bearing hinges