Repair broken cabinet hinge

Euro or concealed hinges are standard fittings for most kitchen cabinet or closet doors. Over time, a hinge plate will become lose due to wear and tear. If this happens, you can re-fix the cabinet hinge above or below its existing position.

 

To repair and re-fix a broken or damaged hinge, unscrew the hinge plate and remove it. Use a pencil and tape measure to mark off a new position, using the old position as a guide. You can raise or lower the new position, depending on the space available.

Measure and mark off for the new hinge position the door, allowing enough space for the diameter of the new hole to be drilled.

Measure the diameter of the existing recess, so you will know exactly what size cutting bit to use.

Using a Forstner or MAD bit, drill out the recess for the new hinge. Take care not to drill to deeply and to prevent this, stop occasionally to fit the hinge into the recess and check for drilling depth and to know when to stop.

Make an indent with a draw awl and then screw the hinge in place with 16mm screws. Ensure that the hinge sits perfectly flush against the inside of the door.

Re-hang the door using the old plate hinge. Use spackle or wood filler to fill in the old holes. Let dry and sand smooth with 240-grit sandpaper.

DIY Tip:

If you need to fill the old hinge recess, remove the door and place on a flat, level surface. Use No More Nails to fill the hole to 2mm below the surface and leave this to dry for 24-hours. Once dry, use wood filler or spackle to level and smooth. Any roughness can be sanded smooth once this final finish is dry.

excerpt from DIY Doctor on Kalahari.com