Things You'll Need:
- Safety Glasses
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Door catches
- Knobs
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Step 1
Select hinges that are the right size for the job. For wide doors, choose a hinge with longer wings, as this helps distribute the tension over a larger area. There are several types of hinges that can be used, such as a piano hinge which runs along most of the height of the cabinet door. You can also pick up hinges in a wide variety of styles, such as modern or Victorian, and materials ranging from metal to plastic and vinyl. For cabinets, using metal hinges will give you the longest lasting results.
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Step 2
Center the door on the opening just as you want it to mount. Very lightly outline each corner with a pencil. These marks are only for reference, so be gentle enough to erase them later.
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Step 3
Open one hinge and place it against the cabinet so that the rotating part is in line with the outer edge marks you just made. Mark each hole where a screw will go. Repeat this process for each hinge.
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Step 4
Repeat Step 3 for the door. It may help to mark the hinge locations on the door after the hinges have been mounted to the cabinet.
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Step 5
Use one of the hinge screws to make starter screw holes at each point where the hinges will connect. If the cabinet is sturdy, you can use a finish nail and hammer to make starter holes by tapping the nail in about 1/8 inch and twisting it to remove.
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Step 6
Hold the hinge against the cabinet as before, and install the screws. Be careful not to strip or twist the screws. In many cases, the hinge may not work correctly if the screws are canted.
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Step 7
Place a scrap piece of lumber or a brick on the floor at a 90 degree angle to the cabinet. Kneeling down, place one foot on that object and then rest the cabinet door on top of your foot.
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Step 8
Open the hinges to the inside of the door, and use your foot to raise or lower the door until it is lined up correctly with the starter holes.
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Step 9
Install the top screw of each hinge first, and then install the remaining screws in any order.
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Step 10
Install the catch for the door. Generally, this device requires 2 to 3 three screws on the door mount, and 2 more on the cabinet mount.
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Step 11
Add a knob to the door, and try it out to see how well it works. Ideally, the door will match with your earlier pencil marks when closed. If not, gently tap the bottom hinge to make minor adjustments.
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Step 12
Erase the pencil marks from the cabinet.
