I need to replace door hinges to bronze for looks. Is ball bearing, stainless or brass important? help!?

Question

I finished a rennovation and need to switch door hinges. I am about to order them but some sites have much cheaper bronze hinges and I worry. Baldwin looks good. What about ball bearing, stainless vs brass, etc.?
Thanks

Answer 1

More often than not you`re going to find you get what you pay for!!I`m sure you`ll find Baldwin a good choice of product. As far as bearing hinges go, I would tend to shy away from them unless you have a very heavy or highly used door. I`ve noticed a few door companies have started using them in 4X4 residential hinges. Personally I think it`s overkill. In regards to stainless, I`d use them if you`re in an area with salt and or moisture in the air. Or if it`s an outswing door.

Answer 2

I would not order any hinges on line or thu the mail. Best to go to Home Depot or Lowes and have a look at their display and you can size the hinge properly by a visual match. They have some expensive hinges there, about the best around. Hinges come in different thicknesses, radi, and hole patterns. I would remove one hinge and take that along shopping, a match here is so important.

I would use for looks solid brass hindges on the entrance door, that gives it a really expensive look. The brass today is a non tarnish brass, so that is not an issue. Stainless steel is for hospitals and commercial buildings. Ball bearings are for lots of usage which you wont have.

However, on the other doors a plain steel Brass plated hinge is what is commonly used and it looks really good . You can extend the life of those plated hinges by spraying them before use with a coat of clear polyurethane.

Answer 3

bronze is brittler.Stainless is harder, but both Brass and stainless will not rust, however brass can tarnish, Oh wait, Bronze not Brass? Go with the stainless.

Answer 4

I read this twice. The way you layer longer story-related prose is admirable, and something I have much trouble with. You make it seem effortless, natural, but all of us who write know the opposite is true. I often measure the effectiveness of a piece by the number of TD's........Jealousy rears it's green head. Kudos to you, Mr Carney.