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PER1838SC102
1838 102mm Self Colour Steel Door Hinge
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1838 102mm Self Colour Steel Door Hinge
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Delivery Information
| Delivery Time Frame | Delivery Information |
| Next Working Day By 1PM | When an order is placed by 3pm for next working day on certain items |
| Standard Delivery | Usually delivered in 2 to 4 working days |
| Delivery Charges | |
| UK Mainland | Prices start at £3.95 for very small items, £6.50 for small, £9.50 for medium and £20 for large/long items |
| Scottish Highlands & Islands, Northern Ireland & Ireland | Prices from £30, please see our delivery page for more info. |
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£1.47
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Description
Traditional Quality with the 1838 102mm Self Colour Steel Door Hinge
When you take on a joinery project around the home, having reliable hardware makes all the difference to how smoothly your doors hang and swing. The 1838 102mm self colour steel door hinge offers a straightforward, time tested solution for general interior joinery. Designed specifically as a light pattern butt hinge, this piece of ironmongery delivers practical domestic performance without unnecessary complication.
Supplied in an authentic self colour finish, this mild steel hinge gives you complete flexibility. Because it arrives raw and untreated, you have the option to treat, oil, grease, or paint it to match the precise aesthetic of your woodwork. Whether you are fitting lightweight internal doors, building bespoke utility cupboards, or replacing tired hardware in a period cottage, this classic fitting provides an honest foundation that works alongside your timber.
Manufactured with a fixed pin and a cranked knuckle design, this hinge keeps moving parts secure and minimises unwanted rattle. Here at Doorfit, we understand that trade professionals and passionate DIY homeowners want ironmongery that simply does its job day after day. With its generous four inch length, this product spreads the weight of your door leaf evenly down the frame, helping to prevent binding and ensuring smooth operation across its lifespan.
Hinge Length
102mm (4 Inch)
Pattern Type
Light Domestic
Knuckle & Pin
Cranked Fixed Pin
Surface Finish
Raw Self Colour
Authentic Self Colour Steel Construction
The self colour finish means that the steel leaves have come straight through the production process without electroplating or powder coating. This leaves the metal in its natural raw state, displaying mild mill scale and tooling character that many joiners and restorers appreciate.
Because there is no pre applied lacquer or synthetic layer, paint primers bond straight onto the steel without risk of flaking away later. If you want to paint your hinges in the exact tone of your door frame, this natural metal base accepts quality metal primers beautifully. Alternatively, a traditional coating of beeswax or mineral oil gives the hinge a darker aged look while protecting against ambient humidity.
The Cranked Knuckle Advantage
The knuckle geometry on the 1838 series features a cranked design. This intentional offset helps position the pivot point neatly relative to the door edge, making morticing clean and uncomplicated for both experienced carpenters and home enthusiasts.
With the leaves recessed into both the door stile and the frame casing, the cranked barrel rests flush against the timber boundary. This ensures clean clearance lines as the door swings open and closed, preventing binding against the timber stop and reducing stress on your fixing screws during daily use.
Where to Use the 1838 Light Pattern Butt Hinge
Selecting the right hinge requires balancing leaf dimensions against the total weight of the door assembly. As a light pattern butt hinge, the 1838 design is ideally suited to standard residential duties where heavy commercial wear is not expected. Its 102mm leaf height gives broad contact across the door frame, providing stability without excess bulk.
You will find this model well suited to an array of everyday joinery situations:
- Standard internal residential doors featuring hollow core or lightweight moulded composite construction.
- Pantry, larder, and under stairs storage cupboards where dependable daily access is required.
- Secondary internal doors, utility rooms, and loft access hatches that require an honest, functional hinge.
- Workshop cupboards, garden shed storage boxes, and garage cabinets where a bare steel look fits right in.
- Timber frames where you intend to apply an antique beeswax or blackened rust preventative wax finish.
For heavy solid oak entrance doors or certified fire doors, we recommend browsing our range of ball bearing or Grade 13 architectural hinges. For everyday light duty timber doors around your home, this dependable unit delivers exactly what you need at exceptional value.
Detailed Technical Specifications
Review the key characteristics below to make sure the 1838 102mm self colour steel door hinge matches the physical requirements of your joinery project.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Code | 1838 Light Pattern |
| Leaf Height | 102mm (approximately 4 inches) |
| Material | Pressed Mild Steel |
| Finish | Self Colour (Natural Unplated Steel) |
| Knuckle Configuration | Cranked Knuckle |
| Pin Assembly | Fixed Steel Central Pin |
| Fixing Type | Countersunk screw holes for flush wood screws |
| Recommended Application | Light domestic internal doors, cupboards, and general woodworking |
Fitting Advice for the Best Results
Installing butt hinges is a classic woodworking skill that rewards patience and precise measuring. Because the 1838 butt hinge features countersunk screw holes, taking a little extra care during preparation will ensure your door leaf swings smoothly without binding.
Start by marking your hinge locations on the door stile. A traditional rule of thumb is to place the top hinge roughly 150mm down from the top edge and the bottom hinge roughly 230mm up from the bottom edge. If you are fitting a third hinge for extra stability, position it equally between the top and bottom fittings or slightly closer to the top hinge where it can help carry the tensile load.
Score the timber around the hinge leaf using a sharp marking knife, keeping the cut lines tight against the steel edges. Chisel out the timber mortice gradually, checking the depth regularly against the thickness of the leaf. Aim for a mortice depth that lets the leaf sit completely flush with the edge of the door stile. When the leaf is level with the wood surface, your door will hang plumb without straining the screws.
Always drill pilot holes for your screws. Drilling a pilot hole prevents the timber from splitting, which is particularly important near the end grain of door stiles. Use traditional countersunk wood screws that match the countersunk profile of the hinge holes so the screw heads sit dead flush. If you leave screws proud, they will foul against each other when the door closes.
Before hanging the door finally, add a drop of light machine oil to the knuckle joints. This lubricates the fixed central pin, ensuring silent movement and helping the metal parts glide freely right from day one.
Care, Maintenance, and Surface Protection
Because this hinge is supplied in self colour steel, it contains no protective plating. If left unsealed in a humid environment such as a bathroom, laundry room, or unheated garage, the untreated metal will naturally oxidise over time. Caring for self colour hardware is very straightforward once you understand how to protect it.
If you wish to maintain the natural dark industrial grey of the bare steel, wipe the surfaces with a clean rag dampened with light solvent to remove any light transport oil. Once clean and dry, apply a coat of paste wax or microcrystalline wax across all exposed surfaces. Buff it lightly with a soft cloth. This creates a breathable barrier that holds off atmospheric moisture while keeping the authentic steel texture on display.
If your project calls for painted hardware, self colour steel is the easiest surface to prepare. Simply degrease the leaves, apply a coat of red oxide or metal etch primer, and finish with your chosen topcoat. Once cured, the paint will adhere firmly because there is no smooth plating underneath to cause peeling.
From a mechanical standpoint, butt hinges require very little ongoing attention. An occasional inspection to ensure the wood screws remain tight, accompanied by a drop of light household oil along the knuckle seam every twelve months, will keep your doors operating smoothly for many years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does self colour mean on a steel hinge?
Self colour means the steel comes straight from the manufacturing process without any secondary coating, plating, or paint. The finish is natural mild steel, which gives you complete freedom to oil, wax, paint, or chemical blacken the hardware to match your personal scheme.
Can I remove the pin from this hinge?
No. This model features a fixed pin that is secured during assembly. Fixed pin hinges offer excellent alignment and prevent the central pin from working loose over time, which helps keep the door leaf steady and prevents unwanted rattle.
Is this hinge suitable for exterior entrance doors?
We do not recommend this hinge for heavy exterior entrance doors. It is designed as a light pattern domestic hinge for interior doors and cupboards. For external entrance doors exposed to British weather, heavy duty galvanised, brass, or marine grade stainless steel hinges are far better suited.
Are fixing screws included in the pack?
Screws are sold separately. Because self colour hinges are often fitted to distinct types of timber, from soft pine to hardwoods, joiners generally prefer choosing screws of the exact length, gauge, and head finish that suit their specific frame and door thickness.
Complete Your Joinery Project with Doorfit
Count on our decades of architectural ironmongery expertise, fast dispatch, and comprehensive customer service across the United Kingdom.
Specification
| Finish | Steel |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 102mm x 73mm open |
| Hinge Type | Butt Hinge |
| Certifire Approved | No |
| CE Marked | No |