• FAQ's
• Hardware FAQ's
• Shipping FAQ's
• Tax Exemption Forms

Hardware FAQ's

How can I tell if I have a residential hinge or a commercial hinge?
A residential hinge is normally 3 ½” x 3 ½” or 4” x 4”.  Also, it is thinner than a commercial hinge (.085).  A 4 ½” commercial standard weight hinge is .134 thickness (this is a bit more than an 1/8” thick) and a commercial 4 ½” heavy weight hinge is .180 thick. The other big difference is the screw hole pattern. A commercial hinge holes are in a half moon pattern. A residential hinge is a W patterned; also known as a staggered pattern. If there are only 3 holes in the hinge you are replacing, compare the templates of each hinge type and measure the thickness. (BTW the holes in a residential hinge won’t always line up, there are some factories that purchase millions of hinges with their own screw hole pattern. These are proprietary hinges or OEM hinges. Two choices if this happens; redrill your screw holes or buy from a dealer of the door)

Are Radius Corner Hinges available for commercial hinges?
Yes, Hager manufacture’s 1279 & BB1279, 1191 & BB1191, & the 1250 hinges with 1/4” or 5/8” radius corners, and they are available as a special ordered item from our company. Hager even stocks some of these hinges, so it’s not as hard as you would think to get them quickly. Please contact us. Well be glad to quote pricing & availability for you.

I want my door to swing 180 degrees but my contractor installed wood casing over my metal frame that limits the swing of the door to just 150 degrees.
You may need what is called a Wide Throw hinge. Wide Throw hinges push the center line of pivoting point out so as to clear the extra trim that was applied.  Hager manufactures all the commercial hinges with WT prefix.  For example, hinges are specified as 4 ½” x 5”, 4 ½” x 6”, 4 ½” x 7”. Each extra 1” of width will give you ½” more of projection to the centerline of the pivoting point. Be aware if you move the centerline out to far, you may need to plane the lock stile or shim the door over towards the hinge stile for the door to open easily.  If you need wide throw hinges please give us a call and let us help you determine the hinge size for your application. You also may need an extended lip strike.

I’m rather confused with the terminology, but I know I need one leaf on my hinge surface mounted. Which hinge do I need, half surface or half mortise?
Each reference refers to how the hinge applies to the door. A Half Surface hinge is mounted to the face of the door. Half Mortise is mortised in the edge of the door. A Half Surface hinge is used frequently for wood fire doors, so that the hinge is thru bolted. Also, it can be used on a retro fit application due to a mismatch of mortise locations between manufacturer’s hinge locations. Half Mortise is used for Channel Iron Frames or the same retro fit application between manufacture’s hinge locations.

When do I need to use Ball Bearing Hinges?
Ball Bearing hinges should be used for all doors with Closers or a moderate to high frequency use door. The weight of the door also determines if you should use Ball Bearing hinges. If the door is over 150 pounds, go the extra and use a Ball Bearing hinge. A typical office door with low frequency use does not need a ball bearing hinges.

What is the difference between the 1279 hinges and 1191 hinges?
The 1279 series hinges are steel based, then plated various finishes (and will rust). The 1191 series are non ferrous hinges. Depending on the finish of the hinge, the base metal is brass or stainless steel with a stainless steel hinge pin. If you are replacing hinges, you can tell if the hinge is steel by use of a good magnet. If it is stainless steel or brass based material, the magnet will not attach.

My dogging key on my exit device won’t work any longer, can you company help me?
Yes, we stock the Sargent Exit Device 20/30/80 series Dogging Key Replacement Kit. Many of our orders locally are for replacement parts. Be it hinge pins, floor closers, exit devices, or just a piece inside the lock to make it work. You are welcome to call us, and/or email pictures of your problem, and if we can help, we will. It is essential to know the manufacturer’s name when dealing with part replacements. Custom ordered parts are not returnable and have a potential risk due to redesigns by the factories. Our company stocks many Sargent & Kaba-Ilco Unican lock parts.

My door is sagging in the opening, causing the door to hit the strike jamb of the frame every time someone opens it. What do I need to help it operate correctly?
Check the width of the frame first. If the frame is out of square or undersized/bowed in then you’ve got a different problem.  Our company recommends a reinforcing pivot # 253 for a sagging door. I have many contractors that will automatically put one of these on any door wider than 3/6. They help take the weight off the top hinge and it saves a phone call that the door isn’t working properly.
 
The wind took the door and has bent the hinge, and ripped out the screws from hinge tap plates inside the frame. What do I do?
Unfortunately, this is a common problem, after the damage is done is more expensive than preparing for it when the job was specified. It depends on how much money you can throw at the problem. Many of our local contractors go directly to option 3 when this happens. Assuming the door is still in good condition, the first option is to buy new full mortise hinge(s) and plug weld screw holes then redrill & tap the tap plate. We stock a limited amount of quantity of this type of replacement screw. If the tap plate is twisted or loosen from the original welds then go to the next option. Second option is to replace all the hinges with Half Mortise hinges (BB1129) and Filler Plates for the jamb. The Third option is to buy a Continuous Hinge and Filler Plates. The Roton 780-157(HD) or 780-210(HD) are suggested but Hager and other manufacturer’s make a lot of different types to fit your application and are easily shipped direct from their stock, quickly. Hager has a marketing brochure which is very appropriate: click here to view it.  The next step is to control the door so this doesn’t happen again. Stop the door in two places – at the top & the bottom. A floor stop solidly placed in the concrete for the bottom of the opening.  At the top, a crash chain, overhead stop, or a special closer arm in conjunction with your closer like the Compression Stop or Positive Stop Sargent manufactures (CPS or PS suffix). Please give us a call for quotes and on availability of material. 

Is a Roton Continuous Hinge available for my 60 minute labeled wood door?
Yes, please advise us in your comment section of the order that material is for a labeled door(s). There is no upcharge up to 60 minute rating. A 90 minute rating requires a special stud be installed on the continuous hinge and is an upcharge. Please contact us for a quote and availability.

Should I list my dimensions as Width x Height or Height x Width?
Normally you should always list dimensions as Width x Height. But there are always exceptions: Hinges Sizes are list Height x Width , so are Kick Plates, Armor Plates and Mop Plates.

US10A (640 / 641) & US10B (613) – The Misunderstood Finish
Click here to view Hager’s website for information about this finish. 

My hinges are opening tight; can I use just any lubricant to oil them?
Hager’s website recommends after removing the hinge pin, using lithium grease then reinserting the hinge pin. An easy source of lithium grease is an auto parts store. Hager suggests this maintenance once per year.