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The Definitive Guide to Hinges: Choosing the Perfect One for Your Needs

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Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of hinges. Often overlooked, hinges play a crucial role in the functioning of doors, cabinets, gates, and various other structures. They provide stability, security, and smooth movement, making them an indispensable component of any well-designed application. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through some of the different types of hinges available at Steelgear, helping you make an informed decision for your specific requirements.

1. Butt Hinges: The Timeless Classic

Let's start with the basics. Butt hinges are the most common and traditional type of hinge you'll come across. They consist of two leaves joined by a pin, allowing the door or cabinet to swing open and closed effortlessly. Butt hinges are versatile and can be used for both interior and exterior applications, making them a reliable choice for your home or business.

2. Continuous Hinges: Uninterrupted Strength

Continuous hinges, also known as piano hinges, run along the entire length of the door or lid. These hinges are known for their strength and ability to distribute weight evenly. They are often used for heavy-duty applications like commercial doors, cabinets, and access panels. You'll find continuous hinges here at Steelgear in various sizes.

3. Concealed Hinges: Sleek and Aesthetic

If you're looking for hinges that blend seamlessly with your furniture or cabinets, concealed hinges are the way to go. Also known as European hinges, they are designed to be mounted on the inside of the door, making them virtually invisible from the outside. Concealed hinges offer a sleek, clean look and provide smooth operation, making them an excellent choice for modern, minimalist designs.

4. Ball-Bearing Hinges: The Quiet Performers

Tired of creaky and noisy hinges? Ball-bearing hinges are here to solve that problem. These hinges incorporate ball bearings between the hinge knuckles, resulting in smoother, quieter movement. Ideal for heavy doors or gates that need frequent opening and closing, ball-bearing hinges offer enhanced durability and reduced friction.

5. Gate Hinges: Sturdy and Reliable

Gate hinges are specifically designed to handle the weight and stress of gates. Whether you have a small garden gate or a heavy-duty entrance gate, Steelgear offers a selection of gate hinges that ensure smooth operation, weather resistance, and long-lasting reliability.

6. Flush Hinges: For a Neat Finish

When you want your doors or cabinets to have a seamless, flush appearance, flush hinges are the way to go. These hinges are mortised into the door and frame, providing a tidy and clean finish to your application. They are commonly used for cabinet doors, interior doors, and light-duty applications.

Conclusion:

Hinges might be small in size, but they play an essential role in the smooth functioning and security of doors, cabinets, and gates. Choosing the right hinge for your application can make a world of difference in terms of durability and performance. At Steelgear.co.uk, we offer a comprehensive range of high-quality hinges to cater to your specific needs, ensuring that you find the perfect fit for your project. So, whether you're renovating your home or working on a commercial project, visit our Hinges category, and let us help you find the ideal hinge for your requirements.

Remember, quality hinges are the unsung heroes of your everyday movements!

 

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Solar panels have become increasingly popular in recent years as a source of renewable energy. With the continued decline in the cost of solar panels, more and more people are looking into installing them on their homes and businesses. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of solar panels and provide some tips on what to consider when installing them.

Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels, convert sunlight into electricity. They are typically made up of a collection of solar cells that are connected together and mounted on a frame. When sunlight hits the solar cells, it is absorbed and electrons are released. These electrons are then captured and converted into electrical current, which can be used to power homes and businesses.

One of the primary benefits of solar panels is that they are a renewable source of energy. Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite resources that will eventually run out, solar panels harness the power of the sun, which will continue to shine for billions of years to come. Additionally, solar panels produce no emissions or pollutants, making them a clean source of energy that helps reduce our carbon footprint and combat climate change.

Another benefit of solar panels is that they can help reduce your electricity bill. While the initial cost of installing solar panels can be significant, over time, they can pay for themselves through savings on your electricity bill. In fact, in many cases, solar panel systems can pay for themselves in as little as five to ten years.

When considering installing solar panels, it is important to consider a few factors. First, you will need to determine whether your home or business is a good candidate for solar panels. Factors to consider include the amount of sunlight your property receives, the orientation of your roof, and any obstructions that may block sunlight. It is also important to consider the cost of installation, as well as any available incentives or rebates that may help offset the cost.

In conclusion, solar panels are a great way to harness the power of the sun and generate clean, renewable energy. They offer a number of benefits, including reduced electricity bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and a reliable source of energy that will never run out. If you are considering installing solar panels, be sure to carefully consider the factors outlined above to ensure that they are a good fit for your home or business.

 

 

Your guide to turnbuckles

 

How To Use - Turnbuckles go by many names, such as bottlescrews, barrel strainers or straining screw. They are primarily used for adjusting the length or tension of ropes, cables and other tensioning systems. Usually they would consist of two threaded eye bolts. They are screwed into each end of the turnbuckles frame, one with a left-hand thread and the other with a right-hand thread. In order to adjust the tension of the barrel strainer you would rotate the frame. Screwing it clockwise or anti clockwise will increase of decrease the length of the connecting points.

End Fittings - Eye:

The Eye type fittings are used with parts that have an opening such as snap hooks, quick links or shackles, this is because they are able to connect into the eye. They are strong, durable and have no moving parts.

Jaw:

Jaw ends are made up of a jaw, nut, and bolt. These ends are mainly used to connect to solid components such as eyebolts, eyenuts and more.

Hook:

Hook ends are designed for connections that are only temporary as they have no locking mechanism. They are are much quicker to fit and less fiddly than the other choices.

Materials We Provide Them In -

316 Stainless Steel - Is the peak of corrosion resistance. It is mainly used for outdoor applications as it can withstand harsh enviroments where corrosion occurs.

Galvanised Steel - Is the cheaper option to stainless steel. It can still be used for outdoor applications but is not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel.

 

Your guide to quick links

What are quick links? 

Quick links are a product primarily used for connecting chain links by simply connecting one link to another. They are made out of stainless steel and zinc plated steel but can also be black coated.

 

What are the available types of quick links?

Quick links are available in many shapes and sizes. To name a few, delta quick links, Large opening quick links and square quick links. Because their are various types of quick links available, it can be quite difficult to know what type you would require for the specific job. Be sure to consult with a specialist before purchasing.
 


Different Materials used?

Quick Links can come in stainless steel, zinc plated steel or black coated. Stainless steel would be your go to option if you are looking for corrosion resistance. The reason stainless steel is more expensive then zinc plated steel due to its chromium content. Even though its more expensive, stainless steel is known for its strength, durability and corrosion resistance. Zinc plated steel works as a first line of defence which protects the steel from certain elements, and can keep rust away for much longer than standard steel such as self colour. Black coated steel adds an extra layers to prevent corrosion and it is used to minimize light reflection.

Different types on snap hooks and their uses

Snap Hooks come in a range of different colours, shapes, sizes and materials. If you are looking to go climbing, for example, you would need a large aluminium snap hook rated for climbing purposes. If you are looking a key chain holder or a connector for a smaller weight items you would use a small aluminium snap hook.

Locking:

Snap hooks can also come with different types of locks, such as a screw lock, self locking nut and safety latch. Each of these different locks has its own unique purpose, for example a screw lock will be done manually where you screw the lock tight to make sure it is fully secure. A self locking nut is a spring loaded mechanism that automatically shuts the snap hook opening closed. The spring hook type snap hooks offer a simple spring loaded stainless wire as the closure element on the snap hook.

Captive Eye:

The Captive eye is the built in feature on certain snap hooks. Its located at the bottom of the snap hook and keeps any attachment in position.

Shape:

Snap hooks come in a range of shapes ranging from cone to curved to rounded and much more. They all have different uses mostly the flat ended type snap hook will be used for holding webbing.

Different types of Eye plates and their uses

Eye plates are generally used in fixings to a hard surface. From here, their "hoops" give a connection point.

We sell 4 different varieties of eye plate in 3 different sizes for each variety. Apart from the preferred "look" of the eye plate

You will need to judge whether it will need to take a high load. In which case, you will choose between 2 or 4 fixing holes

4 holes :

  

2 Holes :

 

The eye plates are fixed with M4 or M5 fixings with a countersunk head.

There are many types of fixings that can be used to connect to the "hoop" of the eyplate.

Here is an example of a quickly removable one - the snap hook

 - This can be used in conjuction with a length of chain secured at one end with a Quick link  

A common use for eyeplates is for catenery systems where you would use wire rope and a Turnbuckle to secure your wire to the eyeplate :

How to create your very own rain chains

Rain chains are a great alternative to standard downpipes for transporting water from roof gutters to drains and water containers.

They are not a new idea and originated in Japan, where they have been used for hundreds of years. In Japan they call them 'Kusari Doi' which literally means 'chain gutter'. You will find large, ornate versions in Buddhist temple courtyards. They are considered a form of 'kinetic sculpture', and as with other Zen art forms, promote peace and tranquility through their musical quality.

They are becoming increasingly popular around the world, with many home and garden outlets selling a variety of styles. Or you can make your own!

The most basic form of rain chain, and also the most durable, can be made using a length of Stainless Steel chain, or several if you prefer.

To find out how to install one, I found the following video useful:


For 10 Easy Rain Chain Project Ideas, click HERE.

To create your own durable rain chain, use our Stainless Steel Long Link and Short Link Chain.

Surface tension holds the water next to the chain, therefore, make sure you fill the down spout completely with chain so that no water can escape as "run off" when it does not contact the chain.

For example : 6 lots of 4mm chain.

Long Link Short Link


You might also need some of our chain accessories, including quick links, shackles and hooks.

What are wire rope lanyards and how can they be used?

Wire rope lanyards are an excellent safety feature. They can be used as secondary safety element in many applications such as stage lighting, or holding the body of a light fitting to the structure to prevent the accidental dropping of the light body when working at heights.

Wire rope lanyards can be manufactured to any size and can be made with different size loops at the end allowing many different type of end fittings to be attached

Key points to look for in a safety lanyard are : 

What is the weight of item that the lanyard will support in the event of structure failure.

What is the lanyard fixed to. 

This will determine the diameter of wire rope you chose and the type of end fitting.

The smallest diameter is 1mm - recommended for small light fittings or bolts.

The largest diameter is 6mm. 

Larger diameters are possible, but the above is the most common choice.

When attaching a lanyard as a safety feature take great care that in the event of failure of the fixing the lanyard will not be subject to a "shock" loading. I.e the load drops straight down and suddenly snags. Try to make the item swing to avoid the sudden "shock", which can give rise to loads 100 times greater than the weight of the item.