Guden news articles

Are you needing help finding which gas spring size and pressure will work best in your application?  Trial and error is one way to go about it, but the faster more efficient way is to supply some application data to the Guden gas spring specialists, and we can make a recommendation for the gas spring size and pressure and also give you a starting point for where to mount it.  Simply let us know your door dimensions and weight, how far you want it to open and any information on mounting constraints you have, and we can do the hard work for you.  Click here for more information on our gas springs and our gas spring mounting assistance form.

Are you needing some assistance creating your own custom hinge?  Still unsure of what you want to design or what parameters are possible?  Check out our Guden Custom Hinge Selection Tool to get all the help you possibly need.  From handy pictures and information guidelines to specification and drawing help, our online site will expertly guide and assist you through the process of creating and submitting your hinge design for evaluation and quotation.   Click here to get started!

Are you looking for hinges that aren't made of metal?  Guden has a large selection of plastic hinges in many shapes and sizes.  Plastic is non-corrosive, as well as non-conductive and is lightweight and durable. They are also available in the popular black color, as well as our continuous plastic hinges available in gray or white. Click here for the entire Guden offering.

Are you looking for wheels or casters for your application? Guden has a wide selection of E R Wagner casters in stock and can provide just about any standard or custom caster made by E R Wagner upon request.  Not sure what item you are needing?  Specify your wheel and stem requirements and we can offer a cost-effective item or alternative to fit your needs.  Click here for more information on caster descriptions and options as well as the stock offerings available. 

For applications where the holes on the hinge aren't matching up with holes in your chassis or frame, standard round holes are usually the type of perforation chosen for mounting.  But when you're having say 3 holes on the hinge leaf match up with 3 holes on your chassis, one or or more of the hinge leaf perforations will be a slotted hole or slot instead of a standard round hole.  This allows for the hinge to be shifted slightly to help with any tolerance issues or material issues for the holes not matching up exactly. It's especially helpful when it's a longer length of hinge and there are multiple holes. Slots can be punched in almost any width or length and many sizes are already standard tooling. They can also be punched parallel to the hinge barrel or perpendicular to it as shown in the picture.  Click here for more information on slot specification on your custom hinge.

Are you looking for an alternative to a Ball Stud for mounting your gas springs?  Maybe your design doesn't have the room for the threading, or you need the ball to be farther away from the frame or door?   If either situation is the case, Guden offers both flat and 90 degree angle brackets in several sizes, thicknesses and finishes.  Each bracket is assembled with the standard 10mm ball that fits all the most popular plastic and metal socket end fittings.  Check out the entire offering here.

What is the action of a spring-loaded-to-close hinge?  Just like Spring-Loaded-to-Open hinge in the previous post, it should have one or more knuckles removed and replaced with a torsion spring to make it a spring type hinge. This hinge is also best described by following which way the spring legs push the leaves. In this case, the springs will push the leaves together, or the closed position of the hinge. This is important to keep in mind when mounting the hinge to the door and frame so you can envision how it will push or pull the door. Click here for more information on the sizes and action of Spring-Loaded-to-Closed hinges.

Are you needing a door to stay closed without a magnet or outside latch?  Guden Tension Ball Catches are the answer you're looking for.  Each catch is a two-piece design and the pin portion connects securely to the receptacle to keep the door closed.  The catch is also designed with two adjustable balls that can increase or decrease the amount of force needed to close and retain the pin portion. Available in a chrome, nickel or brass plating, one is sure to match the design of your application.  Click here for the available sizes.  

Are you looking for an alternative to a gas spring for keeping doors and lids open?  Folding lid supports are a different way to achieve this. While they don't help lift the lid or door, they can lock into place and keep it from closing until the user wants it to close. Some have a positive locking system button as shown so you don't have to worry about it closing by accident.  Most are available in a left or right hand version depending on the side you're looking to mount it on. Some are also available with an angled foot piece for ease in mounting to different surfaces. Guden offers styles in plated steel and in stainless steel, and in a variety of sizes.  Click here for the entire offering.

Searching for a pull handle that is more decorative than just a rod or bar type pull?  Extruded aluminum pulls might be the answer. Guden carries several sizes in a finger grip type as shown that can make your application stand out. Beautifully curved and with a satin and anodized finish, they're sure to be an eye pleaser. Check out the different lengths available here, as well as other styles of our Extruded Aluminum Pull Handles.

Gas springs are nitrogen filled assemblies that can help lift and hold open a lid, door or cover.  They're also commonly known as gas struts or gas shocks. In addition to the nitrogen, there is a small amount of lubrication oil which helps dampen the extension of the rod, but contrary to their name, true gas springs do not have an actual spring inside them.  Click here for more information on all the gas spring, strut and shock sizes, pressures and styles that Guden has to offer. 

Are you looking for a chest handle that has a spring-loaded bail?  Guden has a wide variety of chest handles that are assembled with a spring that automatically returns the handle to the hanging down position to keep it flat against the side of whatever you're mounting it to.  Spring-loaded bails on chest handles ensures that the bail isn't flopping up and down when it's not supposed to.  Click here for more information on the sizes and styles of Guden spring-loaded chest handles. 

Hinges and Hardware 101 - Self-Clinching Fasteners

Hinges and Hardware 101 - Custom Hinge Shapes

Hinges and Hardware 101 - Compression or Extension Dampers. There are two styles of dampers, but which one is right for your application?   It's better to explain the motion of each unit because depending on how it is mounted the action could be different from the unit description.   Compression dampers slow the motion as the rod is entering or being compressed into the tube of the damper while extension dampers slow the motion as the rod is exiting or exiting out from the tube.  In most cases, dampers mounted on the same side from the pivot point that the door is will give the exact motion for the door as is stated, but if you are mounting on the opposite side of the pivot point, the motion will be, well, the opposite  :)  Having an engineer analyze your application as well as going through some sample testing are the best ways to get exactly the results you're looking for.  You can start your process here to see all the stock sizes to choose from.

Standard catch and strikes securely pull down to keep a lid or cover in the closed position, but some applications require more strength in the closure.  Sometimes insulation or gasketing needs the catch to come closer, so compression spring catches are your answer.  They give a little more so extra space can be overcome to achieve a tighter closure.  We have them available in zinc-plated steel and stainless steel and are in stock for immediate shipping.  Check out the entire catch and strike line, including these compression spring catches here.

Most standard hinges have both leaves at the same width. but if your application requires different width leaves, Guden can supply that customization quickly and easily.  Just give us the overall dimensions you require and include the width dimension for each leaf.  Each width is dimensioned from the center of the pin to the edge of the leaf.  While any combination of widths can be made, it's more economical if you can have the total width still be a standard width.   For example, 3" overall, with a 2" and a 1" leaf is much more manageable than a 3.25" overall, with a 2.25" and a 1" leaf.  Check out more information on Guden Custom Hinges here and submit your design requirements for a quick and easy quotation.

Are you looking to conceal your hinge from view?  One popular product for this is a Soss hinge. These hinges are mounted within the door frame and are hidden from view when the door is closed. This type of mounting allows for a smooth unbroken surface, with no visible hinge barrel.  Soss hinges are available in many sizes and finishes, as well as styles to suit either metal or wood cabinets. Check out the entire line of Guden Soss Hinges here.

Needing help dimensioning a clipped corner on your hinge?  Look no further!  It's as simple as just a dimension and an angle for the triangle of metal you will be removing from the hinge leaf.  Check out the edited picture here.  One dimension would be how far from the edge you want to start the corner of the triangle, and then at what angle the triangle would be.  It's that easy.  For more information on this, and other custom hinge operations, check out our handy Custom Hinge Design Form here.

One of the dimensions on your hinge is the Open Width, and sometimes it's confused with the term Leaf Width.  Open width is the dimension across both leaves, measured perpendicular to the pin.  This would be the 2" dimension in this picture.   The Leaf Width is measured from the center of the pin to the edge of the leaf. This is the 1" dimension in this picture. In most cases the leaf widths would be half the total open width except in unequal leaf situations where one leaf is wider than the other.  Check out more information on hinge width and other hinge anatomy details here.

Are you needing a butt hinge that's going to be used outdoors and has to be corrosion resistant?  Guden carries several options for you.  Stainless steel resists some of the most corrosive of environments and is available in 302/304 and 316 grades.  We even carry a polished stainless line for more decorative applications.  Plated steel can also be supplied, but any nick or scratch in the plating can expose bare metal and rusting can occur.  Another alternative to metals is plastic hinges.  Guden carried a full line of plastic/nylon butts that are both decorative and will not rust.  Check out all the Guden butt hinges here.

Hinges and Hardware 101 - Guden Custom Hinges

Hinges and Hardware 101 - Keeping a Panel Switch or Button Covered

Which operation do you need to do on your hinge leaves to fit your application?  First, we can discuss what each term means.   Swaging typically describes pushing the leaf or leaves of a hinge towards the barrel.  Or in this picture, Up.  Offset typically describes pushing the leaf or leaves away from the barrel.  Or in this picture, Down. Depending on the space or gap you require between the leaves, you may want to consider which operation is needed and can be done as a custom operation on many styles of hinges.   Click here for more information on both offsets and swages.

Some applications require a door or panel to stay in the closed position and may not have the clearance or room for a traditional catch and strike set or non-magnetic two-piece catch. If that's the case, Guden magnetic catches can discreetly keep a panel closed without a high-profile piece of hardware.  The heavy-duty magnet can be inset within your panel or frame.  It is also supplied with a metal strike to mate with the magnet to keep the panel in place.  We stock two sizes;  a single magnet and double magnet for larger weight applications.   Click here for more information on Guden magnetic catches.

Some hinge applications require your leaves to have cut outs or shapes to work around existing obstructions that won't allow for the hinge leaf to lay flat against the surface   Guden can easily add a cut-out to the leaf, or other customizations to work around these obstructions.  Contact a Guden Customer Service Representative 1-800-3HINGES to discuss your application or visit the Guden Custom Hinge page here to submit your requirements. 

Do you have a situation where you'd rather not see the hinge barrel?  Or you want as little of a gap between the door and jam as possible?   Guden concealed hinges can solve both of those situations!  It's unique curved design allows for the hinge to be mounted completely hidden from view when the door is closed, and lets the door and frame be as close as possible without a big gap. Available in steel and stainless steel, both with holes and without.  Click here for our stock sizes. 

Is your application needing the lid or cover to stay open at several different positions?  Guden gas springs or standard lid supports can easily open them to one angle, but using a Guden Cam-Stay, you can position your lid from between 5 and 10 different open angles.  Each Cam-Stay also has a unique unlocking mechanism to safely hold open and then easily close your lid or cover.  We also carry mounting hardware to make installation a snap. Click here for our standard sizes, as well as here for more information and an informative video showing their use.

For decades, companies serving the aerospace industry have relied on Guden for their hinges.  MS20001 extruded aluminum hinges, MS20257 aluminum and stainless steel hinges as well as MS20253 pins are standard stock items. We can also supply custom lengths, half hinges as well as perforations. In addition to our large selection of stock aerospace hinge we can also supply hinges made to your print specification. Just email your print and specifications for quotation to info@guden.com or submit it on our website here.

Spring latch hinges come in two versions:  A left hand version and a mirror image right hand version.  But how can you be sure which is which?  The easy way to tell is lay the hinge flat on the table with the pin side up and on the side of the leaf farthest from you.  If the pin is pointing to your left, it's a left hand, and if it points to the right, it's a right hand.  Don't just go with buying a left because someone says it's going to be on the left side of the door.  You should always check how it will be mounted and purchase the correct version.  Click here to view all the sizes and material versions of Guden Spring Latch Hinges.

What exactly is a Weld-On Hinges or a Bullet Hinge?   This style of hinge is called either of these names due to it having no leaves for any fasteners and it is an oblong shape similar to a bullet. Because it has no leaves, the hinge must be attached by welding it to your door and frame. It is a male/female style hinge that can be taken apart so you can easily remove your door from its frame.  We even supply a bushing to make for easier rotation. Guden has a variety of these in sizes from 1.5" to over 10" in length.  They're also supplied in Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminum, with a variety of pin types and styles. Click here for information on the entire line.

Pin Retention - How To Keep a Hinge Pin From Falling Out

What is the best way to keep your hinge pin from working its way out of your hinge? Here are 3 common ways to retain your hinge pin:

Staked Pin – A simple and inexpensive custom operation that slightly dimples one or more of the hinge knuckles to trap the pin within the knuckles of one leaf. It is a good secure way of retaining the pin, but with some effort you can still drive the pin out past the staking. Some Guden continuous hinges and butt hinges are available from stock with this option as noted in their description

Spun Pin Ends - You've all seen hinges with a slightly flared pin end or ends as well as fancy rounded or formed ends. This completely traps the pin within the hinge knuckles. One of the spun ends would need to be cut or ground off to remove this pin so this is a very secure way of retaining a pin. Most of the standard Guden butt hinges are in stock with spun pin ends as noted in their description.

Welded Pin – Having one end of the pin welded to the end knuckle secures the pin from falling out. This is also a secure way of retaining the pin, but the weld is often fairly visible to the eye. Depending on the weld, it may only take a little effort to break it and the pin can still be driven out.

For even more options and variety, Guden also offers coined pins, splined pins and crimped ends. Click here for more on these operations. Contact a Guden Representative to discuss your pin retention preferences or see our custom hinge form here to upload your request for quotation.

Are you looking for hinges that can come apart, but are secure when assembled together?  Guden Un-Hinges have retractable pins that allow for the hinge leaves to separate, and when the spring-loaded pins are allowed to extend, they lock in place to hold the hinge together.  There are several versions, with and without holes, and with one pin or two pins. They're also available in zinc plated steel and stainless steel.  Click here for the full line of options. 

What are the parts that make up a Catch and Strike set? Sometimes also referred to as Draw Pull Catches, they're comprised of  A - The main catch part,  B -The strike part and C - the loop  that is attached to the catch and fits over the strike to lock the two pieces together.   Guden has many varieties and styles available from stock in steel, plated steel and stainless steel.  There are even versions that accept a lock, and springs to create even more tension for the closure.  Click here for the full line of sizes

Are you trying to dimension where the holes are going to be our custom hinge?   First, almost always, the hole dimensioning is taken to and from the center point of your hole.  For a single hole, you need two dimensions.  In the picture, Dimension A is from the end of the hinge perpendicular to the pin to the center of the hole.  Dimension B will be the distance from the edge of the leaf across the pin to the center of the hole.   If you have multiple holes, you can specify Dimension C is from the center of the first hole to the center of the next hole.  If the hole spacing is going to be the same for each hole, it is common to call it out as center-to-center and just call out the number of times it occurs.  For 7 holes, there would be 6 center-to-centers.  For more assistance, see our custom hinge selection form to choose your hinge style, and then holes.

What exactly are extruded aluminum hinges?  Unlike regular rolled hinges where the flat sheet of metal is curled around the pin, extruded hinges are one solid piece of metal.  Each leaf is a separate solid piece.  The knuckles are then milled out and a hole drilled through the entire length of the hinge.  The two halves are fitted together, and pin slid thru the hole to make the hinge assembly.  This type of construction allows for much closer tolerances for play in the hinge, as well as increased strength in a lightweight material.  Commercial versions of this hinge are available, but the most popular would be the MS20001 series for aerospace applications.  Check out our entire line of extruded hinges here.

The answer is Yes! Temperature can be a very big factor in how a gas spring operates in an application. The gas spring cylinder is filled with nitrogen gas and the higher the temperature, the faster the gas molecules move. The molecules moving faster, causes the volume of gas and pressure to increase which makes the gas spring stronger.

Are you looking for a more stylish appearance for your hinge knuckles?  Is your hinge length not a multiple of the knuckle length?  Then you may want to look at having the hinge cut with balanced ends.  Making your end knuckles smaller than the center knuckles can sometimes make your hinge look less utilitarian.  If you want to not have one end knuckle a different size than all the others, we can split the end knuckles and have each end be the same length to balance things out.  Check out this customization as well as many others here on our hinge customization page.

Are you looking for custom hinge leaves?  Guden can supply unequal leaves, bends, holes slots, and an assortment of customizations to any hinge leaf or leaves.   We can even combine features as you see on the hinge in this picture that has a custom width and a bend.  Check out all the custom operations available and submit your design for quotation on our easy-to-use custom hinge form. 

Leaf swaging is the process of changing the plane of one or both of the hinge leaves.  The operation moves the leaf or leaves in the direction of the pin side of the leaves.  This altering of the leaf planes helps adjust for mounting on different level surfaces or to adjust the gap left between the two leaves.  The different styles as shown are: one leaf half swaged, both leaves half swaged, one leaf full swaged, and swage to resemble reverse assembly.  Each moves the leaf or leaves to a set position.  You can read more information here or contact a Guden Representative to discuss your application needs.

Now more than ever, many of us are realizing just how important the on-time deliveries and stock levels of our suppliers have become. As always, Guden remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure that you continue to have the parts you need, when you need them. Here are just some of the options we can offer:

Guden door pulls come in many shapes and sizes.  They are available with holes for mounting with fasteners and without holes for welding.  Many applications can use our zinc-plated versions, and we also supply them in stainless steel or plain steel too if you should need to apply your own finish, as seen in this picture. Check out this door pull, as well as the entire line of Guden pulls and handles here.

There are many ways to cut a hinge, but an unbalanced shear can also satisfy two requirements. This type of cut shears through the knuckle instead of between two knuckles. For example, on a hinge with .50” knuckles, the length would be 10.30” instead of 10.00” or 10.50”. When the shear comes down, it will crush the knuckle a bit and deform it. This will end up trapping the pin and acts as its own form of pin retention, so it doesn't fall out of the hinge saving an extra operation of staking or welding the pin. So, if a slightly deformed knuckle doesn't bother your application, this would be a cheaper alternative to a saw cut which will be highlighted in a future post. You can also check out a little more on Unbalanced Shears here.

For applications where one gas spring end is higher than the other for the majority of it's at rest position, it is recommended to have the tube end higher than the rod.  I noticed right away on this food truck awning that their gas springs were mounted incorrectly.  In this application the rod is in the up position.  This allows the lubrication oil in the tube all flow to the bottom, and not surround the protective seal for where the rod enters the tube.  If the seal dries out, more gas pressure can possibly escape shortening the lifespan of your gas spring.  It also doesn't allow the rod to move through the oil which can help with adding a dampening effect for when the unit is compressing.  If at all possible, mount your gas spring with the tube higher than the rod for a longer life and better workability. Click here to see the entire line of Guden Gas Springs and other associated items.

Does your application require your hinge leaves to be more than just bent at an angle?  Guden has access to many manufacturing and tooling processes that just about any design you can dream up can be possible.  How about mounting to a rounded surface?  This hinge has curved leaves to suit just that need.  Just give us the radius dimensions and we can provide the custom hinge just as you need it.  Simply use our custom hinge selection tool to submit your application requirements.

There are lots of hardware choices to keep a door closed, but there are some even better choices to also allow for opening the door. Guden Spring Latch Hinges and Guden Slam Latches both allow the door to be held in the closed position with a spring-loaded pin. Their bent pins can then be retracted to allow the door to be opened. But that's where the similarities end.

Are you looking for a decorative knob for your application? Guden has a selection of stock knobs in several materials and finishes. Some have a rounded sphere type end like in this picture and are made of brass and are available in no finish or a chrome plating. We also have styles that have a flat grip and are supplied in a zinc die-cast material. All of our knobs are supplied with tapped holes for an easy mounting. Check out the entire line here.

The pin and barrel dimension for a hinge can sometimes be a mistakenly called out, which at times can be confusing.  They are related, but they are two separate dimensions as shown in this picture.  The actual pin is one diameter, and then the barrel dimension (A) is basically the pin diameter (B) plus two times the material thickness.  It's not equal to it, just due to the space required for the pin to move within the hinge, but for barrel dimension purposes, it will be within reasonable tolerances on most drawings. Sometimes people will confuse the two and say the barrel dimension instead of the actual pin dimension, but you can sometimes tell something is wrong because the "pin" dimension turns out to be three times or more the material thickness and that's not the norm. Check out more on the anatomy of a hinge here. 

Many applications just require a piece of hardware to grip so someone can open a door or lid. Guden threaded Rod Pulls are an easy way to meet that need. They're available in a curved U shape design, in an assortment of lengths and heights. Aside from making sure the size is correct, you also have to make sure you're using the proper screws, or you will end up with the situation seen in the picture. The ends of the rod pull are threaded to accept a screw, so it's important to use the proper threading as well as the proper length. Not quite sure why, but this size screw seems way off for this application, so my guess is that they wanted it this way so someone could fit more than just their fingers through the handle opening, or someone with a very very big hand opens this particular door. Guden Rod and Wire pulls are available in brass, stainless steel and aluminum and supplied in several different stock finishes. Check out the entire line here.

Does your hinge require more than just holes or slots? Maybe you're looking to place a hinge around something that doesn't allow your hinge leaf to lay flat?  We can easily supply your hinge with cut outs or any number of shapes to achieve this. Guden has access to all the latest laser cutting technologies so just about any perforation shape or cut out is possible.  Simply send us your dimensioned print for quotation and we'll gladly supply it as a custom run. See our custom hinge site for assistance in starting this process for cut outs and any number of specialty operations you require for your hinge.

Are you looking for a hinge that has strength, beauty and can also be concealed from view? Guden has your answer with Soss Invisible Hinges! We stock a large selection of sizes and styles to fit either metal or wood applications and one is sure to meet your requirements. Each hinge has an interwoven finger-like design for the hinging points and is uniquely crafted in either plated steel or heavy duty zinc alloy. Both materials can be supplied in a satin chrome, satin brass, satin nickel or black e-coat finish with other finishes also available. And for even more corrosion resistance and durability, they are also available in a 316 stainless steel material with a satin finish.

Most of you have probably looked under a folding table and seen how the legs are connected. Or maybe you've even had to collapse one down or set a table up at a backyard party or family event.  This folding piece of hardware is a table leg brace.  There is usually a safety button mechanism to keep it in the straight position, and when pressed, it allows for the unit to fold down so the table leg can collapse down under the table.  I found this more non-standard application use of one on this stepladder, but the concept it still the same.  You straighten the brace to lock it in place, then depress the safety lock button to refold it.  Guden also offers smaller versions as lid and fall supports, with a built-in bump over style locking mechanism that requires pressure for folding instead of a push button. Perfect for lower weight applications. Check out all the styles of supports and braces Guden has to offer here.  

You've all seen holes that have a slight angle to them so a flathead screw can fit snugly and lay flat into the surface of your hinge. These are countersunk holes. This type of hole is used when you don't want to see a round head of a screw above the surface.  They're also used to allow the hinge leaves to lay flat against each other when closed so the screw heads aren't in the way.

Are you looking for a hinge that can be mounted hidden from view?  Guden offers a selection of hinges for just this type of application.  Our concealed hinges, like this one shown, allow for a door to be flush to the panel its covering, without any visible pin or hinge leaves.  This unique multi-pin construction moves the door up, out and over the frame opening so there is total access to whatever is underneath. Check out our entire line of concealed hinges, including this style towards the bottom of the page.

Most stock hinges have two leaves that lay flat for attaching to another flat surface. But what do you do when you need to mount to two perpendicular surfaces or two surfaces not in the same plane?  Thats when leaf bending comes into play.  Almost any hinge leaf can have one or more bends in it, and the bend doesn't have to just be a 90 degree bend like you see on this slip joint hinge leaf.  Guden has the capability to do just about any bend angle you need to fit your application.  Just submit your drawing or requirements here on our custom product form and we'll get a quotation back to you. 

Are you in need of a hinge that allows you to lift off your door like this wall locker box? Guden carries a large selection of these types of hinges. Commonly known as Lift-Off, Slip Joint, Loose Joint and Take-Apart hinges, these two-piece sets let you rotate your door open when connected together. You are able to easily remove the door by separating the hinge halves from each other.  They are available in Right Hand and Left Hand versions and you can watch our video for more information on handing. Click here to see our full line of sizes available in all the popular materials.

Gas springs are filled with nitrogen and when at rest, that pressurized nitrogen keeps pushing the rod out of the tube. The pressure of gas springs can range from five pounds up to several hundred pounds.  While most people can compress a lower pound pressure spring by hand, you should never try to compress a gas spring to install it.  You should always manually raise your lid or cover to the designed open angle and then connect your gas spring to the mounting points. This is your safest way of installing it and allowing the weight of the cover to compress the spring.  If you need assistance picking the right gas spring and mounting points to use, we're here to help!  Let Guden help guide you to the optimal solution based on your application parameters by using our gas spring selector process. 

Two-piece draw pull catch and strike sets are a great way of securing a door, cover or lid in place as soon in this picture.  The catch has a ring of metal that is pulled down and over the strike portion and then clamped down tight to "draw" the door to the frame. They're available from stock in several sizes, and in steel, zinc plated steel and stainless steel materials. We also offer them with holes or without. If you're looking for an even tighter fit, you can check out our compression spring catches that are assembled with torsion springs and for more security, we also can supply ones with an arm extension perforated to accept a lock or cable tie to ensure that the catch isn't opened. MS18015 spec government catches are also available from stock.  Check out the entire offering of Guden catch and strike sets here.

Spring loaded hinges are available in two styles; spring-loaded-to-open and spring-loaded-to-close. They are stocked in plain steel, zinc plated steel and stainless steel. You can choose between spring hinges with or without holes. The action words Open and Close should not necessarily be confused with how the door will move because that is dependent on how the hinge is mounted.

Spring-Loaded-To-Open Hinges

Spring-Loaded-To-Close Hinges

Slots, also known as obrounds or ovals, need to have a dimension to identify their size just like any other perforation. When dimensioning holes, all is needed is the diameter, but how does one call out a slot size?  A slot is really just an elongated hole, so first you'd need to know the hole diameter. Then you can either call out the dimension from center-to-center on the holes making up the ends of the slot or just call out the overall length. Slots are typically made with punching dies. It is helpful if you can use a size that we already have a punch for, but we can certainly offer any size you want with a tooling charge. Click here for more information on slotted holes.

Ever wonder why sometimes you see a different size gaps around the knuckles of a hinge?  The gap is the paint clearance for the hinge and is set at a standard dimension for each hinge size to give enough space for painting. If the painting is too thick, the knuckles will touch the surface of the barrel when the hinge rotates and some of the paint may scrape off.  Definitely not something you want to happen. The hinge in this picture is a great example of a custom paint clearance as it's a very large gap.  Click here for a little more information on this topic.

The pin of the hinge is normally run loose enough for the hinge to turn, but tight enough so that it doesn't just fall out either.  In some applications, the pin can start to work itself out over time and start to stick out the end of the hinge.  So what can you do about it?  There are several ways to prevent it and one of the easiest and quickest ways to retain the pin is to have it staked.  Staking is the process of indenting the hinge knuckle so it presses against the pin as you can see in this picture. This process does prevent the pin from moving, but you can still drive the pin out with a bit of effort just in case you need to take the door off.  You can have one stake or more depending on how difficult you'd like it to be to drive the pin out.  Check out more information on staking and other pin retentions here.

Some applications need more than just 1 pin and two leaves to allow for a door to swing even wider than usual, or to fold around something.  In some cases, they are mounted so that two different panels can move on the same mounting point like the application shown.  We even have the ability to join multiple hinge leaves with any number of pins to, in theory, even make an entire wall of hinge leaves if you so desire.  Do you have an application that sounds like this?  Submit your custom hinge specifications to us on the Guden Custom Hinge Form here.

Having trouble deciding on how to mount your hinge? There are a number of different ways of mounting your hinge depending on your requirements. Here are the three most common methods:

Welding

Standard Fasteners

Self-Clinching Fasteners

Larger weights and high security applications often require heavy duty hinges and Guden has plenty of them right on shelf for immediate shipment. Take for instance the outdoor ATM unit shown here.  You would definitely want a thickness and pin that can withstand some tampering and abuse.  Available in steel, stainless and aluminum and many are in stock in thicknesses of 14 gauge all the way up to 7 gauge, with even heavier gauges supplied on a custom run.  Choose from continuous lengths, butt hinges and spring latch hinges too.  Check out the entire line here.

It's their gleaming shiny finish that gets Guden strap and T hinges noticed! Each hinge has a smaller leaf for the frame and a longer leaf to support any large door or cover. They're supplied in stainless steel for outdoor durability and polished for a decorative look as you can see in this picture. Check out all the available Guden sizes and styles here.

Most standard hinges have leaves that are the same length but what about applications that would benefit from one leaf being a different size than the other?  That's when a hinge with unequal leaves would be needed like shown here.  Just specify what hinge leaf dimensions you require and Guden can custom run the exact size that you need.  Click here to submit your specifications on our custom hinge form.

Don't be a square,  or a rectangle too for that matter. Tired of all the standard hinge shapes?  Guden has your answer! Laser cutting has now allowed for almost any shape or cut-out imaginable on your hinge.  Just look at the intricate curves and holes on this fancy gate hinge.  Challenge Guden with your most creative or decorative design by quickly and easily submitting your specification drawing here

Searching for hardware to keep a door or lid shut is easy. And finding a product that allows for a quick opening is just as simple! Check out the Guden spring latch line. Each is assembled with a pin that is spring-loaded to keep it in the extended position. One end of the pin is bent for gripping to retract the pin so you can release the lid or cover. We offer many different sizes, in steel, stainless and plated steel too. Some are even available with a rubber tip for a better grip and others have a hold-back feature to keep the pin in the retracted position. Check out the entire line of Guden spring latches here.

Choosing the wrong type of handle or pull for your application could just have you end up with this situation!  Many factors should be reviewed before selecting the handle. What strength does it need. Does mounting with screws from the front make better sense than a tapped hole rod pull type?  Maybe welding the handle to the surface?  With so many choices, it's no wonder that people sometimes pick the wrong type.  Check out all the handles and pulls that Guden has to offer here.

Continuous hinges are supplied in several different knuckle length sizes. From .25" knuckles to .50", .625 , the rare .75" and then 1" and 2" knuckles for most of your more heavy duty hinges.  Our stock hinges are always supplied in lengths divisible by the knuckle length, but you can also get them supplied in the length of your choice, or cut them down in your own facility. 

Gas springs without black nitrided rods?  How 2000's! " Detective H.A, thought to himself as he spied the lid on this box.  He certainly didn't need any more clues as to what was assisting and holding this cover open on its own as the gleaming chrome rod was very easy to spot. He knew black nitrided rods were so much more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and let the gas spring almost disappear from view.  H.A. even knew how much more environmentally friendly black nitrided rods are over chrome rods.  His next assignment was going to be to finding the designer of this box to show him his choices.  Are you looking for gas springs with black nitrided  rods?  Click here to see the huge selection.

A great looking rod pull is the perfect addition to any door. I spied this stainless steel handle on this glass door and it made me think of the several ways a handle would mount in an application. Is it a surface mount where the handle is welded ? Is it screwed down from the front of the door?
Or maybe are the screws hidden and it's mounted through threaded holes in the rod pull like the application shown here. You can find all the different Guden handle and rod pull styles here: https://www.guden.com/control/handles-pulls

Selecting the product that works perfectly in your application sometimes requires reviewing different items that have very similar functions, but have different attributes to offer. Gas springs and spring hinges are two of those items. While they are two very different products, they both provide motion and each can hold a lid, door or cover in a position So which one is right for your application?

Gas Spring and Spring Hinge Applications

Gas Springs are a piston and rod assembly that is filled with pressurized gas and a small amount of lubrication and damping oil.

• A one piece unit requiring ball studs or brackets for mounting
• Painted steel or stainless steel construction
• Application typically also requires a hinge on the door
• Mounting can be designed to hold door in open and/or closed position so no additional catches or supports are needed
• Often requires operator to assist the lid opening until gas spring takes over
• Additional styles available: Locking gas springs, Friction stop gas springs, Miniature gas springs
• Wide range or gas spring pressures allow for use on very light to very heavy doors
• Also known as Gas Struts, Gas Pistons, Gas Shocks
• How to mount a gas spring

Spring Hinges are a standard hinge with one or more knuckles removed and replaced with a torsion spring.

• A one piece unit: with holes requires screws for mounting, or blank for welding
• Spring-loaded-to-open or spring-loaded-to-close versions
• Depending on how they are mounted, can be used to open or close a door
• Typically used on vertical doors, but can be used on horizontal lids or covers too
• Work best on light to medium light weight doors
• Will push hinge leaf without requiring an outside force so may require a catch or latch to keep in desired position
• Steel, plated steel, stainless steel or aluminum construction
• Torsion spring strength can be adjusted by adding more springs or increasing strength of each spring
• Doesn't require additional space inside cabinet for mounting
• Provides immediate motion to the door upon release

Corrosion resistance is a concern for many hinge applications and many will opt for stainless steel or aluminum materials as they will resist rust adequately in most situations. Another option is plastic. Hinges made of plastic nylon resist corrosion and are also lightweight, non-conductive and decorative. Of course they aren't as strong and sturdy as metal, but they can support many medium and light duty applications. Check out all the standard plastic hinge sizes Guden has to offer HERE

Detective H.A. Wasn't quite sure what to make of this hinge he spied underneath an adjustable seat on a plane.  At first glance, it looked like a regular hinge but with further investigation, he saw the leaves weren't in the same plane as they usually would be! What could cause this, he pondered, as he checked his notes on leaf orientations. With the leaves assembled reverse of what they normally would be, each leaf was on opposite sides of the pin instead of the same side. Why would someone do this? To allow for more rotation of the hinge? Or maybe they needed the offset between the leaves for the mounting? It was a bit of a mystery that might need more exploring.

No matter where you are, you should always keep a look out for hinges!  Sometimes they're in a hidden spot, but sometimes, like this cover on a iced beverages cart, you'll find some right out in the open.  For some reason, this designer wanted the hinge to mount on the top surface and the inside surface as I could see from the extra wide hinge bent leaves.  Maybe he could have saved a little money by just using a standard slip joint on the side surfaces, but this arrangement seemed to pull the lid slightly off to the side which led me to believe maybe they didn't want someone catching themselves or anything else on it? One thing's for sure,  Guden can create a custom slip joint hinge like this, or to your specifications easily!  Hinge Customizations | Glossary | Guden Custom Hinges

Most people know hinges to have standard square corners, but a corner doesn't have to just be a corner. Here are two common custom operations that can be done to a regular corner.  1. Clipped Corners give you a triangular cut out while 2. Radius Corners give you a rounded feature.  Both help eliminate something catching or snagging on the pointy hinge corner and add a little bit of a decorative touch. You can read more information on these features here.

It was late evening at a roadside diner when Detective H.A. had an odd feeling.  He scoped around a bit, and then spotted it.  Following a trail of paper towel scraps, they brought him to this horrible sight -a hinge with a missing pin. A former shell of itself, all that remained of the hinge was just a half leaf left lifeless.  H.A. knew very well that without the proper pin retention, a pin can be pulled, pushed, or even dragged out of a hinge, but who could have let this happen?  Was it staked? Had there been a crimped end? Maybe signs of a spun end or two? He quickly referred to his notes on Pin Retention and found no evidence that anyone had taken steps to prevent this hinge tragedy.  If only they had viewed the Pin Retention Case Video, he thought, this situation could have been avoided. 

Paint clearance is the normal gap left between the knuckle and the barrel of the hinge when it is made. It's used as a guideline for the thickness of the painting or plating applied to the hinge surface.  Most professional finishers will ensure that they are within the guideline, but if they don't, the error is usually quite obvious.  See here for more information: paint clearance | Anatomy of Hinges | Glossary (guden.com)

Soss Invisible Hinges are the perfect product for when you need a concealed hinge.  Decorative and strong, they're mounted within the door and frame for a minimal gap, and when the door is closed, the hinge is hidden from view.  Available in dozens of sizes and finishes, with styles for both wood and metal cabinets.  See the full line here:  Soss Hinges.

It's summertime and its the perfect time to upgrade your boat hinges. Guden has a wide variety of boat hinges in stock and ready to ship. Guden hinges are high quality and affordable. 

Are you looking for long hinges? You have come to the right place! Guden has a huge selection of long hinges in a variety of lengths and sizes. Our hinge lengths range from 4 inches to 96 inches. 

What is better than a day at sea with the sun shining and wind in your hair? Summer is almost here and we can't wait. Here at Guden, we love being a part of these special moments at sea. Did you know that Guden carries marine hardware? 

Gas Spring Definition:

Gas Spring Synonyms

The Difference between a Gas Spring and Damper

Guden has a wide selection of Gas Springs

Different Types of Guden Gas Springs

• Standard Gas Springs
• Locking Gas Springs
• Friction Stop Gas Springs
• Adjustable Gas Springs
• Camloc Gas Springs

1. Choose your design.
   • If you have a drawing, or even a simple sketch, you can send that right to us.
   • If you have an idea, but need a little help with the drawing, our Design Templates are at your disposal.
   • If your idea is still a little rough, and you need some human help, our Customer Service Representatives are happy to work with you.
2. Guden quotes you a price.
   • We review the drawing to ensure we have all the information necessary to provide a price.
   • We send you a comprehensive price quote.

Need hinge
design info?
Check the guru!

3. Place your order.
   • You provide us with your purchase order.
   • We provide you with a Guden drawing of your hinge, and get your final approval on it.
   • We send you your order confirmation and ship date.
4. Your parts arrive!
   • Send us a picture of your custom hinge in action! We love to see a successful project.
   • We look forward to working with you again in the future!

Here at Guden we pride ourselves on making industrial hardware easy. We know designing any product into your application is a lengthy process.

Have you ever seen a Barrel hinge?

What is a Cam-Stay?

Since 1920, Guden has been helping people get the perfect custom hinges and hardware that they need. We have years of experience and expertise in this sector. We care about your specific project and know the key factors that help keep a custom hinge's cost down and the quality up.

Guden works hard to provide a broad selection of hinges for our wide range of customers. We know that with so many options, it may be difficult choosing which hinge is right for you and your application. We decided to create this video to help present the different types of hinges available to you. 

Introducing the New Line of Plastic Hinges

Why Choose Our New Plastic Hinges? 

Also Check Out Our Plastic Piano Hinges: 

Our plastic piano hinges are another popular choice. These hinges are also known as plastic continuous hinges and polyhinges. They are extremely durable and have been tested through over one million flexes without failure. They are also lightweight, low cost, weatherproof, and corrosion resistant. 

We have a wide variety of plastic continuous hinges. Our standard lengths are 36'', 77'' or 1200'' coils. Our standard widths are 1'', 1.5'', 2'' and 3''. The plastic hinges come in gray, white and black. They can be cut to any length. Just let us know the open width, color, quantity and length needed.  

Did you know that Guden has a huge selection of hasps and staples in stock and ready for same day shipment? Hasps and staples are perfect for securing the closure of a lid or door. 

How To Use A Hasp and Staple

We need warehouse space, so we're clearing out our stock of genuine Wagner casters.

These parts are going for a fraction of cost -- we need the shelves!

Benefits of Piano Hinges 

Types of Piano Hinges 

Gas Spring

Gas Springs are found in a variety of applications like office chairs, overhead cabinets, food equipment, manufacturing equipment, agricultural equipment, automotive equipment and more! Gas springs are great for helping control the motion of your lid, door or cover. The gas spring can help keep the lid in the closed position, aid in lifting, and hold the lid in the open position. Gas springs are pressurized with nitrogen gas and contain a small amount of lubricating oil within the cylinder.

Dampers

Dampers are another great way to control the motion of your door, lid or cover. In addition, they're also useful to control the movement of a lever, gear, pedal or linkage mechanism. Each damper is filled with gas and a small amount of lubricating oil. Through a series of chambers and orifices, the movement of gas can slow the motion in the extension or compression of the rod with the tube.

Dampers are available in two basic styles - Compression or Extension. Compression dampers slow the movement of when the damper compresses together. On the other hand, extension dampers slow the motion of a damper when it extends. There is also the option of specialty dampers with dampening in both directions as a custom run.

* Be careful when purchasing struts and shocks because they can be filled with either oil, gas or both*

Strut

A strut is used as one of the components of a vehicles suspension. The suspension is the system of parts that connect the vehicles wheels to the rest of the car. The major functions of a vehicles suspension are to support the vehicle, absorb impact from road irregularities like bumps and potholes and to allow the vehicle to turn the wheels. A strut is involved with helping all these major functions.

A strut is made of two parts, a spring and a shock absorber. The spring is usually a coil spring which is spiral shaped. The spring supports the weight of the vehicle and absorbs the shock of major bumps. The shock absorber also can support the weight of the vehicle but its main function is to dampen the vibrations that occur after major shock. For example, it stops the vehicle from bouncing up and down after a bump.

Shock absorber

Shocks are also used in vehicle suspensions. Although shocks and struts are similar, they are different. Therefore they should not be used interchangeably. Thus, a shock cannot be used to replace a strut and a strut cannot be used to replace a shock. The main difference between the two parts is that a strut is a structural part of a vehicles suspension, where a shock is not. A shock is meant to dampen the vibrations that occur when your vehicle hits major bumps in the road like pot holes.

Need to take a door off its hinges?  There could be many reasons why you would need to take a door off its hinges. For example, maybe you need to test operations or conduct maintenance on a mechanical or electrical door. Either way, the flexibility of being able to easily remove a door is a great design feature.
 
Unfortunately separating ordinary hinges can be a problem. Removing ordinary hinges requires detaching the secured pin. Even when the pin is designed to be "loose" as in an ordinary houshold doors, pins can be difficult to remove. 

Luckily there is an easier alternative to the ordinary hinges. Choose from one of our specialty removable hinges. Our lift-off hinges have features built in that enable you to lift off a door without the process of removing a hinge pin. We have a wide variety of lift off hinges including:

Block hinges -  These hinges have a smooth block appearance. They also have holes for mounting purposes.

Guden has a wide variety of hinges of all shapes, styles and sizes to meet your needs. Our larger hinges can accommodate heavy duty applications. To get a heavy duty hinge like this, we have heavy duty hinges in stock or can create a custom hinge for you.  

Every now and then we get in a custom hinge that is just so unique that we have to show it off. This custom hinge is black with cut outs, multiple bends, and a removable pin. 

Our Strap and T Hinges are great for marine and trailer applications. 

Need a custom hinge for a heavy duty application? 

Our Guden Gas Springs come in all shapes and sizes. They are the perfect product for controlling the motion of your lid, hatch or door. 

Can't find what you are looking for in our huge inventory?