Bullet hinges, also known as weld-on hinges, are essential components in various applications, from gates to heavy-duty doors. This article explores their purpose, highlighting their robust design, ease of installation, and ability to support significant weight, making them ideal for both industrial and residential use.
What is a Bullet Hinge?
Bullet hinges are a secure mechanical part that provides a durable and compact method to attach metal to metal such as doors to frames, windows to frames, gates to frames and much more.
They are a type of “weld-on hinge”, but may also be referred to as:
Bullet hinges are welded onto another metal surface. The hinges connect two bodies allowing angular movement about a fixed axis of rotation.
What do Bullet Hinges Consist of?
Bullet hinges consist of three main parts:
Typically, bullet hinges are created as two halves that users can directly weld separately onto their desired surface. The barrel that consists of the pin is the male barrel, while the barrel that doesn’t have any pin is known as the female barrel. Male barrels are welded onto structural areas like door frames, while female barrels are welded onto door surfaces.
What are Bullet Hinges Made from?
Bullet hinges can be manufactured out of the following:
No matter which material your bullet hinges are made out of, they should be capable of withstanding substantial and heavy loads. The following list of materials are more popular to use due to how robust and reliable they are. Plus, they do not accumulate as much dirt in comparison to other hinge types. Therefore, choosing any one of these will guarantee a cleaner appearance when you install them.
Carbon Steel Bullet Hinges
Aluminium Bullet Hinges
Stainless Steel Bullet Hinges
What are the Benefits of Bullet Hinges?
Convenience
Strength & Reliability
Aesthetically Pleasing
Grease Fittings
What are the Ideal Uses of Bullet Hinges?
Depending on the type of bullet hinge, there are a vast amount of purposes that bullet hinges are suited to, ranging from; electrical, agricultural and several other industrial and residential applications.
Overall, they are a great choice if you are looking for a secure hinge.
Plain Steel Bullet Hinges
Ideal for:
For use on applications such as camper trailers and caravans, you may need other appliances e.g. locks & handles, foam & rubber seals or fasteners, etc.
Aluminium Bullet Hinges
Ideal for:
Stainless Steel Bullet Hinges
Ideal for:
What are the Most Common Sizes of Bullet Hinges?
Bullet hinges can be purchased from suppliers in lengths from 1.5 inches to 10 inches, with sizes in between depending on the choice of metal. The bullet hinge range we have in stock starts at 60mm (2 ⅜ inches) and consists of different sizes:
PLEASE NOTE: The recommended weights per pair are for comparison purposes only. Environmental applications may affect these figures.
Carbon Steel
Size Weight 60mm (2 ⅜ inch) 41kg 80mm (3 3/16 inch) 68kg 100mm (4 inch) 98kg 120mm (4 ¾ inch) 118kg 150mm (6 inch) 295kg 180mm (7 inch) 295kg
Aluminium
Size Weight 60mm (2 ⅜ inch) 91kg 80mm (3 3/16 inch) 159kg 100mm (4 inch) 227kg 120mm (4 ¾ inch) 227kg
Stainless Steel
Size Weight 60mm (2 ⅜ inch) 180kg 80mm (3 3/16 inch) 270kg 100mm (4 inch) 320kg 150mm (6 inch) 400kg
Marine Grade Stainless Steel
Size Weight 60mm (2 ⅜ inch) 210kg 80mm (3 3/16 inch) 340kg 150mm (6 inch) 400kg 180mm (7 inch) 450kg
What Makes Bullet Hinges So Functional?
As mentioned earlier, the bullet hinge is created as two halves: the pin side (male) and the leaf side (female). Since the majority of doors utilising bullet hinges tend to be lift-off doors, the barrel without the pin (female) must go on top.
The reason behind this is that most lift-off doors usually drop, which means bottom barrels must have excellent load-bearing qualities. The female barrel is welded onto surfaces like doors. The male barrel is welded onto structural areas such as door frames.
Another major advantage to this is lifting the door off the hinges will be easier, and there will be no need to unscrew the hinges. The use of bullet hinges is not restricted to general purposes but to a variety of industrial applications.
Installing a Bullet Hinge
As with any type of hinge, alignment is crucial. You can just use a straight edge, however, there are a few ways to ensure precise alignment.
Turn your attention to our selection of bullet hinges. Made from durable and compact materials that can withstand harsh environments and are ideal for a range of home and industrial applications. Also available in different sizes and includes optional grease functions.
