I'm new to woodworking and trying to figure out how to create a unique cabinet door for my truck camper project. My idea is to have a cabinet door that can swing open like a regular door most of the time but can also detach from the side hinges to fold down flat for use as a small table. Does anyone know if there's specific hardware for this or tips on how to make it work?
4 Answers
If you frame the whole front section of your cabinet with hinges, you could potentially make the entire door swing down to function as a tabletop. Just latch it back up when you're done to return it to its original function.
You might want to consider making your own hinges using some simple wooden ones, sort of like the ones used on playhouse doors. You can design them to have removable pins on the sides and bottom, which will allow the door to switch between swinging and folding easily.
Another option is to use removable or lift-off hinges. This way, you can detach the door easily whenever you want to fold it down. Just make sure to look for sturdy options!
Check out multi-point window systems; they can allow for that versatility, although they might be a bit bulky for your needs. They typically have hinges on the side and bottom, letting you open the window normally or tilt it outward. In your case, a simple cupboard door hinged on the side with an additional layer of material on the outside might do the trick!