A hinge is an object formed by two pieces that have a common axis, which allows them to move together to join two elements. Also called hinge or hinge, this fitting makes it possible to open and close windows and doors.

There are many kinds of hinges, of various materials and shapes and with many different uses. There are brass, zinc, steel, and plastic hinges, for example, that allow 180 ° or less opening and are installed with screws or other methods.

The doors usually have two or three hinges that facilitate their movement. So a person can open or close the door, moving it closer or further away from the frame as desired. The usual thing is to move the door from its handle, doorknob, handle or knob: the applied force makes the hinge fulfill its function.

According to DigoPaul, windows work similarly. At the same doors, often they have hinges that allow the movement of rotation and, therefore, its opening and closing.

In the case of sliding or sliding doors and windows, they do not have hinges as they work differently. When sliding, the doors and windows move on an axis back and forth or left and right, but not in and out.

In colloquial language, the idea of ​​a hinge is used to qualify the event or moment that marks a change in status or situation: “Messi’s injury was a hinge in the game: from then on the Argentine team lost control of the balloon ”, “ Analysts consider that May will be a hinge month in the local economy due to the expiration of debt bonds ”, “ The arrest of the president would be a hinge in national history ”.

How to lubricate a hinge

When a hinge begins to squeak, that is, to emit a high-pitched, stabbing noise due to having lost its lubrication, its use begins to cause discomfort, especially at night. For this reason, it is very important to keep the hinges on all doors and windows in good condition.

The steps to lubricate a hinge are few and simple, in addition to not requiring the use of too specific tools. The first step is to buy the most suitable lubricant. It goes without saying that in this product we should not skimp on expenses, since considerable savings can lead to the need to apply it very frequently, or it may not even give the desired result.

Some of the most recommended hinge lubricants are silicone (which are available in aerosol and are very easy to apply), lithium grease (effectively resists dust and is available in almost all auto parts stores) and edible oils (ideal to get out of a hurry, but much less effective than the previous two).

Next, it is necessary to remove the pin from the hinge by turning it counterclockwise, either by hand or with tweezers, and remove all traces of dust and dirt, since these are the cause of the malfunction and noise. If it is rusted, then an inhibitor may be necessary to loosen it. Now is the time to apply the lubricant, both on the pin and in the recesses of the hinge itself.

From this point on, it is a matter of replacing the plug and checking if it continues to produce the squeak; if so, then we will have to remove it and lubricate it again, and so on until we achieve the result we are looking for. Excess product can be wiped off with a paper towel or cloth.