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Frequently Asked Questions
Why weld rather than bolt?
Because the connection becomes as strong as the parent metal.
There are no fixing holes and no fasteners.
Nothing can be unscrewed from outside.
Load distributes into the structure rather than concentrating at holes.
That carries heavy gates and doors screws would not hold.
On fabricated steelwork it is frequently the only sensible option.
What is the security advantage?
There is nothing to remove from the outside.
A screw-fixed hinge is the obvious point of attack.
Gates, security doors and plant enclosures use weld-on for that reason.
Defeating a welded hinge requires cutting equipment.
That is a considerably higher barrier than a screwdriver.
Non-removable pin designs add to it where the hinge is on the outside.
What is difficult about fitting them?
Permanence, skill and heat distortion.
Alignment has to be right before the weld is made.
Adjustment afterwards means cutting the hinge off.
Heat can pull a door out of true if welding is not sequenced.
Tacking, checking alignment, then completing the welds is the method.
Welding competence and equipment are both required.
Are adjustable versions available?
Yes, and on heavy gates they are worth having.
They allow some correction after installation.
Large fabrications rarely land exactly where the drawing said.
Adjustment can also compensate for settlement over time.
Gates in particular move as posts settle.
The alternative on a fixed hinge is cutting and rewelding.
What about corrosion protection?
It has to be reinstated after welding, and it is part of the job.
Welding destroys galvanising and paint locally.
The weld area is left as bare steel.
That is the wettest and most loaded part of the assembly.
Cold galvanising or an equivalent treatment follows.
Skipping it produces corrosion exactly where the hinge is working hardest.
Can they be greased or serviced?
Many have grease points, and heavy gate hinges usually do.
Bearings and bushes carry substantial load.
Lubrication extends life considerably.
A dry hinge on a heavy gate wears rapidly.
Sealed bearing designs reduce the maintenance requirement.
Access to grease points should be considered when positioning the hinge.
Do they suit any material?
Steel primarily, and the hinge material has to match what it is welded to.
Welding dissimilar metals introduces its own problems.
Stainless hinges are welded to stainless fabrications.
Aluminium requires entirely different technique.
Galvanised material produces hazardous fumes when welded.
Ventilation and extraction are requirements rather than precautions in that case.