We recently found some videos we shot over a year and a half ago, and we decided to knock the dust off of them and finally start to post them. The first video is a simple demonstration of cutting hinges for making entry. Obviously for this particular door, the window would be the easier option, but the skill was performed simply for demonstration purposes. When discussing cutting hinges a few questions come to mind: What order do you cut the hinges? Do you have a standard order? Why or why not? Does it even matter? Well, as shown in this video, our method is to start with the top hinge, then attacking the bottom hinge, and finishing with the middle hinge. This order allows you to make the most difficult cut (top hinge) first. Then the bottom hinge, while the door is still retained by the middle hinge. Finally, finishing off with the middle hinge allows you to be standing up in a neutral position when the door if finally released from the jamb. Another simple tip is to stand on the building side of the door, instead of right in front of the door itself. Again just in case to door lets loose before it’s expected to. It may be totally insignificant, but this technique works quite well.
[flv]http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/hinges.flv[/flv]
27 thoughts on “Cutting Hinges”
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I liked the product placement on the door.
I REALLY like the product placement. But back to where I make my cuts. I always start up top. My school of though is that all the smoke, heat and fire gas is up at the top so when you cut the hinge, the door spreads away from the frame a little bit and this will release that crap at the top. Then its middle or bottom, either one doesn’t matter to me as much. The most important to me is top first.
It’s amazing how, “I left my keys on my desk in VES’s office.” turns into a training video.
Did you guys try the windows?
😉
Cutting your workplace door with a big effin’ saw, that totally kicks the ass of the video of the guy smashing his computer with the sledge.
I don’t think it really matters which hinge is the first to be cut, however, I’d have to agree with 10BOX. I didn’t really think about the bad shit that always rises and making the top hinge the first one to be cut is very wise.
Why did the door split in half i only noticed 3 hinge cuts? Was there a cut across the door?
I always teach top to bottom. That way (as stated) the fire gasses can escape when you cut the middle hinge and the top start to seperate from the jamb. It also leaves the cut man at the bottom when the door is opened, keeping him out out the way of the smoke/black fire and any possible auto ignition.
Another trick I was taught was to cut the side of the hinge that has the fewest tabs ie. a 5 tab hinge has 3 on one side and 2 on the other.
Quote FF862794: “Why did the door split in half i only noticed 3 hinge cuts? Was there a cut across the door?”
That is what you call a cat “flap”.
This allows Smokey (VES’s office cat) to make regular trips outside.
(It was cut first.) 🙂
Here’s another trick they should try.
Eye protection
I was wearing safety glasses and hearing protection. Thanks for your concern. -Jimm-
The release of heat and gasses was another reason to cut the top hinge first. It was included in one of my versions of this post, although I’m not sure what happened to that version. The reason why the door split was because a video of the doggy door cut was shot on that same door. We tried to get two videos off of the one door. -Jimm-
I feel “top, bottom, middle” method is the way to go.
I too always use safety glasses and ear plugs when I am using a saw. I keep them in a rubber glove in my bunker pants pocket. 😉
Oh jeez, here we go again!
Ok… Say that you’re on a department where money is way tooooooo tight and dont have a K-12… How do you force this door if the window aint there??? Any suggestions?
Conventional forcible entry, Bearpond.
Bearpond…. a donkey kick of a falcon punch works most of the time.
Bearpond…. a donkey kick or a falcon punch works most of the time.
Not being a smart arse, but what is the advantage of cutting the hinges vs. cutting the door in half down the middle? I understand about being able to put the door back in place if needed, but other than that…
LOOSECANNON – When cutitng the door in half, you have to stand directly in front of the door and that may put you in a bad spot if the “fit hits the shan” and there is some type of backdraft / explosion etc… AND, once you cut the door in half, half of it is still attached at the hinge side. And as we all know from training, when we take out a window or door, we take ALL of it out. That half of the door still attached could pose a hose snag point or other obstruction for the members going in to or exiting the building. So by cutting the hinges, you are able to stay off to the side, and out of the way. And it removes the entire door. And like you said, being able to put the door back in place.
what about just popping the hinge pins out??also very quick easy and effective
way to bring the rain on that baseball swing right at the end…that was great!
Good video Jimm. I guessing that ole baseball bat swing with the halligan didn’t go so good at the end…..
Anyways, thanks for the continued content of this website.
Keep in mind that when using a composite blade, you must be careful not to put sideward pressure on it. I witnessed a blade shatter while making the overhead cut.
If you don’t have a saw you could also consider using the fork end of the halligan driven down (or up for the top hinge) to shear the screws and pull the spine out. They are usually very weak, even when set in a metal jamb. Got any videos of this technique Jimm?
I agree with ladder1, popping the hinges is always an effective alternative to cutting hinges. Either way, I believe in starting at the top and working my way down with most forcible entry methods.
Way to go standing in front of the door when you pry it. Hope it doesn’t fall/get blown on top of you.
Also, my personal preference would be to cut the top hinge first to release some gases, bottom, then middle. If you were to cut top to bottom, and any of the door weight shifted, the weight would push downward. This could potentially make a difficult last cut and could also lead to the hinge pinching on the saw blade and causing damage.