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How much weight can a hollow core door take? - Printable Version

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How much weight can a hollow core door take? - chrisntam - 02-27-2018

Wifey bought a jewelry "cabinet" that can either hang atop a door or be attached to a wall.  It weighs 22 pounds empty, prolly 25 when full.  She wants to hang it over an interior closet door (hollow core) that has 3 standard hinges.

Can one hang 25 pounds on a door like this with no negative repercussions (other than the door getting pulled off the hinges in the middle of the night)?

I think it's too heavy.

Your thoughts?


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - CLETUS - 02-27-2018

I think it will be fine. Assuming the screws are in good wood. If it's the kind that hangs over the top of the door, I'd see any harm in hanging it up to check the operation. 

If you don't want it hung there, tell her the guys on WN said it won't work.
Big Grin


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - daddo - 02-27-2018

If the screws are installed properly, I'd bet you could remove all but the upper screw in the hinge and it would hold 25# just fine. Unless they use press board for supports in the doors...which I wouldn't doubt.


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - Stwood_ - 02-27-2018

Should be fine.
As a just in case, sleep at night........put one or two 3" long screws in the upper hinge. Those will bite into more wood.


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - Roly - 02-27-2018

(02-27-2018, 04:25 PM)Stwood_ Wrote: Should be fine.
As a just in case, sleep at night........put one or two 3" long screws in the upper hinge. Those will  bite into more wood.

 The door itself would not have any problem holding the weight but, anchoring the jewelry box to the door may require Molly type anchors as there will not be a structure inside the door other than the edges.  Roly


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - JosephP - 02-27-2018

We used to hang on the top of hollow core doors when we were kids and swing back and forth.  Never broke one (...errr...never broke one doing THAT) - and I can't imagine a 25# jewelry hanger will put nearly the stress on it!

Am I understanding correctly that it will hang over a door like a wreath hanger or those shoe racks, etc... would?  I bet those shoe racks are well over 25# full.


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - chrisntam - 02-27-2018

(02-27-2018, 03:54 PM)CLETUS Wrote: snip.... 

If you don't want it hung there, tell her the guys on WN said it won't work.
Big Grin

Now that's funny!


Laugh

Looks like I'll be hanging it tomorrow.  I'll pull a couple of screws out to check their depth.

Replies are truly appreciated.


Yes


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - mike4244 - 02-27-2018

(02-27-2018, 03:44 PM)chrisntam Wrote: Wifey bought a jewelry "cabinet" that can either hang atop a door or be attached to a wall.  It weighs 22 pounds empty, prolly 25 when full.  She wants to hang it over an interior closet door (hollow core) that has 3 standard hinges.

Can one hang 25 pounds on a door like this with no negative repercussions (other than the door getting pulled off the hinges in the middle of the night)?

I think it's too heavy.

Your thoughts?

I think it will hold 25 lbs. If you are not sure then remove one screw from the hinges. Take it to a hardware store and buy enough 2-1/2" screws with the same size head as the door screw which is probably only 3/4" long. Also buy a couple of steel screws with similar diameter as the brass screws. The steel screws, actually only need one are used to form the thread and prevent brass screw from snapping off. You probably only need to change the top hinge screws but also doing the middle will add a little something to the strength.

mike



RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - Cooler - 02-28-2018

Hollow doors used to have plywood door skins glued to an outer perimeter of wood and a cross bar at the middle where the lockset is installed.  The honeycomb core was glued to both surfaces.

In the past I have made light weight table tops from hollow core doors, and they worked fine.

When I did so about 15 years ago, not so good.  The door skins were pressed cardboard with a veneer outer skin.  The perimeter wood was only about 1¼" wide and the honeycomb was simply tossed in the voids--no glue.

My computer monitor was heavy enough to cause the "skin" to sag.

So if the door in question is 30 years old, I am confident it will hold the 25 pounds.  If it is 15 years old, I am less confident.


RE: How much weight can a hollow core door take? - Stwood_ - 02-28-2018

(02-27-2018, 07:23 PM)Roly Wrote:  The door itself would not have any problem holding the weight but, anchoring the jewelry box to the door may require Molly type anchors as there will not be a structure inside the door other than the edges.  Roly



OP posted....jewelry "cabinet" that can either hang atop a door

So I'm taking that as the cabinet has straps/brackets that hang/attach to the very *top* of the door.  A hook type bracket.
Maybe OP can explain just what he has...