What is a pintle (duim)?

A pintle, called “duim” in Dutch, is a right-angled, usually wrought-iron pin driven into a wall, post or frame that serves as a pivot for the strap (gudgeon) of a door, shutter or gate. Together the pintle and the strap form the traditional pintle-and-strap hinge that has been used for centuries on heavy doors, barn gates and shutters.

Components and operation

A pintle typically consists of two parts:

• Shank or tail — the horizontal or L-shaped part anchored into wood, masonry or stone
• Pin or pintle — the vertical round pin over which the strap’s eye is slipped

The strap has an eye that drops over the pin. Gravity keeps the strap in place and the door can swing.

Application

Pintle-and-strap hinges are mainly used for:

• Barn gates and stable doors — because of their weight
• External shutters — historically and in heritage restoration
• Garden gates and railings — often with a screw-in pintle on a metal frame
• Church and heritage doors — for an authentic look

Types of pintle

• Drive pintle — hammered straight into the wood
• Plate pintle (cross pintle) — has a perforated plate screwed onto the frame
• Stone pintle — long pintle leaded into the masonry
• Screw pintle — threaded for adjustability

Points of attention

A well-chosen pintle takes into account:

1. Door weight — determines pin diameter (8 to 22 mm)
2. Shape and material — wrought iron for heritage work, galvanised steel for exterior
3. Fixing — fixed in stone or wood, with or without lead anchorage
4. Swing direction — the pintle automatically dictates the swing direction of the door

Related terms

• Strap hinge
• Hinge set
• Paumelle hinge
• Door hardware
• Door
• Wrought iron

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