BEST F173 Steel Half Surface H...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$22.97
BEST F173 4.5 x 4.5 Steel Half Surface Hinge with Removable Pin and Plain Bearing in 652 Satin Chrome finish, flat lay view

BEST F173 Steel Half Surface Hinge with Removable Pin and Plain Bearing

(No reviews yet) Write a Review

Model: BEST-F173-652-4.5
Selected Finish is

In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$22.97
Adding to cart… The item has been added
Free Shipping on orders over $199
We price match and offer bulk discounts! Click Add to Quote. It's quick and easy.
✨
Earn points with this purchase! You can redeem points for giftcards, iPads, XBox's and more. View Rewards
Free Keying on all locks
You may also like

BEST F173 Steel Half Surface Hinge — Plain Bearing, Removable Pin

The BEST F173 is a medium-duty steel half surface hinge built for low-frequency kalamein or wood doors hung in hollow metal frames. Only the jamb leaf requires mortising, so installation is faster than a full mortise hinge while the frame side stays flush and clean. The 5-knuckle plain bearing design runs quietly without a door closer, and the removable pin lets you pull the door without disturbing the hinge leaves — a real advantage in occupied commercial spaces.

Key Features

  • Half Surface Design: Jamb leaf mortises into the frame; door leaf mounts flat to the door face — no door prep required.
  • 5-Knuckle Plain Bearing: Smooth, quiet swing for low-frequency applications; no ball bearings to seize or require lubrication.
  • Removable Pin: Door can be lifted off without removing either leaf — simplifies maintenance, painting, and access work.
  • Steel Construction: Medium-duty rating for commercial interior doors in office, institutional, and multi-family applications.
  • Square Corners: Clean architectural profile; compatible with standard hollow metal frame prep.
  • Hardware Included: Ships with machine screws and grommet nuts for immediate installation.

Technical Specifications

  • Hinge Type: Half Surface
  • Bearing Type: Plain Bearing
  • Knuckles: 5
  • Hinge Pin: Removable
  • Corner Style: Square
  • Duty Level: Medium Duty
  • Material: Steel
  • Application: Kalamein or wood doors with hollow metal frames
  • Available Sizes: 4.5" x 4.5"
  • Available Finishes: 600 (Primed for Painting), 652 (Satin Chrome / Steel)

Installation Overview

  1. Verify door thickness and frame compatibility against manufacturer specifications before ordering.
  2. Use manufacturer templates to mark mounting hole locations on the door face and jamb mortise area.
  3. Mortise the jamb to accept the jamb leaf; mount the door leaf flat to the door surface.
  4. Secure both leaves with the provided machine screws and grommet nuts to manufacturer torque specs.
  5. Insert the removable pin and check door swing and clearances throughout the full range of motion.
  6. Refer to the linked installation guide and hinge size chart for complete details.

Typical Applications

  • Commercial office buildings and tenant improvement
  • Educational and healthcare facilities
  • Government and municipal buildings
  • Multi-family and mixed-use residential
  • Retail and hospitality interiors
  • Industrial and warehouse interior doors

Product Specs

Subcategory:
Hinges
Series:
Architectural Hinges
Hinge Type:
Half Surface
Knuckles:
5
Bearing Type:
Plain Bearing
Corner Style:
Square Corners
Product Group:
Door Hinges and Pivots
Product Subgroup:
Surface and Mortise Hinges
Product Type:
Half Surface Hinges
Duty Level:
Medium Duty
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Hinge Pin Type:
Removable
Tags:
surface mount door hinges, 4 half surface hinge
Product Model:
F173
Product Category:
Door Hinges and Pivots
Department:
Door Hardware

BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is a half surface hinge, and does the BEST F173 require mortising the door?
Half surface means only the jamb leaf gets mortised. On the BEST F173, the frame side sets into a mortise in the jamb and the door leaf mounts flat against the face of the door, so there is no door prep at all. That is the practical reason to choose it: you can rehang a door that was never cut for hinges, or one where the existing door mortises are chewed up, without routing the door.
2) Will the BEST F173 half surface hinge work on a wood door in a hollow metal frame?
That is exactly the application it is built for. The F173 is intended for kalamein or wood doors hung in hollow metal frames, with the mortised leaf in the steel jamb and the surface leaf screwed to the door face. Its square corners match standard hollow metal frame prep.
3) Is a plain bearing hinge strong enough for my door, or do I need ball bearing?
Plain bearing is the right call on low-frequency openings with no door closer. The F173 is a medium duty steel hinge with a 5-knuckle plain bearing barrel, which runs quietly and has no ball races to seize or need lubrication. Where the door carries a closer or sees heavy daily traffic, step up to a ball bearing hinge instead, such as the Hager BB1109 half mortise ball bearing hinge.
4) Half surface or half mortise hinge, what is the difference and which do I need?
It comes down to which leaf is buried. The F173 is half surface: jamb leaf mortised into the frame, door leaf on the surface of the door. A half mortise hinge is the reverse, mortised into the edge of the door and surface-applied to the frame, like the Hager BB1109 half mortise hinge. Choose half surface when the door cannot or should not be routed, typically a wood or kalamein door going into an existing steel frame. Choose half mortise when the frame face has to stay clear and the door can take the prep.
5) What is the closest equivalent to the BEST F173 half surface hinge from another manufacturer?
The Hager 1173 is the direct counterpart. It is a half surface plain bearing hinge in 4-1/2 inch steel with a 5 knuckle design and a medium duty rating, which matches the BEST F173 configuration of half surface mounting, plain bearing, 5 knuckles, and medium duty. Both leave the frame side mortised and the door leaf mounted flat to the door face, so an opening prepped for one accepts the other. Confirm handing and finish when you order either.
6) Is the Hager BB1109 the same kind of hinge as the BEST F173?
No - the two differ on both mounting and bearing. The Hager BB1109 is a half mortise ball bearing hinge, 5 knuckle standard weight, rated medium duty. Half mortise mortises into the door edge and mounts to the frame face, which is the reverse of the F173 half surface arrangement where the jamb leaf mortises into the frame and the door leaf mounts to the door face. The BB1109 also uses ball bearings, while the F173 uses a plain bearing intended for low frequency openings without a door closer. Read the prep on the existing opening before treating one as a drop-in for the other.
7) Can I pull the door off without unscrewing the hinges?
Yes, the pin on the F173 is removable, so you lift the door off the frame with both leaves left in place. That matters on occupied floors: you can pull a door for painting, refinishing, or to get equipment through a corridor and rehang it without re-drilling anything or losing your hinge alignment.
8) What size and finishes does the BEST F173 hinge come in?
One size, 4-1/2 by 4-1/2 inches, in two finishes: 600 primed for painting and 652 satin chrome over steel. Pick 600 when the hinge is going to be painted out to match the door or frame, and 652 when you want a finished satin chrome face that stays as installed. Both finishes are offered in the 4-1/2 inch size.
9) Do I need to buy screws separately for the BEST F173 half surface hinge?
No. The F173 ships with machine screws and grommet nuts, which is what a surface leaf needs, since it fastens through the door face rather than into a mortise. Nothing else is required to hang it beyond mortising the jamb.
10) Should I use a half surface hinge or a standard full mortise hinge on a commercial interior door?
Full mortise is the default on new work, where both the door and the frame are prepped at the factory. Something like the Hager 1191 full mortise plain bearing hinge or the 3-knuckle Hager 800 covers that case. Half surface, like the BEST F173, is the retrofit answer: it only needs the jamb mortised, so it saves you cutting the door and it will cover a door edge that has already been butchered by a previous hinge.
11) Can I standardize on the BEST F173 across a building of commercial interior doors?
It suits low-traffic commercial interiors, offices, tenant spaces, classrooms, back-of-house, multi-family unit doors, and is rated for commercial use at a medium duty level. Where it stops being the right fleet standard is any opening with a closer or heavy public traffic. Those openings should go to a ball bearing hinge. Standardizing on the 600 primed finish also lets a single stocked hinge get painted to match whatever the door schedule calls for.
12) How do I confirm the right hinge size and hole layout for the BEST F173 before I order?
BEST publishes a hinge size chart and an installation guide for the architectural hinge line, and both are linked on the F173. Work the size chart against your door thickness and width, then use the manufacturer template from the installation guide to lay out the door face holes and the jamb mortise. Do the layout from the template rather than the old hinge, since a half surface leaf sits on the door face and its hole pattern will not follow the previous mortise.
13) What is the difference between a 3 knuckle and a 5 knuckle plain bearing hinge in this range?
Knuckle count describes how many barrel segments interlock across the two leaves. The BEST F173 and the Hager 1173 are both 5 knuckle plain bearing hinges, while the Hager 800 is a 3 knuckle full mortise plain bearing hinge rated medium duty. If a facility is standardizing on a 5 knuckle profile for appearance across a run of doors, the 800 will read differently at the barrel even where the bearing type matches.
How fast can I get the BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5 delivered?
Most orders ship the same day from our distribution partners, with quick delivery throughout the continental U.S. Need it urgently? Contact Us for expedited shipping options.
Can I return it if it doesn’t work for me?
Yes—ZenSupply offers a hassle-free return policy. If the product isn’t the right fit, reach out to our support team for a return authorization or setup a return by following our return instructions.
Does the BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
How do I get technical support or installation help for the BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5?
You can call, text, or email our expert support team for fast answers. We’re here to help with product selection, installation tips, and troubleshooting. Contact Us
Why buy the BEST BEST-F173-652-4.5 from ZenSupply?
ZenSupply makes it easy to get the commercial door hardware you need—fast shipping, expert support, and rewards on every order. Our team is always ready to help you choose the right product for your project.
!