Dave Tesch
10-06-2010, 7:32 PM
i'm having some trouble with hinges on a current project. now keep in mind the amout of hinges i havent had trouble with is far greater than the number i have had trouble with; most of the time it works fine and the hinges are true.
not this time. this is the second time i have had this particular problem, and i cant quite put my finger on it.
the project i am working on is an instrument case, 5/8" ply approx 32.5" x 9" x 17"
hinged side is 32.5"
a simple 6 sided box cut down near the middle to create two halves that should fit together, kind of like a toybox.
before i cut the box in half (not really in half, its just easier to say. lets say 3/4 for real) i mark it with lines so that i can match it up after the cut. i also use inside corner blocks to align the box while i cut out the latch holes and install the hinges. everything went well until i removed the corner blocks, and the lid twisted against the body so it appeared racked.
a long series of investigations while checking the lines revealed that when i removed the hinges i could position the lid so that it was true. installing the hinges caused the lid to rack. i can not find anything wrong with how i installed the hinges nor the hinges themselves.
i finally gave up and used a piano hinge, and this works fine - no racking or twisting of the lid. i would prefer to use the hinges i bought originally as they are a stop hinge; allowing the lid to only open just past vertical and then stopping just past where gravity will hold the lid open. without the stop hinges i will have to use a strap, which is fine, i would just prefer the stop hinges.
i have a couple other cases with the stop hinges that turned out well without racking or twisting.
this is the second box i have had this trouble with - am i doing something wrong?
the way i have been installing the hinges is to use a square, scribe a line for each hinge and mark the holes with the square before drilling. this usually works, and i cant find anything wrong with my measurments on this box.
here is a pic of a case that turned out well. the current project is a little bigger, but not much.
http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/48091/2124462900026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2124462900026985969UTkIIF)
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/19052/2905896610026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2905896610026985969ZcZSWB)
http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/5071/2742474170026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2742474170026985969PWqqxK)
not this time. this is the second time i have had this particular problem, and i cant quite put my finger on it.
the project i am working on is an instrument case, 5/8" ply approx 32.5" x 9" x 17"
hinged side is 32.5"
a simple 6 sided box cut down near the middle to create two halves that should fit together, kind of like a toybox.
before i cut the box in half (not really in half, its just easier to say. lets say 3/4 for real) i mark it with lines so that i can match it up after the cut. i also use inside corner blocks to align the box while i cut out the latch holes and install the hinges. everything went well until i removed the corner blocks, and the lid twisted against the body so it appeared racked.
a long series of investigations while checking the lines revealed that when i removed the hinges i could position the lid so that it was true. installing the hinges caused the lid to rack. i can not find anything wrong with how i installed the hinges nor the hinges themselves.
i finally gave up and used a piano hinge, and this works fine - no racking or twisting of the lid. i would prefer to use the hinges i bought originally as they are a stop hinge; allowing the lid to only open just past vertical and then stopping just past where gravity will hold the lid open. without the stop hinges i will have to use a strap, which is fine, i would just prefer the stop hinges.
i have a couple other cases with the stop hinges that turned out well without racking or twisting.
this is the second box i have had this trouble with - am i doing something wrong?
the way i have been installing the hinges is to use a square, scribe a line for each hinge and mark the holes with the square before drilling. this usually works, and i cant find anything wrong with my measurments on this box.
here is a pic of a case that turned out well. the current project is a little bigger, but not much.
http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/48091/2124462900026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2124462900026985969UTkIIF)
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/19052/2905896610026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2905896610026985969ZcZSWB)
http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/5071/2742474170026985969S500x500Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2742474170026985969PWqqxK)