Hinges

[Greg Labacz]

what type of hinges (and where do you get them) do you use when building jewelry/ treasure boxes?

[Jim Finn]

http://www.caseyswood.com/shoppingcart/zen-cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=231_56
This is where I get mine.

[Montgomery Scott]

Mortise butt hinges with finial from Lee Valley.

[John Nesmith]

http://www.brusso.com/

Quite pricey, so I get them from whomever has them the cheapest at that time.

[richard poitras]

http://i5.cmail1.com/ei/r/8E/FAF/720/nri/mluijr/sH_LI_02_longlogo084556.jpg

[Mike Henderson]

I use quadrant hinges sized to the thickness of the sides. They are somewhat of a pain to install.

Here's a link (http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?p=40236&cat=3,41419,41454)to Brusso (super expensive) quadrant hinges. You can find quadrant hinges by others for (a lot) less.

Mike

[richard poitras]

Here is a installion set up pic. Here is thel link to the full version here (http://mailing.severninternet.co.uk/t/r/l/yukjltt/iuqlyury/p/) I personaly have not used these hinges, this is a new hing that Andrew Crawford is selling on his web site and supposedly Doug Stowe is suppose to be doing a review in Fine Woodworking about them as well. They seem easy to install and have a stop on them like the Quadrant Hinge.

http://i3.cmail1.com/ei/r/8E/FAF/720/tujtiuy/smartHinge_installation_set085303.jpg

[Greg Labacz]

The smart hinge looks really nice ,but, man it's really expensive, $69.60 plus shipping per pair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[glenn bradley]

Small box hinges from Lee Valley althogh I do keep watch for anything interesting at a good price and pick up stuff for stock.

[John TenEyck]

I often use Hidden Barrel Hinges from Rockler on small boxes. Easy to install, have a unique and delicate look, and aren't too expensive.

[richard poitras]

The smart hinge looks really nice ,but, man it's really expensive, $69.60 plus shipping per pair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greg I am not sure how you came up with $69.00? I am seeing the $39.00 price range which is in the same ball park as a Brusso.

[glenn bradley]

Greg I am not sure how you came up with $69.00? I am seeing the $39.00 price range which is in the same ball park as a Brusso.

Not Greg but, 39.95 English pounds equals 64.34 US dollars as of this morning.

[Harvey Pascoe]

I use solid brass butt hinges from either ACE or Home Depot, the later of which are more highly polished and cheaper. National Hardware is the mfgr. Both are decent and a whole lot better than plated steel. I hate quadrant hinges, they're a nightmare to install and get the top lined up right. Ace has a really beautiful heavy brass hinge for medium to large boxes for only $4.50.

Don't think Brusso is worth the price. They are some kind of hard alloy that cannot be polished and oxydize badly over time. Surprised that Crawford would put out a bright hinge. In his book he says he doesn't like bright or lacquered hinges. Me, I don't like ugly, tarnished brass hinges.

Also, you might want to think twice about buying those really cheap quadrant hinges from Rockler or Lee. They are extremely thin and flimsey. I bought some and never used them, they were so bad.

[richard poitras]

Not Greg but, 39.95 English pounds equals 64.34 US dollars as of this morning.

Sorry I didn’t realize the pound conversion was such a difference. :eek: Being that said I agree way to high of a priced for most box’s.

[Greg Labacz]

Thanks for all the reply's . I think I'll check out home depot since it's real close to my home..

["Gary Smith"]

what would you folks use on a larger lid to hold it open and keep it from slamming shut. Lid size appox. 12x18 inches 3/4 stock

[Lee Schierer]

I like the small brass cylinder hingeshttp://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/39578b-md.jpg They work well and are unobtrusive.

The lid and doors on this jewelry box are hinged with 5 mm cylinder hinges. http://home.earthlink.net/~us71na/jewel2.jpg Here's a view from the back http://home.earthlink.net/~us71na/jewel4.jpg

[Bill Reed]

Rockler sells a torsion hinge in several strengths for lids of different sizes and weights. I have used them on several boxes and like them a lot.

Bill


what would you folks use on a larger lid to hold it open and keep it from slamming shut. Lid size appox. 12x18 inches 3/4 stock

[Sean Nagle]

Horton Brasses is my favorite. They offer very high quality hinges at fair prices.

http://www.horton-brasses.com/store/hinges/brassnickel/precisionbutt

[Dan Bowman]

If you decide to use barrel hinges, A&H Turf has great prices

[Greg Labacz]

How do you install the cylinder hinges? Since I don't have a drill press yet could I use a hand held drill?

[Phil Thien]

Here is an alternative to the SmartHinge:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001043/2980/Hinges-Side-Rail--2.aspx

The picture is misleading, as it shows two different styles of hinge. The actual hinge they will ship should be the one in the foreground, not the background. The unit closely resembling the SmartHinge.

I actually learned of this from Crawford's newsletter. Someone wrote him and said the SmartHinge closely resembled this model. Crawford's response was that his had a nicer profile when the box is closed, and that the quality was higher.

The Woodcraft unit sells for about $37, but Woodcraft has sales from time to time and you may be able to save some money.

One of these days I'm going to try some, as I cannot afford the SmartHinge.

The one neg. review is concerning. Maybe his was a fluke. If not, I have a file.

[Lee Schierer]

How do you install the cylinder hinges? Since I don't have a drill press yet could I use a hand held drill?

It could be done with a hand drill, but precise spacing is the key. Lay out your holes with great care. If they aren't perfectly perpendicular in teh direction of travel that is okay, but they have to be perpendicular in the direction of the hinge pin. I drill the holes first with a 3/16" brad point bit and then open them to .196 with a numbered twist drill and then bevel the edge until the bevel is half way across the top of the hole for the cylinder. I put super glue in the holes when I am ready for final assembly to help hold the hinge in place. I usually get my hinges from Rockler.