Soft down lid support for box lid

[david kramer]

I'm making a toy box which has a box lid, not a flat lid. I'd like to use a soft-down lid support, like this one (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=414&cs=1) but as you can see, this is made for a flat lid. To work with a box lid, the lid mount would need to be rotated by 90 degrees. I don't want to mount a block into the lid to make a flat support point because it would be kinda ugly, and besides I've already started finishing :).

I could use a trunk lid support like this one (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=425) but I'd prefer soft-down because I'm worried about little fingers getting caught if the lid slams down. Any ideas of what I can use?

Thx
David

[Dave Stuve]

Hi David,

Lee valley has some soft down lid stays that are probably long enough to mount to a reasonable-depth box lid:

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=40596&cat=3,41419,43745&ap=1

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=40597&cat=3,41419,43745&ap=1

Dave

[Lee Schierer]

I've used the other style of lid support from Rockler Lid support (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=410). They do a great job. I used one on a desk lid and so far after two kids it still closes the lid softly. They are available in different sizes depending upon the weight you are asking them to support. You can use them singley or in pairs.

[Richard M. Wolfe]

I have made many chests and toy boxes using the kind Lee just pointed out. They work well - it's just something of a guess which one (or ones) to use. I keep a number of each on hand and sometimes hove to swap them out if the lid action is too stiff or doesn't support the lid well enough when lowering it.

[david kramer]

I've used the other style of lid support from Rockler Lid support (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=410).

Perhaps I'm missing something, but these lid supports appear to work with lids that are flush with the top of the box. My original post wasn't super-clear, so let me clarify a bit. The top of the box is not a flat board, but rather a box itself. It's maybe 2.5 inches deep. So if the lid support is designed to be used with a flush lid, it wouldn't work.

Barring any other suggestions, I think I'm going to go with Dave Stuve's idea. Which is to use a lid support made for a flat lid, but tall enough to penetrate the box-lid all the way to the top. I'll have to play around with the angles a bit, but for me solving tricky problems is what this hobby is all about :).

Thanks for the help everyone.

David

[Lee Schierer]

I have made many chests and toy boxes using the kind Lee just pointed out. They work well - it's just something of a guess which one (or ones) to use. I keep a number of each on hand and sometimes hove to swap them out if the lid action is too stiff or doesn't support the lid well enough when lowering it.
The number and size of lid supports is easily calclulated. You have to weigh the lid and know the width from the hinge to the front. Multiply the weight by the width and divide by two. That gives you the inch lbs range for the support. You can use 1, 2 or 3 supports incombination if needed. They make left, right and center mounts.