Small box hinges

[Porter Bassett]

I'm making a small lidded box, about the size of a shoebox. I went down to the local big box store to buy some hinges, and the selection was really really bad.

What are some of the better hinge choices for such an application?

[Frank Drew]

Porter,

Larry and Faye Brusso make fine small hinges; I'm sure they're easy to find on the internet.

Also, some of the other hardware specialists like Horton Brasses might have what you need.

[Porter Bassett]

I'm actually looking for advice on types of hinges I should look for.. At the store, the only types of hinges I found were butt hinges.

[Dewey Torres]

Ok Porter Here goes:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16938

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9838

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9828

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9849

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9834

You asked for it!



http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16926

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16936

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21323

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19915

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16932

And other than Rockler...

http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewCatLevel3.asp?Cat=31&OrderID=

http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=wc&Category_Code=02BOXhinge

http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewCatLevel3.asp?Cat=344&OrderID=

http://www.bearwood.com/HARDWARE-HINGE.HTML

http://www.inside-woodworking.com/products/Small-Box-Hinges-and-Lid-Supports.html

http://houseofantiquehardware.com/s.nl/sc.11/category.27/.f?gcid=S14464x018&KEYWORD=small%20hinge&partner=ypc

[Dewey Torres]

I'm actually looking for advice on types of hinges I should look for.. At the store, the only types of hinges I found were butt hinges.

Now that we have a good selection, please post a pic or drawing or at least explain something more so we can help with the advice portion.

IE:
Jewelry box, Humidor, Trinket box....

[Porter Bassett]

Drat. A lot of those hinges don't show how exactly they work. It's hard to tell just from a pic of the hinge.

OK, the box and lid is very simple and plain. I want the top to be the same size as the box, as it appears is the case in the picture here (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9828).

The box is for a board game (Pegs and Jokers (http://www.daleswoodcraft.com/product.sc?categoryId=3&productId=29)) that I'm making. It will hold the board pieces, the marbles, and the decks of cards.

The construction of the box will be rabbeted sides and bottom, and then a lid.

[Tom Esh]

...I went down to the local big box store to buy some hinges, and the selection was really really bad....

Some of that stuff is absolute junk. I picked up a pair for a shop cabinet at the local borg and the pins were only half the length of the hinge!:eek: IMO that crosses the line from poor QC to outright deceptive. Woodcraft and Lee Valley carry some machined Brussos - really nice but pricey, as well as some more moderately priced extruded types.

[Dewey Torres]

Drat. A lot of those hinges don't show how exactly they work. It's hard to tell just from a pic of the hinge.

OK, the box and lid is very simple and plain. I want the top to be the same size as the box, as it appears is the case in the picture here (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9828).

The box is for a board game (Pegs and Jokers (http://www.daleswoodcraft.com/product.sc?categoryId=3&productId=29)) that I'm making. It will hold the board pieces, the marbles, and the decks of cards.

The construction of the box will be rabbeted sides and bottom, and then a lid.

Ok Porter...

Now were getting somewhere!

All that hinge requires is a simple 1/2 inch mortise (done with your router)
and
a 1/4: flat bottom hole (forstner bit)

That is it. The rest of thew info will come with the hinge.

[Porter Bassett]

Actually, in the link I posted, doesn't it have a normal butt hinge, and the mortise/hole hardware you're talking about is just a support to keep the lid open?

For some reason, when I was at the hardware store, I was thinking of trying to put the hinges on the outside of the box. I didn't think of putting a small butt hinge on the edge of the side as in that picture. That should work fine.

[Dewey Torres]

Actually, in the link I posted, doesn't it have a normal butt hinge, and the mortise/hole hardware you're talking about is just a support to keep the lid open?

For some reason, when I was at the hardware store, I was thinking of trying to put the hinges on the outside of the box. I didn't think of putting a small butt hinge on the edge of the side as in that picture. That should work fine.

Yes Porter,

When it comes to certain applications a hinge on the outside is down right ugly. The SOSS and cylinder hinges have a similar concept BTW.

[Dewey Torres]

Here is an good example of what is commonly referred to as a "concealed" hinge:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98467&highlight=alder

[Jim Becker]

Check out Lee Valley's wonderful selection of hardware.

[Lee Schierer]

Personally for small boxes, you can't beat Choice #2 recommended by Dewey. I use the small brass hinges all the time. You have to drill four holes and bevel two edges at 45 degrees to the centerline of those holes. Quick and easy. A little super glue in the holes just before pressing in the hinges and you are done.

Here's the back of a jewelry box made with several sets of the brass pin hinges.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~us71na/jewel4.jpg

[Dewey Torres]

Thread steal apologies,
Lee, very nice work. I must have missed that post!

[Porter Bassett]

I used those small barrel brass hinges, and I am really pleased. They work great and were easy to install.