LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner
22K views 92 replies 30 participants last post by  PaBull 
#1 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

See less See more
6
#2 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
I wish you the best in accomplishing your goal. It will be interesting to see, for sure! Good luck, Martyn!

Sheila
 

Attachments

#3 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Martyn .i'll be waiting to see it .no doubt here i,ve seen your work it still amazes me the skills you have.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Martyn,
Watching with great interest.
Roger
 

Attachments

#5 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
It is the answer, but wisdom comes in understanding the question.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
I have no doubt you will succeed, Martyn. Will be fun to watch
 

Attachments

#7 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Looking forward to the next installment.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
You are fun to watch at work Martyn. I do love the way you think.
 

Attachments

#9 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Perfect choice of "42" mm as the side dimensions, Martyn! Douglas Adams would have been proud. Now, all that's left is to complete your project before the Hyperspace Bypass comes through.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Damned Vogons!
 

Attachments

#11 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Just a teaser. I've experimented with various techniques and I think I've got it licked.

Wood Rectangle Tints and shades Publication Close-up


Details on how to get to that in the next blog entry. Oh and just to let you know that you got that shot because I've just discovered the 'super-macro' setting on my camera. Only had it 3 years, doh!
 

Attachments

#12 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Looking forward to another fine box Martyn. That is one nice looking hinge pin.
 

Attachments

#13 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
I'm glad to hear you keep your towel handy Martyn… ;)
 

Attachments

#14 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Arthur Dent couldn't have done it bette Martyn.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
If anyone is going to do it- it's going to be you Martyn. Then the rest of us will ooh and aah and try to replicate…
 

Attachments

#16 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
This will be cool to see. If anything wrong happens just fall, while forgetting about falling, and fly away.
 

Attachments

#17 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Ah yes, Jeff. The secret of flying is missing the ground.
 

Attachments

#18 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
I believe in Martyn
 

Attachments

#19 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
That is going to be the worlds thinnest (and classiest) wooden hinge. I have no doubts whatsoever that you will master this as you have mastered all your previous attempts. Your ability to conceive these unusual and unique projects is laudable. Keep on keepin on and I'll keep watching and marveling.
 

Attachments

#20 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
I wonder if I can hold my breathe long enough!?
 

Attachments

#21 ·
The Answer

To life the Universe and everything. As all you readers of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hikers's Guide to the Galaxy will know.

For me it is, as well as that, a quest for yet smaller wooden hinges. Don't Panic (as the Guide says on it's cover, in big, friendly, letters) I am prepared to fail on this one. This (lid removed for clarity) is what I am planning to achieve

Chair Triangle Rectangle Table Tree


A, cubic, reversible box with sides that are 42mm long and high by 3mm thick (1.65" by just under 1/8" thick for imperial readers).

How?

You may well ask. I am going to use a variation on the clam shell technique used for 56 but this time I'm treating it almost like a parquetry exercise. I'm going to use three 1mm layers of wood, just over commercial veneer thickness, laminated like plywood. I plan to do all of the shaping work with a craft knife (X-acto in this case).

I've prepared three 1mm thick boards of Walnut, Sycamore and Sapele. Here they are with the knife in question and a length of 1mm brass rod (the hinge pin material)

Green Rectangle Textile Wood Font


and to show thickness

Calipers Measuring instrument Gas Wrist Gauge


This should be fun. Trust me, I'm a man who knows where his towel is!

Be seeing you.
Like all of the others, I'm eagerly waiting for the next "Martynized" box. Should be great as usual Martyn.
 

Attachments

#22 ·
One sunny afternoon

Hello again.

Now the 'boards' you saw in part one were oversize at 45mm wide, purposefully so. Its easier to glue up and cut. There is a small allowance for error, if one piece isn't square with the next layer. So, first things first, cut out six of each wood 45mm square. I always cut a spare just in case of screw ups.

Ruler Wood Office ruler Rectangle Wood stain


Eye Rectangle Azure Wood Flooring


The first shaping work will be done with two layers stuck together

Rectangle Azure Wood Textile Flooring


Spares to the right. The sycamore is glued to the Sapele with superglue, using an accelerator on one piece

Gas Tints and shades Font Cylinder Writing implement


the grain on the two layers being at 90° to each other, just like plywood. The pieces are labelled Left, Back, Right, Front and Top (L,B,R,F,T). Then, paying attention to grain direction they are taped together on a piece of masking tape which itself is taped down to the cutting board.

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Flooring Floor


A nominal centre line is drawn through all and lines for the hinge pin slots marked.

Green Rectangle Wood Wood stain Flooring


They are the all turned 90° on the tape and the back/top hinge pin slot markings made

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Grass Floor


The slots are then cut out with a knife. Its easy to tell when you've cut through the Sycamore layer. Its softer than the other two woods and as the grain of the Sapele layer is at 90° to that of the Sycamore you can feel a slight difference in the resistance to the knife blade.

Cutting mat Rectangle Wood Aqua Ruler


I'll be cutting the hinge slots for L,R and T first. These are at the bottom of the picture. These will also have their pins installed and the Walnut layer glued on. The B and F pieces will be fitted against these.

Rectangle Textile Wood Font Aqua


I cut five hinge pins from the 1mm brass rod for the slots. Here's an example.

Rectangle Pattern Symmetry Electric blue Circle


I had planned on getting further today but the grass needs cutting and there are some suspicious looking bulldozers at the end of the road that I might have to lie in front of.

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

#23 ·
One sunny afternoon

Hello again.

Now the 'boards' you saw in part one were oversize at 45mm wide, purposefully so. Its easier to glue up and cut. There is a small allowance for error, if one piece isn't square with the next layer. So, first things first, cut out six of each wood 45mm square. I always cut a spare just in case of screw ups.





The first shaping work will be done with two layers stuck together



Spares to the right. The sycamore is glued to the Sapele with superglue, using an accelerator on one piece



the grain on the two layers being at 90° to each other, just like plywood. The pieces are labelled Left, Back, Right, Front and Top (L,B,R,F,T). Then, paying attention to grain direction they are taped together on a piece of masking tape which itself is taped down to the cutting board.



A nominal centre line is drawn through all and lines for the hinge pin slots marked.



They are the all turned 90° on the tape and the back/top hinge pin slot markings made



The slots are then cut out with a knife. Its easy to tell when you've cut through the Sycamore layer. Its softer than the other two woods and as the grain of the Sapele layer is at 90° to that of the Sycamore you can feel a slight difference in the resistance to the knife blade.



I'll be cutting the hinge slots for L,R and T first. These are at the bottom of the picture. These will also have their pins installed and the Walnut layer glued on. The B and F pieces will be fitted against these.



I cut five hinge pins from the 1mm brass rod for the slots. Here's an example.



I had planned on getting further today but the grass needs cutting and there are some suspicious looking bulldozers at the end of the road that I might have to lie in front of.

Be seeing you.
So well thought out! Seeing the process is the tip of the iceberg. You already did 95% of the work, thinking things through. I love watching this come to be. Thanks! :)

Sheila
 

Attachments

#35 ·
Heart of Gold

Hello again.

First thing to do today is mark out all the hinge fingers on L,R and T. Pretty much like this

Rectangle Wood Art Parallel Pattern


The cutting regime is shown here on T. Left to right. Marked out, Sycamore layer removed, Sapele layer removed

Wood Rectangle Table Beige Hardwood


When all three fingers are removed the Walnut piece is hinged to this piece with masking tape. Walnut layer lowermost. The knife is used to transfer the outlines to this layer.

Blue Rectangle Wood Brick Art


The Sapele/Sycamore layer is hinged off of this to reveal the outline markings. These are cut out with the knife as well.

Green Blue Rectangle Wood Wood stain


with Sapele downmost the pin is placed in the hinge pin groove and glue applied to the Walnut piece. This is hinged closed again and held until dry (using superglue this is a matter of 30 seconds, ten if you use an accelerator).

Azure Rectangle Wood Road surface Aqua


Rectangle Wood Font Electric blue Pattern


This cutting and gluing procedure is repeated for the other two sides (L and R) until this is what you have

Rectangle Wood Font Pattern Tints and shades


These are laid out in the order they will be attached. In the next episode we see what happens when Arthur Dent hits the infinite improbability drive in order to avoid being nuked and cut the back and front (B and F) finger joints.

Now where's the tea?

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

#36 ·
Heart of Gold

Hello again.

First thing to do today is mark out all the hinge fingers on L,R and T. Pretty much like this

Rectangle Wood Art Parallel Pattern


The cutting regime is shown here on T. Left to right. Marked out, Sycamore layer removed, Sapele layer removed

Wood Rectangle Table Beige Hardwood


When all three fingers are removed the Walnut piece is hinged to this piece with masking tape. Walnut layer lowermost. The knife is used to transfer the outlines to this layer.

Blue Rectangle Wood Brick Art


The Sapele/Sycamore layer is hinged off of this to reveal the outline markings. These are cut out with the knife as well.

Green Blue Rectangle Wood Wood stain


with Sapele downmost the pin is placed in the hinge pin groove and glue applied to the Walnut piece. This is hinged closed again and held until dry (using superglue this is a matter of 30 seconds, ten if you use an accelerator).

Azure Rectangle Wood Road surface Aqua


Rectangle Wood Font Electric blue Pattern


This cutting and gluing procedure is repeated for the other two sides (L and R) until this is what you have

Rectangle Wood Font Pattern Tints and shades


These are laid out in the order they will be attached. In the next episode we see what happens when Arthur Dent hits the infinite improbability drive in order to avoid being nuked and cut the back and front (B and F) finger joints.

Now where's the tea?

Be seeing you.
I would be nuked well before now.. you must have really small fingers and really good eyes…
 

Attachments

#46 ·
Magrathea (Inside the legendary planet building planet)

Here we are again. This time its time to cut the fingers on the two remaining pieces, F and B. B the back piece also has the hinge fingers for the lid. Basically offer up the relevant side, in this case Left (already cut) to Front and mark the cutouts with the knife blade.

Rectangle Wood Fixture Window Wood stain


Do this for both sides of Front and Back (plus the top of the back piece) and cut out all the hinge fingers.
Use the same method as before for cutting the single walnut piece for both F and B. Then slide the single walnut piece into each of the side pieces (walnut side inwards). Do for both F and B.

Wood Rectangle Metal Composite material Fashion accessory


Push on the relevant Sycamore/Sapele pieces for the Front

Wood Rectangle Circuit component Composite material Metal


and Back

Wood Art Rectangle Flooring Gas


This will allow me to mark how much is to be removed off the end of the finger (waste) in preparation for sanding this off and rounding the hinge finger ends.

From this pic you may be able to see that I've had a bit of a problem with the hinge fingers for the back/top. The grain is following for these and this causes weakness. I may have to brace them with a 0.5mm strip either side in the final assembly, making that particular hinge 4mm as opposed to 3mm which the four corner hinges will be.

Getting tired now.

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

#47 ·
Magrathea (Inside the legendary planet building planet)

Here we are again. This time its time to cut the fingers on the two remaining pieces, F and B. B the back piece also has the hinge fingers for the lid. Basically offer up the relevant side, in this case Left (already cut) to Front and mark the cutouts with the knife blade.

Rectangle Wood Fixture Window Wood stain


Do this for both sides of Front and Back (plus the top of the back piece) and cut out all the hinge fingers.
Use the same method as before for cutting the single walnut piece for both F and B. Then slide the single walnut piece into each of the side pieces (walnut side inwards). Do for both F and B.

Wood Rectangle Metal Composite material Fashion accessory


Push on the relevant Sycamore/Sapele pieces for the Front

Wood Rectangle Circuit component Composite material Metal


and Back

Wood Art Rectangle Flooring Gas


This will allow me to mark how much is to be removed off the end of the finger (waste) in preparation for sanding this off and rounding the hinge finger ends.

From this pic you may be able to see that I've had a bit of a problem with the hinge fingers for the back/top. The grain is following for these and this causes weakness. I may have to brace them with a 0.5mm strip either side in the final assembly, making that particular hinge 4mm as opposed to 3mm which the four corner hinges will be.

Getting tired now.

Be seeing you.
Good work. Does the wife have you working in the garden?
 

Attachments

#54 ·
Disaster Area

Its been a mixed experience, today. Some things went well and others went….......well not so well.
It looked incredibly complex to mark up all the little bits to be trimmed off

Wood Rectangle Circuit component Composite material Metal


so I went an easier route. The external dimensions of the box (well the first three anyway) are 42mm, cubed.
With 3mm thick walls this means the inside width and length are 36mm. So I made up a former block 36mm square by a bit longer and placed it inside the box

Rectangle Wood Metal Paper product Art


This holds the box square, allowing (with a brand new 240 grit disc fitted) me to sand the sides flush on the disc sander, like so

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plywood Art


At this scale 240grit is a bit like 60 - 120 grit on a larger piece of wood. Things happen quickly. Its a matter of gently sweeps at it. A steady hand and no room for doubt. All that bollocks. So within 5 minutes the box looked like this

Rectangle Wood Flooring Hardwood Font


I picked it apart again and put the first side in the vice for shaping

Rectangle Wood Table Floor Flooring


I do love the super-macro setting on my camera. I wish my eyes had it too. The rounding of the hinge fingers is a manual affair, with 240grit and a small piece of flat wood. I couldn't trust my hand on the disc sander and I don't know of any router bits (at normal prices and availability) that could put a 1.5mm rounding on a corner. Best efforts so far have produced this

Wood Tints and shades Metal Automotive tire Brick


I'm not convinced. I have to do my shaping in the real, big, world and when I take a close up picture it looks like that. Its a bit like trying to paint the Mona Lisa with a 4" paint brush on the end of a broom stick. When you take a break and go up to your work to take a look its not even human.

Disheartened I've taped it all back together, cut the width on the lid right and this is what it looks like

Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Hardwood


a small wooden shack that even the Quarks from the bad side of the tracks wouldn't inhabit. Perhaps it will look better, tomorrow. Perhaps not.

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

#55 ·
Disaster Area

Its been a mixed experience, today. Some things went well and others went….......well not so well.
It looked incredibly complex to mark up all the little bits to be trimmed off

Wood Rectangle Circuit component Composite material Metal


so I went an easier route. The external dimensions of the box (well the first three anyway) are 42mm, cubed.
With 3mm thick walls this means the inside width and length are 36mm. So I made up a former block 36mm square by a bit longer and placed it inside the box

Rectangle Wood Metal Paper product Art


This holds the box square, allowing (with a brand new 240 grit disc fitted) me to sand the sides flush on the disc sander, like so

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Plywood Art


At this scale 240grit is a bit like 60 - 120 grit on a larger piece of wood. Things happen quickly. Its a matter of gently sweeps at it. A steady hand and no room for doubt. All that bollocks. So within 5 minutes the box looked like this

Rectangle Wood Flooring Hardwood Font


I picked it apart again and put the first side in the vice for shaping

Rectangle Wood Table Floor Flooring


I do love the super-macro setting on my camera. I wish my eyes had it too. The rounding of the hinge fingers is a manual affair, with 240grit and a small piece of flat wood. I couldn't trust my hand on the disc sander and I don't know of any router bits (at normal prices and availability) that could put a 1.5mm rounding on a corner. Best efforts so far have produced this

Wood Tints and shades Metal Automotive tire Brick


I'm not convinced. I have to do my shaping in the real, big, world and when I take a close up picture it looks like that. Its a bit like trying to paint the Mona Lisa with a 4" paint brush on the end of a broom stick. When you take a break and go up to your work to take a look its not even human.

Disheartened I've taped it all back together, cut the width on the lid right and this is what it looks like

Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Hardwood


a small wooden shack that even the Quarks from the bad side of the tracks wouldn't inhabit. Perhaps it will look better, tomorrow. Perhaps not.

Be seeing you.
Master of the small you are.

It looks like the Luck Nymphs were with you today - but you don't seem to need them.
Keep it up, it is looking fine from here.

Steve
 

Attachments

#67 ·
Late as in the late Dent, Arthur Dent

Its supposed to be a threat, I was never any good at those.- Slartibartfast

Well I am. This method is not working.

1.



The small (1mm square x 6mm long) piece that retains the hinge pin falls out. Remember I have used CA (superglue) on these.

2.



On the 'grain following' rear/top hinge 1mm is too thin to hold. I could re-enforce with a 0.5mm piece, cross grained to this but problem 1. still remains.

This means the end of this attempt at 3mm thick wooden hinges…....................

..............and the start of another!

I now realise I should have stuck with the clam-shell method I blogged for '56'. At this scale the structure of wood cells in the timber may have more reliable adhesion than CA on a surface where cells of timber may be opposite holes between them on the surfaces you are trying to glue. CA is not a good gap filler, in my experience.

I've had some good input from fellow LJ's, particularly 'scrollgirl' (Sheila). Why not use a scrollsaw to cut the fingers? Good point. I started experimenting, pulling out the scroll saw, kicking and screaming, from it's lair, in the cupboard under the planer. Bolted it down to the bench (yes the 'work' bench, the one with holes in to attach tools to).



Using one of the spare 1mm pieces for the last attempt I re-assessed my scrolling skill by trying to see if I could produce repeatable cuts. (Scale in mm)



fine by me. I marked out some fingers and cut them



Pretty good, I think. Thats it then. The project re-commences. It will pretty much follow the lines of the Clam-Shell Hinge blog so I'll mostly be posting progress pictures, picking out modifications to technique as and when.

Be seeing you.
 

Attachments

#68 ·
Late as in the late Dent, Arthur Dent

Its supposed to be a threat, I was never any good at those.- Slartibartfast

Well I am. This method is not working.

1.

Wood Material property Beige Book Metal


The small (1mm square x 6mm long) piece that retains the hinge pin falls out. Remember I have used CA (superglue) on these.

2.

Wood Rectangle House Mechanical puzzle Tints and shades


On the 'grain following' rear/top hinge 1mm is too thin to hold. I could re-enforce with a 0.5mm piece, cross grained to this but problem 1. still remains.

This means the end of this attempt at 3mm thick wooden hinges…....................

..............and the start of another!

I now realise I should have stuck with the clam-shell method I blogged for '56'. At this scale the structure of wood cells in the timber may have more reliable adhesion than CA on a surface where cells of timber may be opposite holes between them on the surfaces you are trying to glue. CA is not a good gap filler, in my experience.

I've had some good input from fellow LJ's, particularly 'scrollgirl' (Sheila). Why not use a scrollsaw to cut the fingers? Good point. I started experimenting, pulling out the scroll saw, kicking and screaming, from it's lair, in the cupboard under the planer. Bolted it down to the bench (yes the 'work' bench, the one with holes in to attach tools to).

Table Electrical wiring Wood Engineering Gas


Using one of the spare 1mm pieces for the last attempt I re-assessed my scrolling skill by trying to see if I could produce repeatable cuts. (Scale in mm)

Wood Rectangle Grey Brick Font


fine by me. I marked out some fingers and cut them

Table Sleeve Rectangle Wood Grey


Pretty good, I think. Thats it then. The project re-commences. It will pretty much follow the lines of the Clam-Shell Hinge blog so I'll mostly be posting progress pictures, picking out modifications to technique as and when.

Be seeing you.
The hinges will still be 3mm thick (2Ă—1.5mm this time), Walnut and Sycamore.
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top