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Shaped Wooden Hinges #1: The Drilling

Blog entry by littlecope posted 42 days ago 433 reads 10 times favorited 18 comments Add to Favorites Watch
no previous part Part 1 of Shaped Wooden Hinges series Part 2: The Cutting »

People seemed to like the hinges I made for the last box,Box with semi gloss wipe-on poly
so I thought I’d take a few minutes and share how I made them. Like most stories, we begin at the beginning…
with the wood!!A suitable scrap of Oak
It’s a leftover scrap of Oak from when I made the two flag cases. It has a groove cut in it, and I’m not going to use that section, but for now I’m going to leave it intact, for two reasons: #1) That side is nice and flat and #2) When I drill in through the side of this piece, I’ll be able to stop in that waste section and not have to “bust out” through the bottom…
I start by marking a line on the side, easily done with a piece of 1/4” blue acrylic I have kicking around…Marking a line
This is the only really critical marking in the whole operation, the hinges, of course, have to be in line. I make four pilot “dimples” with an awl along that line to guide a 1/4” drill…First holes drilled- for eventual Pins
These will eventually be for the pivot pins.
I then draw the hinges on the side and on the top using my old drafting circle template.Using a circle template to draw hinges These could be made in any shape, I’m going with a simple design. If the circles don’t look entirely concentric it’s okay! I’m cutting them a little large because they need to be hand fit lastly anyway…
I then drill access holes for the scroll saw work later using a drill large enough to accommodate the pinned blades I use. First the sides,Drilling access holes for scroll sawing
Then the top…After drawing the top viewMore access holes
The next step I don’t have a picture for but is pretty straight forward. The top half of the hinges has to be free floating, which means it’s necessary to enlarge it’s hole. The next drill size up I have is a 5/16”. That would be a whole 1/16” of play, too “sloppy”!! So when I visited my folks yesterday, I took the opportunity to use my Dad’s 9/32” drill and drill press to accomplish the task…
Which brings us to the last ten holes, the holes for the 1/8” pins which will attach these hinges to their intended box. These I’ll drill using a slightly under-sized 7/64” drill which, unbelievably, I have!! When I attach these to the box, I’ll glue first, wait for that to set then drill with an 1/8” through the hinge and into the box. Pre-drilling will hopefully cause less stress on these tiny parts.
First I mark them, again, scoring with the Awl to start the drill in the proper locationDrilling locations scored with an Awl And there you have it, Swiss Cheese!!Ready to begin cutting
I counted 38 different holes, in four different sizes, from two sides of the wood, but I’ll need every one of them!! If all this seems a little hazy, believe me, the smoke will clear in the next installment, “The Cutting”. :)

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.


18 comments so far

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

16910 posts in 473 days


posted 42 days ago

Hey Mike
Very well done a super interesting blog. Can’t wait for the rest of the story.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

View Woodwrecker's profile

Woodwrecker

492 posts in 471 days


posted 42 days ago

Thanks Mike.
I haven’t made a set of these yet, and now I can learn.
I appreciate your sharing.

-- Eric

View Rj's profile

Rj

563 posts in 527 days


posted 42 days ago

GREAT blog Mike thanks for posting this.

-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7037 posts in 1195 days


posted 42 days ago

Thanks Mike, great blogging.

I’ve made door, & drawer handles, but I haven’t tried hinges yet.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View eddy's profile

eddy

287 posts in 260 days


posted 42 days ago

nice blog i make mine very similar to the way you do it but i like your use of wood as a pin. i have been using brass nails will have to try your way and see how it goes the wood pin looks much nicer

View patron's profile

patron

2422 posts in 237 days


posted 42 days ago

and all this from a broomstick ?

they look great mike ,
and a great tutorial too !

thanks .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View ellen35's profile

ellen35

536 posts in 328 days


posted 42 days ago

Great blog, Mike.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Ellen

-- Ellen on Cape Cod

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7322 posts in 1142 days


posted 42 days ago

Wow, my brain hurts, could you make that any harder for my pea brain to understand. LOL, just kidding Mike. That is so cool. I’ve never done that before, and now I know how. That’s great, thanks mucho. You made it very easy actually, to follow. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2244 posts in 481 days


posted 42 days ago

Mike they look as usual really very sweet.In fact the box with hinges fitted looks superb this is a little beauty .I am an avid fan of home made wooden hinges and have made quite a few myself over the years.Keep up the very artistic work I love to see it.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View degoose's profile

degoose

2006 posts in 250 days


posted 42 days ago

Keen to see the next installment .. nicely worded and photographed.. well done Mike..

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

View littlecope's profile

littlecope

592 posts in 398 days


posted 42 days ago

Thank you, Everybody, for your comments!!
I had to go and do the actual cutting, but finished it, and the hinges, a little while ago…If the phone doesn’t ring I’m hoping to be able to post the rest of the story tonight… :)

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6446 posts in 879 days


posted 42 days ago

Hey Mike …nice posting … You are a inspiration on this one. Those hinges look like allot of fun and I like your style.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View patron's profile

patron

2422 posts in 237 days


posted 42 days ago

your coment with rudolf ,
made me all touchy gooey ,
i want to hug you too !

after mario gets through ?

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View littlecope's profile

littlecope

592 posts in 398 days


posted 42 days ago

I thought I told you guys, no PDA’ s… It’s Embarasking… :P

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

View patron's profile

patron

2422 posts in 237 days


posted 42 days ago

what on earth is a

PDA ?

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View littlecope's profile

littlecope

592 posts in 398 days


posted 42 days ago

Public Displays of Affection… :)

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

View stefang's profile

stefang

1650 posts in 230 days


posted 41 days ago

I missed this installment yesterday, but I picked up on the 2nd one which I favorited and which I am also doing with this one. Thanks Mike for your efforts in making this good blog and sharing your knowledge with us.

-- Mike, American in Norway

View abie's profile

abie

112 posts in 667 days


posted 41 days ago

Likewise missed the first which is now bookmarked.
I have made several wood hinges but this is the best explaination so far and I have searched and read a lot of examples on the Net…
Where is spell check when I need it?
BT

-- Bruce

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