People seemed to like the hinges I made for the last box,
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!!
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…
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…
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.
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,
Then the top…
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 location
And there you have it, Swiss Cheese!!
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 Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
18 comments so far
a1Jim
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87227 posts in 1747 days
#1 posted 1316 days ago
Hey Mike
Very well done a super interesting blog. Can’t wait for the rest of the story.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Woodwrecker
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3005 posts in 1746 days
#2 posted 1316 days ago
Thanks Mike.
I haven’t made a set of these yet, and now I can learn.
I appreciate your sharing.
-- Eric
Rj
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1036 posts in 1801 days
#3 posted 1316 days ago
GREAT blog Mike thanks for posting this.
-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2469 days
#4 posted 1316 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
eddy
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885 posts in 1534 days
#5 posted 1316 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
-- self proclaimed copycat
patron
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12066 posts in 1511 days
#6 posted 1316 days ago
and all this from a broomstick ?
they look great mike ,
and a great tutorial too !
thanks .
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
ellen35
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2442 posts in 1602 days
#7 posted 1316 days ago
Great blog, Mike.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Ellen
-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
jockmike2
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10636 posts in 2416 days
#8 posted 1316 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
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
SCOTSMAN
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4312 posts in 1755 days
#9 posted 1316 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
degoose
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6594 posts in 1525 days
#10 posted 1316 days ago
Keen to see the next installment .. nicely worded and photographed.. well done Mike..
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...
littlecope
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2333 posts in 1672 days
#11 posted 1316 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 Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
Dan'um Style
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10790 posts in 2153 days
#12 posted 1316 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.
-- keeping myself entertained
patron
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12066 posts in 1511 days
#13 posted 1316 days ago
your coment with rudolf ,
made me all touchy gooey ,
i want to hug you too !
after mario gets through ?
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
littlecope
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2333 posts in 1672 days
#14 posted 1316 days ago
I thought I told you guys, no PDA’ s… It’s Embarasking… :P
-- Mike in Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
patron
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12066 posts in 1511 days
#15 posted 1316 days ago
what on earth is a
PDA ?
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
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