| Project by SPalm | posted 1024 days ago | 12339 views | 180 times favorited | 63 comments |  |
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I guess this is kind of a part of a project. But I had so much fun building these that I just wanted to share. I had never tried to build something like this before.
These are maple hinges. The barrel on them is pretty small, 1/4 inch. The flaps or plates are 1/8 inch thick. The hinge pins are bamboo from kabob skewers.
I started by using scraps to create several boards that were 1/4 inch thick. The thickness sander really helped here. I then used a 1/8 inch radius bull-nose cutter in the router table to put a rounded end on the endgrain. Then flipped the board vertically and ran it through the same bit with the same setting to cause the cutter to create 3/4 of a circle.
I then center punched (or pressed) the drill center location. I freehanded the drill operation using just the drill vise to hold the board vertically. This worked amazingly well. I had also tried fences and stop blocks, but found this way to give the best results. I drilled half way, flipped the board and finished the bore. I used a 7/64 bit (just under an eighth of an inch).
Back to the router table, I installed a mortising bit and formed the flat plate. Then a quarter inch bit and performed what is basically a finger joint type operation. I tried a couple different bits and operations here, but the quarter inch vertical seemed to work the best.
I cut them to size and installed the pin. I used bamboo skewers that I had mounted in a hand drill to sand smooth. I found that spinning the pin was an easy way to insert it too. The pin does not seem to need any glue, and I cannot imagine any of them coming out of there.
This is just the beginning, I really feel like these are going to be used by me a lot more in the future.
Steve
Edit: I added a drill guide and some other hints in This Project
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
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63 comments so far
NormG
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2632 posts in 1201 days
#1 posted 1024 days ago
neat project thanks for the pics
-- Norman
lew
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#2 posted 1024 days ago
I see “Littlescope” has started a trend.
Nice work, Steve!
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!
richgreer
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4472 posts in 1271 days
#3 posted 1024 days ago
Very nice.
I use the Incra Hingecrafter to make my wooden hinges. Your approach looks more flexible (and cheaper). Good for you,
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=incra+hingecrafter&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3708587511&ref=pd_sl_60mfvd8892_e
-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.
psh
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#4 posted 1024 days ago
Great job!
-- Peter, Central VA
CharlieM1958
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#5 posted 1024 days ago
Once again, Steve, you have started with an established concept and taken it to an entirely new level. Wow!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Dennisgrosen
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10851 posts in 1312 days
#6 posted 1024 days ago
great little toturial on hingemaking :-)
thanks for sharing
Dennis
dakremer
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#7 posted 1024 days ago
that is really neat! Great looking hinges. I might have to try that some day! thanks for sharing! they look great
-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!
learnin2do
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855 posts in 1048 days
#8 posted 1024 days ago
That is just too incredible…
I don’t think you’ll ever catch me even attempting such an endeavor.
-- christine
rance
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3865 posts in 1357 days
#9 posted 1024 days ago
Steve, good job. I like the change on the bottom right one in the first pic. You make it look so easy. I’ve been wanting to do some of these for a while. I think you’ve inspired me.
-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--
Karson
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34396 posts in 2597 days
#10 posted 1024 days ago
Steve: Great. I’ve made mine with Incra Hindgecrafter.
A great and cheaper way.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
sedcokid
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2522 posts in 1795 days
#11 posted 1024 days ago
Great photos and a great project, really nice!
-- Chuck Emery, Michigan,
swirt
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1864 posts in 1169 days
#12 posted 1024 days ago
Nice. I like the one in the lower right with the radiused gaps. Not only are they attractive but they should be less prone to fracturing at the corners (because there are no corners)
-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com
SPalm
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4174 posts in 2079 days
#13 posted 1024 days ago
Thanks guys. Yeah, I tried some of those with the rounded gaps. I guess every design has some advantages and disadvantages. Something else I did that was kind of cool was to have different gap widths, but I need to upgrade my router table. I managed to destroy several blanks. So anyone trying this, make a bunch while you are at it. Things can go wrong, and besides, it’s fun to play.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
lightweightladylefty
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2086 posts in 1909 days
#14 posted 1024 days ago
These are great. Thanks for the detailed instructions and progress shots.
L/W
-- Jesus is the ONLY reason for ANY season.
Chip
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1904 posts in 2289 days
#15 posted 1024 days ago
Nicely done Steve… they look great!
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt!
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