I’m looking for some hinges for a folding chess board that I’m making. I based the design of the board on some I found online. See the picture attached. Finding the right hinge is proving to be a challenge. I have no idea what the hinge is called, but the barrel must be oriented such that it protrudes in the opposite direction from the countersunk holes. I realize that the barrel will protrude above the box when closed. But the hinge must be flush with or below the mounting surface so that the chess board will sit flat. Any help is appreciated.
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It looks like a standard butt hinge. I'm not sure I understand what is "special" about the hinges you are looking for.
Read my reply to other posts below.
A standard butt hinge should allow the board to lay flat, as you wish, if it is mortised into the frame as shown in your first picture. What may happen, however, is that the barrel may protrude out the back enough to keep the two halves separated a bit. In order to reduce the gap between the two halves, the frame will also need be mortised a bit on the back to allow the barrel to inset by a little less than half way into the back corner. I hope that answers your question.
I build game boxes and from your photo, what you are seeking is a butt hinge that folds onto itself when the box is open. I get my hinges from Brasso .
I tried that. The problem is that the barrel now prevents the chess board from laying flat.
...pretty sure JQL means Brusso.
https://www.brusso.com/hinges/
https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/shop/hardware/hinges/small-box/40459-brusso-box-hinges?item=01B0301
Look at the photos of the hinges on the Brusso link carefully. The drop leaf hinge has the countersinks on the opposite side of the barrel. While the butt hinge has the countersinks on the same side as the barrel. In short the drop leaf hinge would work, but it is much too large the fit on the 3/4 inch material.
Here, it's an example of the Brusso hinges.
I tried those...no good. barrel is on the wrong side of the countersinking.
The depth of your mortises need to accommodate the thickness of the barrel. See your first picture. Doing so will allow the boxes to lie flat.
Edit: No. I'm partially wrong. You can't flip the typical butt hinge over as it will then not fully close. At best, it will swing maybe 260-270 degrees the other way. In order for the two halves to stay in alignment and lay flat, the barrel (pivot point) has got to be on the center line between them or slightly higher. No matter what you do, you will have, at least, a small amount of barrel above the closing surfaces. The best you can do is find hinges that are very thin with the smallest possible barrel diameter and mortise the leaves in flush or slightly below the surface. Check out the small brass hinges made for small boxes, etc. Then, lay your open box on a pad.
You might consider an alternative plastic barrelless hinge like this:
https://www.mcmaster.com/hinges/plastic-piano-hinges-without-holes/
This. Easy peasy.
I'm encouraged that you see my issue. After thinking about your comment I suspected that the hinge used on the chess board in the photo is a thin hinge with no countersinking on the leaves.
I ended up using barrel hinges on the board:
https://www.rockler.com/hidden-barrel-hinges-select-size
Very sensitive to exact placement to allow the board to lay flat when open. And I don't like the arm protruding when closed. But it was the best I could come up with.
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