I am making several small boxes and to save some money I am using small piano hinges, 1/4 X 6. I cut a recess in the box with a router setup and mount the hinge with #1 brass wood screws. I then insert cutoff wood screws in the top leaf of the piano hinge and close the hinge on them to hold them in place. I then place the lid of the box very carefully on top, aligning it so that all side are even, I then tap the lid with a small mallet to mark the screw holes for the top. I pre drill the holes and attach with screws. PROBLEM: IT DOES NOT MATCH. I get a shift of 1/32 to 1/16 which is too much to correct with sanding. I screwed up two boxes already.
Does anyone have a trick for aligning these hinges? By the way the hinge only opens about 100 degrees making impossible to lay the two parts flush together for marking.
Replies
Ryan7111,
There was a discussion of this not long ago, you can search for it. But the trick is a few drops of epoxy to hold the hinge in place and then set all the screws after the epoxy has set.
DR
First I attach the hinge(s) to the bottom of the box. Depending on the type of hinge you may have to put a thin shim between the leaves of the hinge so they are parallel to each other. I like to put 2 SMALL dabs of hot glue on the lid of the box alligned with the hinge and QUICKLY press it into place. The 'cold' metal of the hinge will stick to the glue and almost instantly 'set' it. Mark and drill the holes. Gently pry off the hot glue and set your screws. The best part is that if the top does not allign properly, all you do is scrape off the dabs of hot glue and start over. SawdustSteve
You may want to look at this.
http://www.woodworkingtips.com/etips/2004/09/17/sn/
Joe
Thanks to all. I tried the hot melt glue and it worked after a few tries. The hinge has a coating that had to be scuffed up to get the glue to hold (very small hinge). The epoxy would have worked better but I needed to remove the hinge for abother operation.
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