Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Sep 12, 2005 03:07pm | #1

   There are many different ways to build a drop front as well as many different hinges. Someone may be able to help if you are more specific. The best way is to try it out on some scrap, as it will be used in the piece.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

2. 
   Floss | Sep 12, 2005 05:30pm | #2

   Jay,

   If you already have the hinges, then make a full scale drawing with the angle of the sides and where the top is positioned in relation to this. You can then swing a couple of arcs with a compass set on the hinge pin center to see if the lid will clear the sides and top edge. I am assuming you rebated the sides of the lid so that it is set in the case a little?

   I think a slight gap would be fine this will give more room at the top. The hinge barrel is mortised into the writing surface and the lid so that the leaves of the hinges are in the same plane as the writing surface and lid. OK?

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
1. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 12, 2005 06:39pm | #3

   I agree..I would mount the hinges wher you 'like' the visual with Hot Melt Glue..Test you fit and finish.. May take a bit of roughin' up the back of the hinges though so the glue sticks..

2. 
   JayS | Sep 12, 2005 11:07pm | #4

   The desk is just about finished.  I have the hinges already.  Ball and Ball provided the hinges from a list they already had for this piece (Philadelphia secretary) originally described in FWW.  (It has been a popular piece and they have had many orders for the hardware.)  The hinge opens and closes so the barrel would have to be up, that is, not set into the wood, and proud of the surface, even after mortising in the hinge plates. 

   There is a rabbet all the way around the top, so when closed, the top is set into the opening.

    

   It's a little late for drawings, and the hot glue method another posting refers to doesn't make sense to me, since glueing to the surface would not accurately simulate the final hinge position both because of the thickness of the glue and because the hinges are mortised, not sitting on the surface.

   I was just trying to figure out when scribing the line for the mortise, should the barrel center be aligned with the edge of the desk, or do you let it stand out a little?

   Thanks.

   Jay

1. 
   SVSander | Sep 13, 2005 01:59am | #5

   "...should the barrel center be aligned with the edge of the desk, or do you let it stand out a little?"Jay,My approach would be to allow the hinge barrel to stand out just enough so that I was comfortable there will be no interference between the moving and stationary parts when opening or closing the desk. Attempting a perfect alignment of the hinge barrel with the edge of the desk and the slant top is inviting a problem if you are off by even a small amount.Good luck,
   Richard Baker

2. 
   Floss | Sep 13, 2005 05:20am | #7

   Jay,I think that you can off set the hinge barrel if you like . When doing so I believe you will also leave a small gap between the rebated edge of the lid and the side of the case as well as have a small gap at the top. Both of these things are fine and actually preferred since the spaces will allow smooth operation of the lid. The other thing to do is to have the center of the hinge barrel be precisely at the intersection of the lid and the writing surface. Then you can fit the lid by planing small amounts from the rebate and the top edge.Either way you will probably have to do some fitting.Personally I would center the hinge barrel and fit the lid. But this has to do with the part of my obsessive personality that likes things to be orderly. Just a personal defect that has no bearing on the outcome of your problem.Choose your poison.J.P.http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com

3. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 14, 2005 07:54pm | #8

   and the hot glue method another posting refers to doesn't make sense to me, since glueing to the surface would not accurately simulate the final hinge position both because of the thickness of the glue and because the hinges are mortised, not sitting on the surface.
   I agree with you but at least you would get a good picture of what would happen.. The hinges CAN'T be THAT thick...Try it.. Ya got nothing to loose...

3. 
   rod | Sep 13, 2005 04:46am | #6

   I looked into Joyce's "Encyclopedia of Furniture Making ". On page 257 he has a drawing of the placement of hinges for a slant front desk.
   In fact it is the start of a chapter of "Fall flaps, ..." I hope this
   helps. From the drawing it looks as if the hinge is morticed into the
   fall flap and on the cabinet, and it looks like the center of the barrel is over the edge of the cabinet. I hope this helps.
   Rod