Thread: Hinge recommendations

I have used 8mm and 5mm barrel hinges with success on small boxes. They can be tricky to fit but the effort is worthwhile particularly for small boxes. I suggest that you Google "barrel hinges" and you will see the range available as well as UTube instructions .....good luck, I hope that this helps.

Thanks for the input Kcam. Barrel hinges are what I was trying to get away from as I recently did a practice project with them and they are absolute buggers to align properly. Also the 5mm ones need a bevel at the rear of the opening and the 8mm need fairly thick timber to mount into.
I did look in the box bits part of the library and there is some advice there but even following that I could not do a good job.

However I will do as you suggest and see if I can find some utube vids on the subject - there just may be something there that makes a difference.

This supplier has a good range of hinges, esp the Brusso range. go for the stopped hinge which gives a 95 degree opening.

Also look at the SmartHinge, so quick and easy to install, or the Brusso equivalent.

Have a look at the excellent range of one of the Forum sponsors here:

CWS Store - Hinges | Carroll's Woodcraft Suppl

Have you thought of making the box with an insert lid or a non commercial hinge? weberboxes.com has some inspirational designs that may be of interest.
Cheers Kerry

Originally Posted by kcam

Have you thought of making the box with an insert lid or a non commercial hinge? weberboxes.com has some inspirational designs that may be of interest.
Cheers Kerry

There are several "How to make wooden hinge" posts here.

Can you elaborate on "a small box for 2 rings" please? what dimensions (outside) do you have in mind? Are these "heritage" type boxes that require expensive precision hinges, or more basic "will be lost soon as the rings are on fingers" boxes? It makes a great deal of difference. For example Brusso hinges as suggested are superb, but pricey and overkill if the box gets relegated to the back of the drawer or <<shock horror>> tossed after the rings are otherwise located.

If you are making a box for a couple of wedding rings I suggest that you do not hinge the box at all - make a lift-off lid instead. There are lots of ways to do that from simple as could be (route the underneath edge of a thicker timber top so it drops on and locates well) to fussy as could be (e.g. make a very thin internal liner for the box so that a recessed-top lid fits over it).

If you really need to hinge the box the simplest way is to use a small butt hinge surface mounted to the back of the box. if you use a quality hinge (or even a so-so quality) and cut the screws to length then you have a lot of flexibility about the wall thickness of the box. If, for example, the box dimensions are to be 60 mm x 30 mm x 30 mm high then a wall thickness of say up to but not exceeding 6 mm would look OK. Thicker walls would look clunky. But, for that wall thickness a drop-on lid would be best IMHO.

BUT, if you are a consummate craftsman then the ultimate way to hinge your box would be with an integrated wooden hinge - NOT the thick add-on things like those made with a Hingecrafter jig, which are suitable for larger boxes, but like the 19th century Scottish designed snuff box hinges called Mauchlineware hinges. Google them to see what I mean. Those boxes had wall thicknesses of less than 4 mm and were extremely elegant. A lot of work and precision required.

i hope that this helps.

Xanthorrhoeas,

I expect the box to be used to present the rings at a ceremony and in that situation a hinged lid is best as it is one less item for someone to need to hold. I agree that the thicker walls would look clunky for a box this size so was hoping for some tips on the best way to deal with that. I have no idea what will happen to it afterward but am still prepared to put a lot of time into it (not so much money though).

I'm leaning toward hidden hinge pins similar to those from Lee Valley but not certain yet.

As for the Mauchlineware, it looks interesting but I'm not the "consummate craftsman" that you mentioned .

Alex and Dengy - more interesting stuff there too.

The rodent treadmills in my head are spinning rapidly .