box chain

[Ivor]

Does anyone know where to get small chain to keep box lids from going back to far? I have looked and looked and haven't found a source yet I have seen lots of boxes with it.

[zenwood]

http://www.veneerinlayaustralia.com.au/

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=40789&cat=3,41427,41391

http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/

[Hickory]

Locally I get my chain at Craft stores, in notions, (sewing and fabric & such) I find it there by the yard (meter) It is not very expensive so I bought a couple of yards (meters), so now I find it in my storage bin.

[Auld Bassoon]

As Zenwood lists; actually there are quite a few vendors; sadly most are overseas, but thge weight for these sort of items is so little that the airmail option is quite affordable.

If you go to Lee Valley, ask for a copy of their hardware and tools catalogues ($5 each, I seem to recall, but free with an order?). Major drool time. Lock away the plastic. Get some therapy, then place the order :)

[outback]

Pigs &&&&. drool then buy drool then lock away plastic. :D

[DPB]

Personal opinion here - but I find it a shame to cheapen the look of a box with chain after so much work goes into it. This box that I made took hours only to have a chain distract from its appearance.:( It was the first time I used a chain - and the last.:)

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2631/hingedbox030ae.jpg

The clean look of a lid stay is more to my liking. I'm currently making a box with hinges that open to 90 degrees and not further. (Haven't mounted the hinges yet, so I've yet to see how well these work.) I'll show the finished box later in the week.:)http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/5382/image00025on.jpg

[AlexS]

Personal opinion here - but I find it a shame to cheapen the look of a box with chain after so much work goes into it.
Have to agree with Don. Chains are a distraction of the appearance of a well-made box, as well as caching between lid and base, and having links open up. Go with quadrant hinges or braces. Alternatively, you could use Zenwood's (I think) idea of having a thin strip along the back that stops the lid opening too far.

[zenwood]

Agreed too. I've never liked chains. Here's the lid stopper idea:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=18107

For a toybox, or a rustic firewood box, a chain would be OK, though not a dicky gold one: a nice thick iron one.

[DPB]

I haven't seen that idea before. I like it!:)

[Ivor]

I like that idea of a stop, I'll give it a go on my next lot of boxes and bugger the chain.

Is there anything particularly tricky about it? I was thinking that maybe the back of the lid will eventually get dent's in it from the stop.

[zenwood]

The stop is probably gentler on the lid than a chain: it's spread out over a wide area after all. Just plane a bevel on the top face of the stop so that the lid goes slightly past 90° (or you could bevel the back edge of the lid). The slowly tapered ends make it look a bit more refined. Glue it on and clamp with pegs, masking tape, etc.

[Ivor]

Hey Zenwood, you should put a patent on that, its such a great idea.

[Cagey]

Don, where do you get those stays. I have been using Quadrant hinges, but i like the look of those. Great box BTW

[DPB]

Lee Valley. http://tinyurl.com/zo89t:)