Thread: Roto hinges or equivalent to support two crossing/rotatable pieces of timber

Couldn't you do it with a stainless steel pin say 6 or 7mm in lets say the outer leg and a socket on say the inside leg? that way you wouldn't see anything. Could also put a washer between the two legs to stop them rubbing the finish off one another. With accurate layout that should be easily achieved.

Cheers

Your attached image looks as though they have just used a fixed dowel on the inner frame that is left to spin freely within the outer frame (short enough not to protrude through the outer face). Is this not ideal?

I imagine that the item will not be required to pivot constantly so wear shouldn't be a huge issue. Keeping it simple is normally the best option.

Craig

Googling Roto Hinge brings a range of images. Rockler and Lee Valley both have them available in the US, but for a couple of pairs you could probably make your own quicker than having them posted.

many thanks for comments and ideas to date. However I had hoped there would be some no-brainer option without having to fashion something (which in my case may or may not work!)

Sean

Bolt 2 washers and a nylock nut.

I was in Bunnings on the weekend and had a look at their range of wooden folding chairs - they used some sort of flat brass nut with a type of hex key opening for tightening at the pivot join where the legs crossed and folded (I should have taken a photograph on my mobile and posted it here) - they seemed quite common and made a neat, flush finish whereas something like a nyloc nut would stand proud of the joint quite a bit - can't imagine one can't get them somewhere in Aus!

look at the hardware used by Lee Valley for these chairs
Veritas® "Adirondack Plus" Folding Chair Plan - Lee Valley Tools
you should be able to buy the stainless bolts, nuts and washers here in AUS

Thanks Ian, those, suitably adapted, look like a very good option. The lock nuts on the inside would not be too obvious either.

In the meantime I did order some roto hinges from Australian Woodsmith - Hardware For Sale so will provide an update on those when they arrive. The are shown on their site and are the same ones another member mentioned in an earlier post.

I also found I got some more promising search results searching under 'hinges for folding chairs' or similar. Regards Sean