Thread: Toy Box lid

Pappy

Those blanket box hinges that pal has suggested look as though they might work. A lot depends on the size and weight of the lid.

I had a similar problem with a storage box I made for the back of my vehicle recently. The lid was quite large (longer than it was wide which accentuated the leverage) and it was made from ironbark so quite heavy too.

Originally I bought 2 pairs of the 150kn struts off ebay for $16 a pair, similar to JillB's suggestion. I fiddled with them, but they either didn't have enough lift or were not strong enough, but bear in mind my lids were heavy.

My solution was to use the gas struts off a car boot. Initially I tried the bonnet struts, but could only get one side off. A single strut was sufficient for each lid, but only barely. I suspect that for your aplication, if you are using pine or another lightweight timber, it would be ample. Of course it is hit and miss as different applications have differing strengths and if you source the strut from an old car (maybe the wreckers) the gas pressure will be down from the new pressure.

However you will have some idea of the strength. Just be mindful, if you go down this track, that you have to have a suitable fixing lug as they do difffer. Some are a bracket while others are a ball joint.

You can get some idea of my problem and solution in this thread.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f187/o...er-box-141876/

Regards
Paul

Pappy

I just refered to JillB's thread and she may have been thinking of a different product. This was the ebay listing.

2x 150N GAS STRUT LIFT SPRING kitchen cabinet handle | eBay

A while back I bought used gas struts for a trailer lid from a local car wrecker for about $10 each. For the storage box I had a car I could plunder. The used struts are not worth much as for their original application they would be substandard.

New gas struts are are more in line with JillB's pricing, but I think they may be too strong depending on their original application. Have a look in Repco or Supercheap to gauge price and strength. If you struggle to press them down when you lean on them I think they will be too strong, but a lot depends on the lid.

Regards
Paul

Thanks folks,

"Pal" I purchased a set of those hinges and I am yet to fit them. My only concern with them is the remote chance of small kids getting the fingers into the hinge.

"Bushman" they are the strts I tried.


I fitted them as per the attached instructions.. They work to open the lid slowly and slow when closing to about half way, then it slams shut. The lid is 16 x 400 x 600 mdf so it is not that heavy.


"JillB" Do you mean I should mount the struts straighter?


pappy

Hi pappy , I have used these hinges on three toy boxes and one blanket box for an elderly lady over the past 15 years. one for one of the granddaughters and 2 for the great grand kids. The granddaughter was fairly placid so no problems the great grandkids were feral little buggers and always fighting over the boxes and trying to slam the lid shut on each other. I am happy to say that they never got their fingers or their heads caught. They have a 12 Kg. holding force (hold the lid open) so they had trouble slamming them shut.

Regards

Harold