Thread: Mortise hinges that fit completely flush for chessboard

Welcome to the Forum, something like this
CWS Store - Solid Brass Concealled Hings 10mm 1pr

Would this style work for you??

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Veneer Inlay have a variety of butler table hinges that may fit. I've also used card table hinges from Graeme Brown Antiques. These sit on the sides of the box.

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the hinge does not lie flat, so no.

That (barrel hinge) is an option. However, you would see the hinges and open ends when the board is closed, not the most aesthetic...
They are also very easy to install.

I actually have a pair of these (Butler Hinge) for another project. The do require about 1.5" depth to mortise into, so that is a lot for a box, but has potential. Not sure the hinge will work fully mortised and not bind as the two sides fold together.

Those side mount hinges are definitely an option.

In another life I had a similar chess 'box' that used simple brass plates as hinges. They pretty much looked like 2-hole meccano pieces, except slightly thicker and, of course, made of brass.

The external hinged edges of both halves were rounded over with a bullnosed router bit (for clearance when opening/closing) and then vertically slotted for each hinge plate.

I don't rightly know how they fitted the pins as they were concealed by the internal box lining, but I imagine they were fitted into channels cut across the hinge slot, then some infill used to act as a retainer.

That box is long gone, so no photos... but if you're interested I should be able to whip up some sort of quick diagram for clarity?

Sorry about my responses, I thought they would be tied to the related reply. will quote from now on!

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

In another life I had a similar chess 'box' that used simple brass plates as hinges. They pretty much looked like 2-hole meccano pieces, except slightly thicker and, of course, made of brass.

The external hinged edges of both halves were rounded over with a bullnosed router bit (for clearance when opening/closing) and then vertically slotted for each hinge plate.

I don't rightly know how they fitted the pins as they were concealed by the internal box lining, but I imagine they were fitted into channels cut across the hinge slot, then some infill used to act as a retainer.

That box is long gone, so no photos... but if you're interested I should be able to whip up some sort of quick diagram for clarity?

Thanks, I may hit you up if I cannot find some commercial products.

I test fitted the butler hinges, and they do not interfere with the 180 degree fold, and the knuckle can have it's own deeper mortise, so you don't see the leaf mortise. Almost perfect, except for the width required in the small box, necessitating about a 1.6" frame member width on the inside
I mortised with a full sized router by hand. That was awkward and pretty much impossible to get a nice mortise. I don't have a compact router, so maybe make a template and use a router template follower guide (which I do have.)

I'd like to see some photos, please. Sounds intriguing.

Originally Posted by handyguy99

I test fitted the butler hinges, and they do not interfere with the 180 degree fold, and the knuckle can have it's own deeper mortise, so you don't see the leaf mortise. Almost perfect, except for the width required in the small box, necessitating about a 1.6" frame member width on the inside
I mortised with a full sized router by hand. That was awkward and pretty much impossible to get a nice mortise. I don't have a compact router, so maybe make a template and use a router template follower guide (which I do have.)

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I should stop calling these butler hinges (they only open 90 degrees.) These are card table hinges.

Thanks for the photos. Well, it looks like that style of hinge would do the job, but yes, the large size is not ideal for a box.

After viewing your photos I thought the style of hinge suggested by AlexS would be the most suitable (if it was my project). The hinge mortise would be much easier to cut albeit visible on the edge of the box.

I wonder if after installing these hinges a 1/8" lipping could be glued to the sides and front edges of the box (but not the back with the hinge knuckle). When the box is open to create the playing board the lipping would create a decorative border.