Dave Trendymiddlename Starr Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Hello. I'm building a blanket chest and I'm not sure how serious a hinge I would need for the lid. The lid will be 3/4" plywood measuring 46" x 20". Quarter-sheet, basically. Will a pair of these hinges suffice? http://www.rockler.com/flat-tipped-butt-hinges-w-removable-pin Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 A lot would depend on the screws used and how you plan to mount the hinges. Hinge screws into the edge of plywood is not a good idea. Are you building a solid wood frame ? Screws into the lid from below will have to be short. Without pictures it's hard to invision the position the hinge would be in. But yes that size hinge will do the job if installed correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Trendymiddlename Starr Posted July 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Here's the design. I intend to mortise them into the top and carcass. One wing of the hinge will be screwed into the face of the plywood top, the other wing will be screwed into a 2.5" pine rail. I don't know if there's a better way to do it, but I know I'm at least not screwing into endgrain or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Cant go wrong with a piano hinge... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Look at Brusso, if you want good hinges. You want a hinge that doesn't flop to the back, and a hinge that's strong enough to hold the top upright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Trendymiddlename Starr Posted July 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 Well, the customer wants to keep the price as low as possible. So $5 hinges are about all that's in the budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 You might want to barely mortice the underside of the top. 1/32 deep is plenty. Hopefully you can get 5/8" long screws in and not affect the top. PRACTICE on scrap before you mortice or screw into your actual top. VIX bits help get the pilot holes exact on hinges & hardware. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 @wdwerker‘s suggestion on the solid wood frame makes a lot of sense, structurally for the lid and hinges and also will add to the looks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 +1 on the piano hinge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ_Engineer Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Another vote for piano hinge. Unless you want a torsion hinge to help with lifting the lid or it not slamming down. That's a requirement in my house with little kids. But they are a bit pricier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QHC Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Does the hinge look strong enough. Yes, but that's only one consideration. As others have said; depending on what you are screwing into, the hinge itself is probably not the weakest link. My vote goes to a piano hinge as well. Then the lid needs some kind of lid stay. At a minimum, a chain that would hold the lid just past 90 degrees so that it could stay open by itself without slamming down, and better if it allowed for slowing the lid down when shutting. Finally I would not use hinges with removable pins in a horizontal position. QHC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 To bad you aren't going with a solid wood top but understand a budget thing. I haven't had much luck at times with plywood tops and ply doors on shop cabinets. Sometimes they tend to warp. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 A casual mention that plywood can twist or warp is a possibility when a client is applying financial pressure will cover your..... it still beats particleboard that will eventually sag or crumble. A solid wood frame with a floating panel is the best practice but financial constraints are always a trade off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Swanson Jr. Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 @Dave Trendymiddlename Starr it depends on your definition of suffice. Those flat tipped butt hinges will work, Sure. But they're door hinges by design. I work at the store that your link came from. Take a look at the torsion hinges. They're designed especially for chests and they're really nice fit and finish. The smaller, lower weight torsion hinges are pretty reasonable, price wise, and will work great for a 3/4" plywood lid. They'll keep the lid open at any setting which is nice for adults and a finger saver for kids. Anyway, that's just my .02. Here is a link http://www.rockler.com/lid-stay-torsion-hinge-lid-support-satin-nickel AJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 AJ, I’ll vouch for those. I used three (could have gotten by with two) on my blanket chest and they work great. So, you work for Rockler? Damn glad I don’t, ONLY because I would bring my pay home in trade. Love that place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damon777 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 I can also vouch for those Rockler torsion hinges. I have them on a chest I made my wife a while back and they are doing great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Good to no. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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