This weekend I am continuing my quest of learning to make boxes by adding hinges to them; of all the boxes I have made so far, they are slip fit.
I have been told that certain boxes don’t need hinges – ones that are smaller in size are more decoration than functional such that they are not opened very often)
And hinges don’t appear on just boxes they are on lockets (which are small and are certainly decoration), bracelets, and other jewelry as connections between elements.
Then there is other hollowware like the lids for tea and coffee pot, lids on salt cellars or mustard pots, tea caddies and infusers
But unlike hinges in our house, we can’t go to a store and just buy premade hinges – they must be made specifically for each object. And the object has to be modified for the hing
I have looked at a lot of books old and new about hinges. The older ones describe the process but don’t illustrate it as printing images in books use to be very expensive. The newer books have pictures with captions and text but not many give you an exact step by step probably because each item you put hinges on is different. The picture at the top of this post is of all the books I have which discuss hinge making and I read each at least 2 times before it started to make sense (doing this when one is tired does not help and might make understanding it worse).
I am now ready to start constructing some sample hinges which is best as you don’t want to spend hours making a box only for a hinge and then have the hinge incorrect or soldered solid.
I have copper sheet, various sizes of copper tubing for the hinges, copper wire for the hinge pin, solder, a tube cutting jig jewelers saw, and small files specifically for cutting grooves foe the hinge tube to sit in.
There are several types of hinges and I will be making samples of each if not more than one of each before i ever put one on a box. This is what I will be working on during the rest of the month. When I feel that I can make them well, I will then construct a box and add a hinge.
I have been told that certain boxes don’t need hinges – ones that are smaller in size are more decoration than functional such that they are not opened very often)
And hinges don’t appear on just boxes they are on lockets (which are small and are certainly decoration), bracelets, and other jewelry as connections between elements.
Then there is other hollowware like the lids for tea and coffee pot, lids on salt cellars or mustard pots, tea caddies and infusers
But unlike hinges in our house, we can’t go to a store and just buy premade hinges – they must be made specifically for each object. And the object has to be modified for the hing
I have looked at a lot of books old and new about hinges. The older ones describe the process but don’t illustrate it as printing images in books use to be very expensive. The newer books have pictures with captions and text but not many give you an exact step by step probably because each item you put hinges on is different. The picture at the top of this post is of all the books I have which discuss hinge making and I read each at least 2 times before it started to make sense (doing this when one is tired does not help and might make understanding it worse).
I am now ready to start constructing some sample hinges which is best as you don’t want to spend hours making a box only for a hinge and then have the hinge incorrect or soldered solid.
I have copper sheet, various sizes of copper tubing for the hinges, copper wire for the hinge pin, solder, a tube cutting jig jewelers saw, and small files specifically for cutting grooves foe the hinge tube to sit in.
There are several types of hinges and I will be making samples of each if not more than one of each before i ever put one on a box. This is what I will be working on during the rest of the month. When I feel that I can make them well, I will then construct a box and add a hinge.
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