Help with a hinge please...

admin

I am having hinge trouble when installing my top for my strong box. I would like the top to close with no gaps. Like the following photo:I am welding the top and hinge like this:When I close the top this is what happens:Can someone please help me correct this issue?Century AC 100 stick (dead but trying to fix it)Everlast PA 160 STHhttp://www.riograndehatters.comhttp://www.texashatcleaners.com
Reply:Take a quick look at the last pict and the 1st pict and the problem is self evident. Notice that the plate in the 1st pict sits back the thickness of the hinge. You need to shift your plate by that amount. Chances are it will not be positioned like in pict 2. You will need to slide it back towards the box a bit  more if I'm reading how the box is sitting in that picture. Note that the side plate is cut out in pict #1 so there is room for the hinge to sit out farther towards the outside edge. You have the hinge position inside the box from what I see in the last picture. I'm guessing they may have flipped the hinge plate, but I'd need a hinge in hand to look at how it works closer..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWTake a quick look at the last pict and the 1st pict and the problem is self evident. Notice that the plate in the 1st pict sits back the thickness of the hinge. You need to shift your plate by that amount. Chances are it will not be positioned like in pict 2. You will need to slide it back towards the box a bit  more if I'm reading how the box is sitting in that picture. Note that the side plate is cut out in pict #1 so there is room for the hinge to sit out farther towards the outside edge. You have the hinge position inside the box from what I see in the last picture. I'm guessing they may have flipped the hinge plate, but I'd need a hinge in hand to look at how it works closer.
Reply:that's exactly what he is saying
Reply:Possibly. However that will limit how far open your lid will go.In that last pict, note how far the hinge extends into the box. The side facing the plate is flat, the side facing away extends into the box. Seeing that, I'm betting what was done in your 1st pict is that they flipped the hinge. That's the reason for the notch that is shown. The side that sticks out will now go thru the notch. The side that faces your plate will now face into the box. Note not all hinges will allow you to do this because of the way they are made. Some won't open past 90 in one direction.I often have to look at a set of hinges to determine which way I want them to be mounted, depending if they are inside or outside the "door" or if they mount on an edge..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:but even if you do that the lid may not close flush with the back plate and the two side plates.  It appears to me from your last photo that the part of the hinge that holds the hinge pin is above the top edge of the back plate.  If that is so and you weld it up as positioned in your last photo the lid still wont sit flush with the top of the back plate and the gap between the top and side plates will be triangular (large at the hinge and tapering down to a point at the front).  As DSW has also stated, it's hard to offer anymore constructive advice without actually have in the parts in hand.  Good luck
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPossibly. However that will limit how far open your lid will go.In that last pict, note how far the hinge extends into the box. The side facing the plate is flat, the side facing away extends into the box. Seeing that, I'm betting what was done in your 1st pict is that they flipped the hinge. That's the reason for the notch that is shown. The side that sticks out will now go thru the notch. The side that faces your plate will now face into the box. Note not all hinges will allow you to do this because of the way they are made. Some won't open past 90 in one direction.I often have to look at a set of hinges to determine which way I want them to be mounted, depending if they are inside or outside the "door" or if they mount on an edge.
Reply:Looks like there is enough throw to flip the hinge. Note that you may need to shim the plates to get things where you want them to be. Otherwise the barrel of the hinge my extend too far past the plate. That may or may not be a bad thing..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:If I understand correct, try putting the center of the pin that runs through the hinge, dead nuts right in the middle of both pieces.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Will this combination of the position of the top and the shim?Century AC 100 stick (dead but trying to fix it)Everlast PA 160 STHhttp://www.riograndehatters.comhttp://www.texashatcleaners.com
Reply:I don't think that will help.You need to remove the hinge from the inside of the box and face it the other way. Them maybe a shim might help. but until you see how the parts fit up with the hinge flipped, there's no way to tell.Yeah I know undoing the welds inside will be a PITA, but I'm pretty sure that's the only way you will get this to work the way you want..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:The pin that runs through the hinge, put it in the middle of both halves. And trim the remainder off the piece on the right bud.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I made a little box once it was awesome, except I ran into the same problem as you. I figured it out after it was way long gone. What you need to do is remake the lid so it has a lip all the way around. It will look like an upside down box the same  size as the one you made except with a wall deep as your hinge is. lay the lid onto the box and I think you need to weld the hinge to the outside and flat to make it work. That will look better than what you can do with that style of hinge. What is the box for anyway? lets see it!Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:i work with hinges and security boxes very often, firstly although it's difficult to make out perspective in the pictures that cut out on the box top itself was unnecessary. i would have laid the box flat on it's side and positioned the lid edge flush with the top of the box then tacked it just enough to hold and then try it out. you may have to lower the box side hinge leaf if the fit isn't right but that's why it's only tacked. post a pic when you get it fitted up.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Would you be better off getting a piano hinge ? Might be easier and look cleaner. http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16412571
Reply:The side facing the plate is flat, the side facing away extends into the box.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeThe pin that runs through the hinge, put it in the middle of both halves. And trim the remainder off the piece on the right bud.
Reply:Looks like you got a real mess there  Despite your wishes, you're gonna have to move the hinge barrel outside the box.  Sorry.First step is to dry fit the hinge in the flush closed position  Use a piece of stock to substitute for the side of the box you're going to mount the lid onThen fit the hinge to the lid.You have to inlet the lid to move the edge of the lid back far enough to cause it to close flush with no gaps.  The inlet is the exact size of the hinge barrel.Then tack, and weld, the hinge to the lid in the same position it was fittedThen you simply weld it to the side of your box.  It's already been fitted, so that part is a snap"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:So I took y'all's advice and cut out teh old hinge, welded in a piece of metal and then welded the hinge on the outside.Century AC 100 stick (dead but trying to fix it)Everlast PA 160 STHhttp://www.riograndehatters.comhttp://www.texashatcleaners.com