Popular Post John Morris Posted June 2, 2011 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 When using small hinges to install delicate frame doors or any thing smaller then a standard cabinet door that requires a mortised hinge, I like to crimp my little hinges to close the gap between the door and the mating surface of what ever your installing the door on. Once you close the gap in the hinge, then mortise it in, you have a nice tight fitting door with virtually zero gap. The first pic is a standard small hinge, in this case I have a 2" brass hinge I bought from the home center for a display case I am building. You will see how "Gappy" the hinge is right out of the bag new. Put the little hinge in a vise, Then tighten the vise as tight as you can, be careful not to insert the hinge too far into the vise jaws or you'll just be crimping the hinge against the pin. The pic below shows my hinge after I tightened down on it. There you have it, a very simple little hinge trick for closing those gaps in your doors, works great for jewelry boxes, small cabinets, or for any project that requires small hinges. And, don't worry about marring the surface of the hinge with the vise jaws, because the jaws are against the bottom surface of the hinges, and I have yet to see any scratches on the brite side of the brass, but you can always slip a piece of wax paper in between the hinge to prevent marring if your worried about it. Thanks for reading! Steve Krumanaker, HARO50, FlGatorwood and 8 others 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warped & Twisted Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Thanks for the tip John. Never thought of doing that. FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Worsham Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I have done that before and it works well. I have a set of "Gater Gums" that I bought back when I was making a lot of pens for pressing them together as I did not have a dedicated pen press. They are basically leather with magnetic tape attached to the back. The magnetic tape holds it to the metal vise jaws and they work great for when you need to hold something that could scratch. I ordered them on a whim when I made larger order for pen supplies and I use them on the vise all the time. Easy to make using an old belt from your closet (those dang things tend to shrink over time and some peel and stick magnetic tape from the Home Center or Craft Store. HARO50, Cal and FlGatorwood 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Allen Worsham Posted June 2, 2011 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I have noticed that my belts never shrink on the buckle end. Must be a Governement conspiracy. PeteM, Cal, FlGatorwood and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kmealy Posted July 21, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 This is known as "swaging" a hinge, just FYI. HARO50, FlGatorwood, John Morris and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 18 minutes ago, kmealy said: This is known as "swaging" a hinge, just FYI. Thanks Keith! FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips N Dust Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Great Tip FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Nice tip, John. If scratches on the underside bugs anyone they can use a bench vise. Wood faces, ya know. But, Alan has the ultimate cushioning for big old iron vises. HARO50, FlGatorwood and John Morris 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Buckaroo Posted July 22, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 GOOD LORD, HEAW AT 77 I'VE LEARNED SOMETHIN, I LIKE BUILDING LITTLE JEWELRY BOXES, THIS METHOD WILL MAKE'M LOOK BETTER. Cal, Grandpadave52, HARO50 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gene Howe Posted July 22, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 Buck, I'm 76 and learn something every day. Most of it is stuff I learned yesterday, though. Cal, Grandpadave52, Fred W. Hargis Jr and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Grandpadave52 Posted July 22, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 3 hours ago, Gene Howe said: Buck, I'm 76 and learn something every day. Most of it is stuff I learned yesterday, though. I didn't learn anything yesterday that I recall... HARO50, FlGatorwood, Fred W. Hargis Jr and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Smallpatch Posted July 22, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 You can buy hinges made like that or you can buy the style you started with! A mortise mount or a half surface/ half mortise mount. This one is 1 5/16 x 1 1/2". It looks about the size you show. FlGatorwood, John Morris, Fred W. Hargis Jr and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gene Howe Posted July 22, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 43 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said: I didn't learn anything yesterday that I recall... Well, see. Every day's a new learning experience. Yesterday, I learned to measure twice. Today, I learned it again. Oh, what exciting educational experiences are in store for tomorrow? Grandpadave52, FlGatorwood, HARO50 and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 On 7/21/2017 at 2:25 PM, John Morris said: Thanks Keith! I've resorted to this when doors don't quite fit (on repair jobs of course, if it's still in the shop you can adjust the mortises or edges) HARO50 and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickp Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 I have often used a cold chisel and "sneak up" on flattening the two faces together...makes a sharp bend right where it starts to bend around the pin... I like the vise idea...much better control... Gene Howe, HARO50 and FlGatorwood 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 On 7/21/2017 at 2:07 PM, kmealy said: This is known as "swaging" a hinge, just FYI. The way I know to do that is the way it's done here FlGatorwood, Cal, HARO50 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARO50 Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) Learned something new! Thanks, @Cliff John Edited July 25, 2017 by HARO50 Cal and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted July 28, 2017 Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 Me too! Cal FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 On 7/22/2017 at 3:38 PM, Smallpatch said: You can buy hinges made like that or you can buy the style you started with! A mortise mount or a half surface/ half mortise mount. This one is 1 5/16 x 1 1/2". It looks about the size you show. Thanks Jess! Great tip again! FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted August 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2019 Moved this topic to General Woodworking/Tips Forum FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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