This is the Rob Corson dowel hinge.

 

With a bullnose or ball router bit on a router table the size of the dowel, route a 1/4 round slot in the back of lid and back of box. Set the fence at the center of the bit diameter and run the top and the box through. The fence can be set in or out to suit the particular box and how wide the lid opens.

Take a dowel the same size as the router bit and cut lengths to suit the length of the box, they can be the same length or different lengths. Drill a hole in the center of the dowel the size of the pin. The pin can be metal rod, or wooden dowels.

Assemble the dowels on the rod, and adjust to the length of the box,marking the positions of the dowel segments on the box and the top.

Put a little glue on every other segment on the box. MAKE SURE THE GLUE HAS ROOM TO SQUEEZE OUT AND NOT SQUEEZE INTO THE NEXT DOWEL SPACE. Carefully lay the assembled dowel hinge onto the glue. Carefully set the top on and lightly clamp down

When the glue is dry lift off the top and spin the every other dowel. Then apply a small amount of glue onto the free spinning segments of dowels allowing for squeeze out of the glue. carefully set the top on and clamp lightly. Allow the glue to dry.

After the glue has set, gently open the box. The Joy you feel when the box opens is beyond description, the sinking feeling if it doesn't is beyond printing. Only had one that didn't open, and I have done a lot of them.

You can also wax the pin,if you so desire.

 

Herb

 

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 20187 yr by Dadio

excellent tutorial Herb..

thanks..

52 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

excellent tutorial Herb..

thanks..

DITTO!!!

Make that 3!!!

Excellent job on answering my question. I do not beleive you could drill that length accurately on a lathe due to bit wander even with straight grain wood.

3 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Excellent job on answering my question. I do not beleive you could drill that length accurately on a lathe due to bit wander even with straight grain wood.

Gerald, I was more thinking of drilling each short segment? I agree that it would be impossible to do the whole length in one shot, the grain causes strange things to happen with the drill bit.

Herb

 

Small lathes are difficult to find but if you look on Craigs list they do show up at a reasonable price sometime

Your recipe box and dowel hinge are excellent! Thanks for sharing!!

hat

These are the hollow dowels that I used many times before ,5/16" o.d. from Lee Valley.

 

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/Page.aspx?p=32280&cat=1,180,42240,53317

Herb

 

 

21 hours ago, Dadio said:

You can also wax the pin,if you so desire.

Thanks, you answered that question before I asked.

When using wood hinge pins, do you use birch, polar, oak or ??? pins. Pros/cons of one wood type over another???

These are so cool and add such a touch of craftsmanship.

@Dadio, apparently Lee Valley doesn't stock them any longer. Looks like the were part of a plug kit the quit selling.

Edited August 17, 20187 yr by Gene Howe

2 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Thanks, you answered that question before I asked.

When using wood hinge pins, do you use birch, polar, oak or ??? pins. Pros/cons of one wood type over another???

These are so cool and add such a touch of craftsmanship.

They are just what ever wood dowels are made of. I have used wooden round tooth picks too, for pins.

 

The dowel I used for these was a little over 1/8" and I had to ream them out 1/64" to make a good smooth fit.

Gene, I see that, too bad, must not have sold many.

Herb

I have the Incra hinge jig, too. That'll work.

after a hard search for "wooden hollow,tube,beads I found some that may work for hinges.

 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/China-latest-design-jewelry-findings-wooden_60751325319.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normalList.1.3f111ee61kUbul&s=p

 

https://www.etsy.com/market/wood_tube_beads

 

https://www.pandahall.com/ProductSearch?keyword=wooden+tube+beads&areaType=NormalArea

 

Herb