I'm making an inside out cat blocking window box for the wife so she can keep things on the window sill without Velcro the cat knocking everything down to the floor. I got to the part about hinges and decided I didn't want store bought hinges. I started scratching my head and making a few mental notes then proceeded to make a prototype to see if I was on the right track or not. The hinges need 90° of travel.

 

Prototype #2 was a success.

 

Trying to figure out how to drill the hinge holes without buying some fancy jig I came up with this. A piece of aluminum angle with sharp inside corner and a piece of 1/2" square aluminum with a hole down the center (I cheated and drilled the hole on my lathe).

 

In position for drilling minus the clamp to hold the jig in place. I drilled this end first to a depth of 3 X the width of the pin then put the two parts together and drilled the center pin.

 

JT

Looks great! Really like the drilling jig!!

Mine is about the same

I've done a few projects with wood hinges, and have given up on that idea for now. In every case they eventually split/cracked/failed.  The wood might dry and shrink around the dowel pin and split.  I do like the look of them though and hope they work fine for your use. 

4D 

Excellent creativity on the jig JT with equally excellent results.

I cut mine using the scroll saw. I think it is much faster than building jigs. I can see why they might decay with  making  only two hinges that far apart!

Incra Hingemaster?

I also used Johnson's paste wax on the dowel and in the holes to give it a slickum. I also drilled the hole before I cut it up with the scroll saw. 

Turned out the red oak I am using didn't have the strength for that type of wood hinge and I split two off just trying to fit up the two parts. A bit of redesign is taking place now.

 

JT

15 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

I also used Johnson's paste wax on the dowel and in the holes to give it a slickum. I also drilled the hole before I cut it up with the scroll saw.

 

Can you still get Johnson's paste wax? I can't find any here to use on my bare machine surfaces...

 

JT

Johnson’s has been discontinued..

Yep, couldn't  find JPW, either. TREWAX does a decent job on my metal tables /beds. Whether it's as durable and, long lasting as JPW, IDK. Works fine on wood, too.

Never liked Trewax…

3 hours ago, BillyJack said:

Never liked Trewax…

How come, BJ? What's  a better alternative to JPW? Always open to better product suggestions.

Almost finished with the inside out window box. This is the view from inside the window so Velcro can't see whats on the window sill.

 

With the door open my wife can tend to her tomatoes that are ripening in the window.

 

Used a different hinge idea

 

Inside, gravity holds the door shut, the top part is to cover where the blinds don't reach.

 

I'm going to shellac it so finishing won't take long...

 

JT

If I may, I would drill the hole first before you do anything else. Then use a scroll saw for the sawing. This way all the holes will be lined up.

Walmart has it listed and it is priced cheaper than tree wax? I can't compare the two for all I've ever used since I worked at a furniture store in 1954. And I think I am on my third can with half if it still there.

23 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

How come, BJ? What's  a better alternative to JPW? Always open to better product suggestions.

 

I found I had to heat the can up to use it. JPW wa ready  when you are. Trewax was to stiff of a wax, but I've been stiffed before.lol

If I was to attempt this again I'd change the direction of the grain to be long grain perpendicular to the hinge line instead of parallel to the hinge line.

 

JT

Edited August 29, 20223 yr by jthornton