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273954 Paul Fuss <paulfuss1@g...> 2021‑06‑15 hinge question
GGs,

I am about to start building a box with a drop down front panel (i.e.
hinged at the bottom), to reveal shallow drawers that pull out. Trying to
decide what type of hinges to use for this and am hoping to find something
that will support the panel when open (90 deg. to box front, parallel to
table top) without need for an additional support mechanism, as this would
get in the way of the drawers.

Butler tray hinges would be great except I don't really want the "step"
that these require between the bottom of the box and the front panel when
closed:
https://www.rockler.com/brass-butler-tray-table-hinges

Quadrant hinges seem to be used primarily to keep top lids from opening
beyond 90 deg. in the vertical position (and not actually supporting any
weight), so I'm not sure they would be suitable for what I'm looking for:
https://www.rockler.com/solid-brass-box-hinges

FWIW the sides (~10 x 12") and front panel (~10 x 18") will all be
frame-and-panel construction, with the frames about 5/8" thick.

Any suggestions?
Many thanks,
Paul
273955 Don Schwartz <dks@t...> 2021‑06‑16 Re: hinge question
Many years ago, MLW came upon a mahogany Biedermeier secretaire at a 
local antique shop. The owner had taken it on trade from a young couple 
who preferred an old oak pub table dining suite ( Go figure). It has had 
pride of place in our front room ever since. The secretaire has a 
fold-down front/writing flap about 3 ft wide by 2ft deep front to back. 
The flap is hinged on its side edges, presumably having pins going in to 
the cabinet stiles.   The bottom ( or back ) edge of the fall swings 
under the cabinet fittings above which constitute the 'stop'. It is a 
very elegant solution to this sort of problem. I'm not sure this will 
work with your design, but you might consider it.

FWIW
Don

On 2021-06-15 4:26 p.m., Paul Fuss wrote:
> GGs,
>
> I am about to start building a box with a drop down front panel (i.e.
> hinged at the bottom), to reveal shallow drawers that pull out. Trying to
> decide what type of hinges to use for this and am hoping to find something
> that will support the panel when open (90 deg. to box front, parallel to
> table top) without need for an additional support mechanism, as this would
> get in the way of the drawers.
>
> Butler tray hinges would be great except I don't really want the "step"
> that these require between the bottom of the box and the front panel when
> closed:
> https://www.rockler.com/brass-butler-tray-table-hinges
>
> Quadrant hinges seem to be used primarily to keep top lids from opening
> beyond 90 deg. in the vertical position (and not actually supporting any
> weight), so I'm not sure they would be suitable for what I'm looking for:
> https://www.rockler.com/solid-brass-box-hinges
>
> FWIW the sides (~10 x 12") and front panel (~10 x 18") will all be
> frame-and-panel construction, with the frames about 5/8" thick.
>
> Any suggestions?
> Many thanks,
> Paul
>
>
> 
>
>

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273956 Paul Fuss <paulfuss1@g...> 2021‑06‑16 Re: hinge question
On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 8:44 PM Don Schwartz  wrote:

> The flap is hinged on its side edges, presumably having pins going in to
> the cabinet stiles.   The bottom ( or back ) edge of the fall swings
> under the cabinet fittings above which constitute the 'stop'. It is a
> very elegant solution to this sort of problem. I'm not sure this will
> work with your design, but you might consider it.
>

Thanks Don, this is an interesting idea,  My initial design was for the
front panel to cover the side edges, but it doesn't necessarily have to be
this way.  I will definitely consider your suggestion.

Best,
Paul
273957 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2021‑06‑16 Re: hinge question
Knife Hinges?

You should add some sort of support. Maybe invert a lid support.

  Any stop located right by the pivot point of the hinge will have a lot of
leverage against it, so a successful stop will be a diagonal or possibly a
segment of a circle as was illustrated in the Rockler link a few posts back in
this thread .

John Ruth

Recent Bios FAQ