Installing Piano Hinge Help

[wassaw998]

Need to put a hinge on a blanket chest for the lid, I figure I'll use a piano hinge (is that the best choice?). Do I have to mortise that, and if so, what is the recommended method? That is, would I use a chisel or a router and do you only mortise on the back of the chest and not the lid, or, both ? Have to admit I am a bit apprehnsive about blowing out the back / lid of the chest now that it is completed finished.



Thanks.

[Habe]

I screwed the hinge to the lid and then notched the top edge of the back to provide the clearence for the hinge. But I did it bofore the glue up and was able to use my router. You may be able to do the same if you can clamp something on the back edge to guide the router. I also put a slight round over on the back edge for clearence.

[Ken Massingale]

quote:Originally posted by wassaw998


Need to put a hinge on a blanket chest for the lid, I figure I'll use a piano hinge (is that the best choice?). Do I have to mortise that, and if so, what is the recommended method? That is, would I use a chisel or a router and do you only mortise on the back of the chest and not the lid, or, both ? Have to admit I am a bit apprehnsive about blowing out the back / lid of the chest now that it is completed finished.

Thanks.

I mortise both the lid and the chest. The lid mortise is on the bottom and the chest mortise is on the top of the back. This lets only the barrel of the hinge show when the lid is closed. I made a template with hardboard and used a guide bushing in the router. Then square the corners with a sharp chisel.
The pine board is clamped to the back. I made the template opening about 4 inches to reduce the amount of sanding and smoothing, it can be longer. Just route, slide the template down the piece and route again. For the top mortise, I just clamped a 'fence' to the top and ran the router against that, with stops at each end.

HTH,
ken

[Tom Hintz]

Most piano hinges like to be mortised in so the lid lays flat.
I use a router for this most times. For little things I use a table mounted router but for all others, a hand-held one.
I have a story at the link below about making this kind of cut on the edge of a board. It's way easier to do this way!
http://www.newwoodworker.com/edgerouting.html

[wassaw998]

Thanks guys! Great help. Do you both use a standard straight bit ? In my case, the boards are a bit more than 3/4" wide, and I notice the piano hinges are all wanting a 3/4" board (think the size I see are 1 1/2") . Are you routing the entire width of the back board out, or, just enough for the hinge to fit, which in my case would leave a very thin strip.

[Tom Hintz]

The 1 1/2"-size is the overall width of the hinge usually. the leaf that gerts screwed to the wood will generally be a little less than half that width so 3/4"-thick stock works fine.
I use a flat-bottomed bit and route a mortise just big enough for the hinge. I have to square the corners but that's easy compared to cutting the whole mortise with a chisel!

[RodKirby]

quote:Originally posted by wassaw998


Need to put a hinge on a blanket chest for the lid, I figure I'll use a piano hinge (is that the best choice?). Do I have to mortise that, and if so, what is the recommended method? That is, would I use a chisel or a router and do you only mortise on the back of the chest and not the lid, or, both ? Have to admit I am a bit apprehnsive about blowing out the back / lid of the chest now that it is completed finished.
Thanks.

I routed mine - one side, about an 1/8" deep - inset so that the hinge pin sits "outside" - makes a nice reference for marking the holes.

See top left of pic...

[wassaw998]

I got the hinge on last night. Had to re-dye / stain / finish the edge after I routed it for the hinge. Guess I should have done that before I finished the chest ! I did have a bit of a time getting the lid aligned, and in the end I am still off a bit. Plus, goofed up and drilled one of the hinge holes clear through the lid. Oh well.

Do you guys use one of those lid safety devices to keep the lid from slamming shut & from opening past 90 (degrees) ? I have a pair like this:

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...ferings_id=411

But in my hand they seem way too hard to move. Seems like they are made for a much heavier lid.