Cutting kerf hinge slots

[Bob Eustace]

A rather neat way to do this but sadly not on a Bot.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbmr3RxAem4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[myxpykalix]

looks like you could do the same thing with a biscuit joiner?:confused:

[bob_reda]

I've been using those blades on the router table for years. I think the machine costs several hundred dollars.

Bob

[tomwillis]

Barrel hinges seem to do the same thing....and maybe a little easier.

Tom

[steve_g]

I use kerf hinges on my small boxes and cut the slots on my bot... my method involves cutting a 1/8" slot and a "shim". The shim is forced alongside the hinge leaf and flush with the box surface... the barbs on the hinge make sure this is a one way operation and no glue is necessary.

SG

[tomwillis]

Steve - excellent work. I'm researching doing something very similar....about the size of a business card holder.....but lockable (maybe a Digilock type of thing) and then reinforced on the inside with AL or carbon fiber. What would be the pro's n con's with your style hinge vs barrel?

Tom

[steve_g]

Thomas

I'm not the right person to give a review on the merits of barrel hinges... the small ones only yield frustration and failure for me. Either I'm buying too cheap a hinge or a quality small barrel isn't made.

To get the results I want I use an off-set hinge. Also my box is designed to stay open just past 90°... this is accomplished with the lid design as kerf hinges with spring close and stop features are designed to have their ugliness covered with a fabric liner.

I use imbedded rare earth magnets as a latch but am intrigued with your digital latch idea... let me know if you find something suitable for a small box. I've experimented with manipulative or puzzle latches but found the latch to be bigger and more costly than the box!

SG

[adrianm]

looks like you could do the same thing with a biscuit joiner?:confused:

You can with the Lamello hinges. They're a bit pricey but they are very, very easy to use.

[tomwillis]

Thanks Steve for the reply. Couple guys up my way - make fly fishing boxes and they typically use the earth magnets for closure. Seems a good, easy solution. My potential application - would need a lock - maybe even a combi-cam lock if I can integrate it correctly. I'm going to order a couple barrel hinges from Rockler and see if they're any good.

Tom

[Bob Eustace]

Steve

As you probably guessed this post originated from your FANTASTIC business card boxes you posted last year. Came across this machine researching kerfs. Up until your post I'd never heard of them. The idea though, with the machine of sticking them in on the corners, I thought was well worth pinching as it solved the rebating/champhering the rear edge I think? How do you actually do yours? Love your shim idea! How did you eventually sand the bottoms of the card holders? We ended up getting the Proxxson pen but you do need better abrasive than what they supply. We also bought some metal fingers on Amazon that would do your job. ($5) They fit any oscillating multi tool BUT the hook and loop supplied falls off!

Tom
The massive advantage of the kerf hinge I would say is the things start at 15 cents each.

Jack
Reckon the biscuit idea is worth following up. One problem could be most biscuit cutters are 4 inch diameter so we could run out of box? I wonder if someone makes an adaptor? This search for knowledge just goes on and on Jack!

[srwtlc]

I've been using kerf hinges by the hundreds for 12+ years and I run the blade on a 1" arbor in my shaper. The fence serves as a backstop and left and right stops. I usually run them in the faces at the back edge of the box etc. (stand on edge at one stop and swing in to the cutter, go to the other stop and swing that one in) and then on a router table I run a 0.25" round over with a shallow step that reaches to the slot which allows for the barrel and opening angle. Kind of hard to see that in the picture though.

No reason that a jig/sled couldn't be used to run them in at any angle while raising the blade height on the shaper.

[Bob Eustace]

Would this work for kerf slots?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0f8o8bgnbw&feature=youtube_gdata_player