mfbear
Well-known member
Is there some trick to getting the hinge lined up equally on both the hatch and the deck. Plywood deck and hatch wrapped with carpet. Trying to edge mount so hinges are mostly hidden.
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Piano hinge to hatch and deck help needed (and found)
- Thread starter mfbear
- Start date
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Are your hinges the type you have to screw into the edge of the plywood or are they the stronger ones with the bend and wide flange so you can screw them to the bottom of your panel? I'm assuming it must be the first kind, because the other is a piece of cake. I'd just get the better hinges because I know how hard the smaller ones are, plus you really shouldn't walk over the seam with the hinge if you use the smaller one.
Plugs, this is the best site there is for boat projects. I've been on for several years and have always gotten help. It's been my observation that we have about 250 active members at any given time. There is "turnover".[url=https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=330306#p330306 said:
Now piano hinges. I don't have any on my boat. But I do wood working and they have always been a bear for me. I don't have any good work in process pictures so I'll try and write you though it. This is easier done with the deck not in the boat. Put the hinge pin side on edge of deck with the hinge pin just above the wood, not the carpet. Drill a couple of pilot holes and temporarily fasten the hinge. Put the other piece of deck or lid upside down on top of the first piece and compress it if it's carpeted with a couple of clamps. Drill a couple of pilot holes and put a couple of screws in and check your fit. Adjust as necessary and then put the rest to the screws in.
Feel free to PM me with any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.
Ranchero50
Well-known member
The man wants to see a trick... :wink: This stuff is pretty simple if you just think about it a bit.
1. Use a spare piece of something flat and clamp one leg of your hinge to it, let the other leg dangle.
2. Set your piece of something on your finished deck with the dangling leg at the lip of your hole where the hinge will end up.
3. Mark every other hole at your opening. Note if you have it carpeted, use a soldering iron to just burn a hole in the carpet.
4. Now that you know where the hinge screw holes will end up remove your hinge and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the plywood. Verify 1/8" isn't too big for your screws before you drill.
5. Temporarily mount you hinge with a couple screws.
6. Drop your hatch into place and put an idiot mark on one end of both the hatch and hinge where they lineup with a Sharpie.
7. Remove your hinge, flip the lid upside down and do the same with the hinge.
8. Make sure the idiot marks line up...
9. Redo #3 and #4 to the lid.
10. Install the hinge to the lid.
This install will have the hinge pivot point below the top of the deck so be aware that you'll need a limiter cord to keep the lid from opening too far. If it does open to far you'll risk straining the hinge and it not closing correctly.
There's a whole section in my build thread showing the same work done in aluminum...
Starts here; https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=8385&start=180
1. Use a spare piece of something flat and clamp one leg of your hinge to it, let the other leg dangle.
2. Set your piece of something on your finished deck with the dangling leg at the lip of your hole where the hinge will end up.
3. Mark every other hole at your opening. Note if you have it carpeted, use a soldering iron to just burn a hole in the carpet.
4. Now that you know where the hinge screw holes will end up remove your hinge and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the plywood. Verify 1/8" isn't too big for your screws before you drill.
5. Temporarily mount you hinge with a couple screws.
6. Drop your hatch into place and put an idiot mark on one end of both the hatch and hinge where they lineup with a Sharpie.
7. Remove your hinge, flip the lid upside down and do the same with the hinge.
8. Make sure the idiot marks line up...
9. Redo #3 and #4 to the lid.
10. Install the hinge to the lid.
This install will have the hinge pivot point below the top of the deck so be aware that you'll need a limiter cord to keep the lid from opening too far. If it does open to far you'll risk straining the hinge and it not closing correctly.
There's a whole section in my build thread showing the same work done in aluminum...
Starts here; https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=8385&start=180
Ranchero,
Great post as always.
Great post as always.
Captain Ahab
Well-known member
[url=https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=330306#p330306 said:
Plugs - you got an answer (a good answer) the same day you posted
Ranchero50
Well-known member
[url=https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=330331#p330331 said:
Had to check his other post. https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=31519&p=323504#p323504
I guess the lesson to be learned is if you have a question you need to be descriptive and at least keep the thread going if you aren't happy with the first answer. I have a feeling plugs was a spoonfed child...
FerrisBueller
Well-known member
I opted for the double-wrapped hinges in my boat. A little sturdier than the standard piano hinges and much easier to install, and you screw into the sides rather than the ply.
https://www.wolfsmarine.com/14-Double-Wrap-Hinge-P3530.aspx
Either way you do it, they both work as long as you plan it out.
https://www.wolfsmarine.com/14-Double-Wrap-Hinge-P3530.aspx
Either way you do it, they both work as long as you plan it out.
Ranchero has the right idea on aluminum lids, though I much prefer rivets to screws. That said, carpet, especially some of the thicker marine carpets do complicate things a little bit, as they often greatly interfere with the straight edge (actually, carpet can make some of them a royal PITA), but the technique is still the same - just with a little more 'finesse' added to it.
Generally, you'll want the top of the hinge barrel still in the same location (top of the metal, but not top of the carpet fibers), so a wide straight edged doesn't work. I generally will use a thin stainless ruler on edge - it will slip in between the fibers, so they aren't causing problems, and will sit right on top of the carpet backing, so the hinge is lined up with the 'non compressible' bits.
On a plywood hatch, these are a much better option. You're loosing out on a lot of strength by screwing into the end grain.
Generally, you'll want the top of the hinge barrel still in the same location (top of the metal, but not top of the carpet fibers), so a wide straight edged doesn't work. I generally will use a thin stainless ruler on edge - it will slip in between the fibers, so they aren't causing problems, and will sit right on top of the carpet backing, so the hinge is lined up with the 'non compressible' bits.
On a plywood hatch, these are a much better option. You're loosing out on a lot of strength by screwing into the end grain.
FerrisBueller said:
Bugpac
Well-known member
Keep in mind, flush mounted hinges will not lay over flat. I chose to mount mine pin above so they would do just that. Keeps them from bending and springing the hinge.
mfbear
Well-known member
Guess I posted this in the wrong section, took me awhile to find it again. Thanks for the input, gives me hope I can get this done. I tried the compression approach on some scrap pieces but that did not work for me. I will try Ranchero's idea today when the sun comes up. I never thought about burning the carpet through the holes. I will pull the deck from boat and go from there.
I did look at Wolfsmarine site, I like those but the web site was not working to get shipping cost or even let me put them in the cart. I will probably wait and see how these hold up anyway.
I did look at Wolfsmarine site, I like those but the web site was not working to get shipping cost or even let me put them in the cart. I will probably wait and see how these hold up anyway.
mfbear
Well-known member
Thanks again, got some of them done. I posted some photos on my build post located here
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=30947
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=30947
