At long last I’ve found my favorite pieces of hardware for the Schoolbox in “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker.” It only took me about 10 tries.
The hardware shown in the photos is from Horton Brasses. (Yes, I paid full retail. As always.) It consists of some heart-shaped iron chest lifts (CL-5S) and a pair of iron butt hinges (HF-30).
Both pieces of hardware are worth the price. The hinges have thin leaves and give you a tight seal at the back without any swaging. And they have nice facets on the barrels and some file work on the edges of the leaves.
The lifts have a lot of the same details.
I added both to a walnut version of the Schoobox I built earlier this month at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking while teaching a class on traditional joinery. This week, I hope to finish up the project.
Perhaps with a polissoir.
— Christopher Schwarz
Do I detect a couple degrees of untimed screw in that hinge?
A hint of OCD progress? 😉
They will be fully timed when they are installed after finishing.
So no progress on the OCD.
A polissoir is not a polisson’s tool.
The price of the hardware, not a problem. The price of walnut today ($9+/b.f. in FL) – that scares the crap out of me.
I agree. I live in southeast PA which is not lacking lumber of any kind. Walnut is fairly abundant in the area yet extremely pricey. I can’t figure it out. I stick to the basics most of the time: Pine, Fir, and Oak.
Serious question. Is there a reason for the gap along the long edge of the hinge? (I’m assuming its not a mistake of sloppy measurement) Is it to allow for wood movement or some other mechanical reason? I’ve always tried to get the hinge flush with the wood but perhaps I’m doing it wrong.
That is an error. The hinges are handmade — and slightly different. I used the width of one leaf for the four recesses. Mistake. I should have gauged off each individual leaf.
I’ll fix that before finishing.
It’s a shame you have to say you paid full retail every time – one day the trolls will fall off the bridge and free passage will return…
I bought the same hardware for my schoolbox, Chris. However instead of the butt hinges, I went with the butterfly hinges. They are not yet installed, but they look really nice when I hold them up to the box. Can’t wait to get it finished, I’ll send you some pics!
Hi CHris,
I have been looking for hinges for my schoolbox that I built in the class with you. Thanks for posting your finding. I just couldn’t bring myself to put the imported hinges on my piece.
Any concern with the water borne finish damaging this hardware?
Dear Mr. Schwarz. I really appreciate that you support so many companies with your own money, but please don’t feel the need to repeatedly justify yourself to the small minded and envious. You don’t need to tell us every time you pay full price. We get it! Given how much your work has helped the sales of so many different great tool and hardware companies, your ethics (in taking nothing in return) are solid and you present an example few in any field can match. Gosh, I hope that didn’t come off as too gushy. 🙂
I hate having to mention the fact that I pay retail for my tools, materials etc. It sounds sanctimonious, prim and all that rot.
But after writing a blog for seven years, I know that new readers don’t always know the playing field. And if you don’t remind them, they assume you are a tool for the tools.
Hence, the occasional and idiotic dependent clause about ethics.
I hate it, too.