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Box Hinges - First Impressions - Updated with install

Blackswanwood

Blackswanwood

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Name
Robert
Andrew Crawford (Smartboxmaker) has just launched a new hinge for small boxes.

Andrew invented the SmartHinge some years ago which is a side rail hinge. It's unique feature is that unlike other stop hinges it does not rely on a square knuckle which requires the hinge to protrude further from the back of the box.

His lates hinge is called SmartButt. It's quite pricey but is very neat. It also is a stop hinge but again uses the round knuckle.

IMG_3875SmartbuttLarge.jpeg

I sometimes use Brusso and I lined it up alongside their JB102 and JB101 hinges (SmartButt on the left)

comparison.jpeg

This is a side on view ...

sideview.jpeg

... and rear view showing the difference in the knuckle

Backview.jpeg

I was hoping to do some hinge fitting today but got a bit delayed on a design detail (aka correcting a mistake) on a cupboard I'm making so ran out of time. I will post a picture of the SmartButt once fitted to a box. My initial impression is that it's much better looking that the Brusso hinges ... but it should be given the price difference. There is a small discount for buying six or more and I've found Brusso to be about 15% cheaper if you happen to be in the US and buy them there.

This is how the hinges compare and for completeness I've included SmartHinge ...

Picture 1.jpg

Cheers

Robert
 
Thanks Robert, useful information and comparison.

His hinges are rather spendy but then again, they are really well made and shiny!

Although with that 12mm width not very useful for smaller boxes (unless you have a chance of knuckle hanging out the back), something I make more of now than I used to.

I think for 'nice' boxes they're a bit of a no brainer.
 
Am I missing something here? Whey do you want the hinge to protrude from the back of the box? Isn't the squared off hinge neater?
 
AJB Temple":3lf0thnx said:
Am I missing something here? Whey do you want the hinge to protrude from the back of the box? Isn't the squared off hinge neater?
Click to expand...

Yes - I think you are Adrian ;) :lol:

Stop hinges open to just beyond 90°. Unless the barrel/knuckle of a Brusso (square) is completely overhanging the back of the box it will only open to 90° (confirmed on the Brusso website) and therefore slam shut on the users fingers. The new hinges don't have this restriction.

At the end of the day it's a matter of what your eye finds pleasing. In itself maybe it's a small piece of detail but to my mind when a lot of attention to detail has already gone into the rest of the box getting the hinges to be the best they can be is worthwhile.

Cheers

Robert
 
AJB Temple":2xfdoigw said:
Am I missing something here? Whey do you want the hinge to protrude from the back of the box? Isn't the squared off hinge neater?
Click to expand...
The centre of the hinge pin needs to be exactly in line with the back edge of the box, so even with the new Smart hinge there'll be a small protrusion as normal. However, the design of the Brusso hinge means that there's quite a lot of brass overhanging the back which, to my mind, looks very 'clunky' - Rob

Edit - there's a much easier way to make the lid stop in one position. You simple plane a small mitre on the lid and box, then inset the hinge so that the centre of the hinge pin is positioned where the two mitres meet. Relatively easy to do - Rob
 
Thanks fellas. I've never used this style of externally visible hinge with a built in stop. I have fitted some with a deep rebate where an arch withdraws from it and stops at a given point. That style (I've no idea of the name) is not visible at all externally. Mind you, I've made very few nice boxes and all were given away.
 
looks great but I'd only reserve this for ultra high end boxes given the price, I have used brusso stop hinges and like them a lot, he needs to make these in several sizes then it would be more appealing.
 
I got some time to do some hinge fitting today and done a box with the SmartButt and another with Brusso stop hinges.

These pictures perhaps explains better why the Brusso hinge has to protrude further than the SmartButt due to the square knuckle ...

brussosideview.jpeg

brussomechanism.jpeg

Here are the smartButt hinges installed ...

installedsb.jpeg

... and here are the Brusso hinges for comparison ...

installedbrusso.jpeg

This is the angle at which the SmartButt hinge stays open ...

anglesb.jpeg

... and the Brusso for comparison ...

anglebrusso.jpeg

The SmartButt is in my opinion a much more handsome hinge than the Brusso. My hinge of choice however will continue to be the original SmartHinge (side rail hinge).

Cheers

Robert

Ps Apologies if I appear to be a box hinge anorak!
 
That's a seriously ugly hinge, that square one. The rounded one is a big improvement, I reckon.
 
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