Blanket Chest Lid - Advice Needed

[OPJ]

Hi guys,

You may be aware that I'm building a blanket chest for Pete (Big Soft Moose). I'll soon be looking to start working on the lid but, I'm trying to come up with a solution as to how we're gonna stop the lid from dropping down and squashing someone's stray fingers!

Here's a sketch of the design with the lid open:

This is what I currently have in mind. Although I don't have a name for this, it would pivot on a screw fixed in to the rear upper rail:

I'd appreciate any feedback and thoughts on this. What we're looking for is something inconspicuous. We've agreed to scrap the chain idea (to stop the lid falling backwards) as the chest will only live at the end of their bed anyway.

Thanks for looking,

Olly.

 

[CNC Paul]

Ollie

Try These. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=410

Paul

 

[OPJ]

Thank you, Paul, I like that a lot.

I assume there's no UK-based supplier?

I'll have to wait for Pete to come along and see what he thinks.

 

[Doug B]

Olly,
The problem i see with the wood pivoting on a screw is, the lid will push the screw out if only slightly moved forward while in the upright position, due to the amount of leverage it can exert.

 

[OPJ]

Thanks, "Baz", I'm thinking along the same lines, actually. And if I was to use a brass screw, I guess that could potentially make matters even worse. :shock:

 

[CNC Paul]

Thank you, Paul, I like that a lot.

I assume there's no UK-based supplier?

I'll have to wait for Pete to come along and see what he thinks.

Olly,

I have not found a UK supplier, I did make a small chest using Blum hinges with the clip on soft closers. Depending on the weight of the lid you might need 3.... you cannot have any top overhang at the back.

BTW. Ikea do really cheap hinges and soft closers that are now made by Blum.


Paul

 

[maltrout512]

Olly, what about this.
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;j...MCSTHZOSFFQ?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=74646
They can be adjusted in a wood finish quite cheap and would sit where you have that stop.

 

[big soft moose]

that rockler thing looks okay to me, or your original idea though i do share the concern about it being pushed off - what about pivoting on bolt through the back with a brass washer on the back to stop pull through.

Maltrout - I didnt quite understand your idea - thats a door closer , thus designed to pull a door closed - olly is looking for something to keep our chest open ???

 

[maltrout512]

See the position of the lid of the chest in diagram, it's in the open position. Have a look at a door that is shut, it's in the same plain as the chest door. So you can use the sprun closer to hold the door of the chest open. The unit will go under tension when you shut the lid no. The unit doesn't pull a door shut it pushes the door shut. It will push the chest door open.

 

[OLD]

This is how i resolved the problem.
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25773&highlight=

 

[big soft moose]

See the position of the lid of the chest in diagram, it's in the open position. Have a look at a door that is shut, it's in the same plain as the chest door. So you can use the sprun closer to hold the door of the chest open. The unit will go under tension when you shut the lid no. The unit doesn't pull a door shut it pushes the door shut. It will push the chest door open.

I understand now - but the problem then is that the lid will want to open of its own accord and would need a fixing to keep it closed - we were looking at just having it as a lift up lid as you dont want to be messing with fixings with your arms full of blankets.

 

[bluezephyr]

Every now and again a customer wants a stay for a blanket box.

http://www.isaaclord.co.uk/productDetail.aspx?product=1575&subCat=130&parentCat=

They are not hugely expensive or that fancy but they work.

 

[wizer]

This is how i resolved the problem.
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25773&highlight=

I bought these for the toybox that's never going to get made...

 

[Mr Ed]

Well you already know my solution from my recently posted oak chest (threat of imminent finger danger = accellerated child learning) but assuming you don't want to go that route, the stays or gas struts shown by others would do the job well. :lol:

Cheers, Ed

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Has no one seen a spring used to keep a lid up?

You'll have to imagine this as I have no pictures of one being used.

First thing is the type of spring the type I mean look at this pic

The type you need is the big black one in the pic, with the lid in the open position the spring acts like a rigid rod and stops it closing, to close the lid you just push the spring and bend it a little and the lid is free to close.

Like this

You will have to make up a bracket for each end of the spring as the eyelet must be free to rotate.

All the locker lids on my boat have these springs and they work a treat.

 

[9fingers]

This is how i resolved the problem.
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25773&highlight=

I bought these for the toybox that's never going to get made...

Sounds like you might either be able to pick up a pair of pre-owned stays Olly or alternatively pick up a commission for a toy box!!

Bob

 

[OPJ]

Heh, I was actually thinking the same thing, Bob - except, it would cost him a fortune to have me deliver it! :wink:

Thanks for everyone's replies, I really wasn't expecting this much on a Sunday! :shock:

I'm leaning towards the Rockler ones (10% discount today only), which look quite similar to a couple of the others, or the ones at Isaac Lord, because they're cheap and I need to buy some stuff from them anyway... I don't have an account with Hafele so, they're out of the question.

Decisions, decisions!!

 

[OPJ]

Okay. I've decided I'd like to try and go with the lid supports from Rockler. Only trouble is, I haven't made the lid yet so, I don't know how much it weighs and, I don't want to buy the wrong hinges now, only to find out later that the lid doesn't open or close properly because of the weight. :?

Can anyone guess roughly what a top 1200mm long x 500mm x 20mm in redwood would weigh??? :shock:

 

[AndyT]

If you did want to go for gas struts, you could try this place which Scrit mentioned here in a post some long time ago on a similar question:

http://www.gasstruts.co.uk/

Andy

 

[wizer]

If you did want to go for gas struts, you could try this place which Scrit mentioned here in a post some long time ago on a similar question:

http://www.gasstruts.co.uk/

Andy

oh, not cheap :shock: