cold frame

[user 19915]

I have been asked to make a cold frame and to fit the glass in the photo the four square plates on the glass are for bolts so i have put timber across the glass in between the squares and a lengths on top ready to bolt the timber down to the glass so my question how would you fit hinges to the cold frame don,t forget my timber is now on top of the glass i hope this makes sense the red mark is where i have the timber in between the square .s and then a length of timber on top to be bolted in to the square pads that are attached to the glass

 

[AndyT]

I think you need some tee hinges like this

The top part could either be folded flat on top of your bridging wood and screwed down vertically into it, or it could stand up vertical and have horizontal screws going into the thickness. I assume your two strips of wood will be glued together, so the screws don't split them apart.

Another approach, if it's not too late, would be to make up a wooden frame for the glass, like a window sash. This could be bigger than the box, so the frame projects beyond the walls. This would avoid any shadow on the plants and could keep rain off the sides. Most cold frames I have seen start with old windows and add the box to suit.

Your glass does look a bit big and heavy, so you'll need something to hold it open on a windy day, once the contents are established and don't need so much heat.

 

[Togalosh]

I made one for myself last month & used these on the top edge

so I could easily take the lids (?), flaps (?) off completely as I had no way of keeping them lifted up high enough.. (the plants need very gradual acclimatisation so taking the lids off is the last stage before they go outside). They work nicely.

I used odds n sods of polycarbonate & mounted them in standard window / picture frames (rebate & beading). However mine are too light so need to be tied down on windy days.

For what it's worth I also made mine a lot taller/deeper than anyone else has (that I have seen).. I cannot see why shallow ones are used as my sweetcorn & climbing beans are comparatively tall by the time they are ready to go out & assume a lot of flowers are the same..

( & yes I deliberately left the back off.. for the brick's thermal capacity).

HTH
Togs

 

[Benchwayze]

My old Dad used some sash casements for his cold frame. He was no woodworker, but he fashioned a channel on each side, so he could slide the sashes open, when needed. There were very few skips in those days, but then you could always go down to the local tip, and see what was available. Not recycling in those days; it was called saving money!
They worked, is the main thing.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I'm sure it was the standard way to "recycle" old sashes. The other big advantages of sashes are that they're heavy (ish), so won't blow off, and if you break one the pane is relatively easy to re-glaze. With one big sheet, it's a lot more awkward, and expensive.

I don't think the rails, etc. matter much, as the sun moves round and no part of the plant is shaded for very long.