How to Install Butt Hinges
A woodworking tutorial from Lost Art Press details the process of installing butt hinges on a chest, using 2-1/2" solid brass hinges from Horton Brasses (item PB-409, about $42 per pair). The author, Megan Fitzpatrick, emphasizes using reliably made hinges for interchangeability. Steps include marking hinge locations by dividing the lid width in half, cutting mortises with chisel or router plane, and aligning the lid using a marking knife. The article is excerpted from Fitzpatrick's book "Dutch Tool Chests."
Key facts
- Horton Brasses PB-409 hinges cost about $42 per pair including screws and shipping.
- The rule for hinge placement: measure lid width and divide by two.
- Use a marking knife with flat side against the hinge for accuracy.
- A center punch is recommended for pilot holes to ensure centering.
- The leaf with the barrel piece goes on the carcase; the leaf with cutouts on the lid.
- For interchangeable hinges, only one hinge needs to be removed to mark lid mortises.
- Be careful at the front edge of the mortise to avoid splitting wood.
- The tutorial is from the hardware chapter of "Dutch Tool Chests" by Megan Fitzpatrick.
Entities
Artists
- Megan Fitzpatrick
Institutions
- Lost Art Press
- Horton Brasses