Stan in Oly, WA
Well-known Member
I made a strongbox to give to my nephew and his wife. They won't know what to make of it, but I never know what to give them either, so it comes out about even. I made it out of a 6" long piece of 8" square tubing with 1/2" wall thickness. The floor is also 1/2" plate, and the lid is 1/4" plate. The lid has sides that fit over the box so that it can't be pried open, and the hasps (one welded to the lid and the other to the box) are also protected so that when the box is locked with a padlock, the shackle is inaccessible to bolt cutters. There are holes in the floor of the box so that it can be attached to the floor, if desired. The lid is hinged to the box with two large hinges which are welded so that the heads of their removable pins are touching. The hinges are welded to the lid and back of the box as completely as it was possible to weld them. Therein lies the problem.
When I first tacked the hinges to the box and the lid, the lid fit tightly against the top of the box. Now that they are welded completely, the lid stops closing about 3/4" above the front edge of the box. I can close it more by leaning on it, but I think it would take a pipe clamp to close it all the way. That's not going to be convenient.
Two things I've thought of doing are: 1) building up the front and sides to the height that the lid stops, which I can't imagine being able to make look good, or; 2) clamp the lid closed and then heat it and the hinges with a rosebud until it takes the stress out of it. I'd welcome any better suggestions.
Stan
When I first tacked the hinges to the box and the lid, the lid fit tightly against the top of the box. Now that they are welded completely, the lid stops closing about 3/4" above the front edge of the box. I can close it more by leaning on it, but I think it would take a pipe clamp to close it all the way. That's not going to be convenient.
Two things I've thought of doing are: 1) building up the front and sides to the height that the lid stops, which I can't imagine being able to make look good, or; 2) clamp the lid closed and then heat it and the hinges with a rosebud until it takes the stress out of it. I'd welcome any better suggestions.
Stan