overlapping lid...

Here's the quick view of the process...

When You have a lid that is larger than the body of a box, using the router table to rout hinge mortises cannot be so easily done as would be the case if the lid and body were exactly the same size. This requires either two story sticks adjusted exactly to each other or a single one with two sides as shown. To use this technique, I cut the space for the hinge to exactly fit on both sides of the story stick and in perfect alignment, a thing I will describe in greater detail in the new book.

The long portion of the story stick is the length of the lid, and the short portion is the length of the body of the box. The cut out areas on the end of the story stick represent the amount of overhang of the lid over the sides, so this stick not only shows the location of the hinges in relation to the ends of the box, but also the relationship of the lid length to the box length.

I want to call your attention to the spacer strip between the story stick and the router table fence. It is exactly 3/8 in. thick, to represent the amount of overhang at the back of the box. With that spacer strip in place, and the stop blocks set up by using the shorter portion of the story stick, the router table is ready to rout the hinge mortises in the back of the box. Then, with the spacer removed, and using the longer side of the story stick, the same router table set up can be used to rout the hinge mortises in the lid.

Fitting the hinge into a mortise fully housed on all four sides as shown in the photo requires an additional fence to constrain the travel of the lid on the router table from all sides. As with nearly all routed hinge mortises, the corners will be chiseled square before the hinge is installed.

Does all this seem complex? It is, but we learn to handle complexity by doing simple things first, and one would probably not want to try this technique without having used my simple flipping story stick method first.

One advantage of making an overlapping lid like this is that the lid itself acts as a stop when it engages with the back of the box.

Today, I've been attempting to get into the edits for my book, and also attempting to understand portions of the case against SWEPCO in the APSC. It is amazing what a person can find when reading State law, and how it can be variously interpreted to make you think that you and not the opposing party are in the right. As has been said by early advocates of the manual arts, it is easy to lie and deceive using words, but when it comes to real work, malfeasance and ineptitude stand clear to be observed by all. If all lawyers were trained through the use of their hands  to interpret the law from a more sensitive perspective, the world would be a better place. In any case, I am glad that I read well and can understand the case.

Make, fix and create...

Upcoming event...
Noon Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Friday, October 25 Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Free. Please RSVP to Cindy Williams at 918-631-4402, or cindy-williams@utulsa.edu.
Explore the idea of associations between artists and their art in the new Connection exhibition with wood sculptor, designer, and author Doug Stowe.
Bring a brown bag lunch to enjoy before you explore the special exhibition in the
Sherman Smith Family Gallery.
Coffee, tea and dessert provided.