Hinge for canopy door

[FishN00b83]

I am about to start putting together my canopy tonight. I was going to do a simple box frame on the bottom with a 14 inch post in each corner and then have an other box frame on top. Being that it is 6 feet long I was going to do 2 supports going from the front to the back to support the weight of the 3/4 plywood.

I was originally just going to make the front face detachable and have it snap in with magnets to hold it in place, but then I started thinking...and that doesn't seem like the best idea. I'm going to have to open this thing up once or twice a day to feed everyone and I really don't want to be doing that.

My new thought is to have the front open 90 degrees and have the hinge on the top side of the canopy (so it opens up). My only issue is I don't want to see it from the outside, so it needs to be concealed. Does anyone know of a hinge that will work for this application? I am framing this with 1x2 pine...

 

[mcgyvr]

google "Concealed hinges"

But depending on the specifics of the design a euro type hinge,etc... can work just fine..

 

[FishN00b83]

Yeah I found a bunch of concealed hinges but I don't know if any I've found so far would work.

This is the one i plan on using for the stand part. Do you think these would work for the canopy too?

http://www.hardwaresource.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=7189

 

[mcgyvr]

But depending on the specifics of the design a euro type hinge,etc... can work just fine..

:rolleye1:

:uhoh2:

Do you think these would work for the canopy too?

http://www.hardwaresource.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=7189

 

[theMerchant]

Make sure to buy stainless steel hinges

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[mcgyvr]

Make sure to buy stainless steel hinges

Yes depending on the localized humidity (how much ventilation you have,etc..) that is a very good idea..

steel is fine but will rust out in a few years or less..

 

[Lsufan]

I have doors on the front of my canopy that are mounted with the concealed hinges but I also made it to where the whole front flips up. I used regular door hinges for the front & they work really well. They are hard to see in the pic because I painted them the same color as the inside of the canopy. My canopy is 60" so I used 3- 4" door hinges with one toward each end & one in the center.

 

[FishN00b83]

Make sure to buy stainless steel hinges

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Yeah I was worried about the rusting, I am looking for stainless

I have doors on the front of my canopy that are mounted with the concealed hinges but I also made it to where the whole front flips up. I used regular door hinges for the front & they work really well. They are hard to see in the pic because I painted them the same color as the inside of the canopy. My canopy is 60" so I used 3- 4" door hinges with one toward each end & one in the center.

Did you make the canopy and the stand? That's an interesting idea having both.



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[Lsufan]

Yes, I made them. On my 40 breeder I made the front to flip up with no doors. The one in the pic is a 60" 150 gallon so being it is pretty big I made it with the doors which I use everyday for feeding & such. I flip the front up when I'm doing water changes or other maintenance to give me the extra room.

 

[callsign4223]

I just made mine with regular non-hidden cabinet hinges. The hinges are so small that you can't see them at all seated and they are unobtrusive when standing. I do plan on doing the dual door design like LSUFan when I go from 4ft to 6ft. The flip up door on the 4ft was a little heavy to be lifting all the time.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-...n-Removable-Pin-838FSP-2-5-HINGE-2C/204229580

 

[bblumberg]

You can make lots of types of hinges work. I am having the guy who is building my new stand and canopy use Soss invisible hinges
http://www.soss.com/invisible-hinge-product-overview.html

I had bought them to install myself on the former stand and canopy (now retired due to 10 years of accumulated water damage) but never got around to doing it. I am looking forward to how they will not impinge onto the space inside my cabinet or canopy, unlike the European style hinges on all of my other stands.

 

[FishN00b83]

Yes, I made them. On my 40 breeder I made the front to flip up with no doors. The one in the pic is a 60" 150 gallon so being it is pretty big I made it with the doors which I use everyday for feeding & such. I flip the front up when I'm doing water changes or other maintenance to give me the extra room.

Nice idea.

I just made mine with regular non-hidden cabinet hinges. The hinges are so small that you can't see them at all seated and they are unobtrusive when standing. I do plan on doing the dual door design like LSUFan when I go from 4ft to 6ft. The flip up door on the 4ft was a little heavy to be lifting all the time.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-...n-Removable-Pin-838FSP-2-5-HINGE-2C/204229580

I'll check these out. I'm just really concerned with being able to see hinges and functionality. We want this to match our future kitchen down to the handles.



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[slief]

I like piano hinges for canopies. They install between the two seams so you can see them and are niece because they support the intire width of the canopy and don't have issues with the weight of the door. They work great with 3/4" material too.

These work great for supporting the canopy when it's in the up position. I usually use one on each side of the canopy.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Schlage-10-3-8-in-1-in-Right-Hand-Support-Hinge-C9210F3-RH/100147834

Or you can use something like this which would likely be overkill unless you are supporting a large door on the top of the canopy with heavy lights.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Richelieu-Hardware-Flap-Stay-Duo-for-Wood-Door-BP5010512G/202214567

 

[FishN00b83]

I like piano hinges for canopies. They install between the two seams so you can see them and are niece because they support the intire width of the canopy and don't have issues with the weight of the door. They work great with 3/4" material too.

These work great for supporting the canopy when it's in the up position. I usually use one on each side of the canopy.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Schlage-10-3-8-in-1-in-Right-Hand-Support-Hinge-C9210F3-RH/100147834

Or you can use something like this which would likely be overkill unless you are supporting a large door on the top of the canopy with heavy lights.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Richelieu-Hardware-Flap-Stay-Duo-for-Wood-Door-BP5010512G/202214567

I'll see if Home Depot has these. I'd have to see them and figure out if I'd be able to mount them


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[cincyjim]

Are you going to have something hold the canopy door up when you open it? If so, what are you going to use? I can't come up with anything that will work to hold the canopy door up so I can work in the tank without holding it up myself. Thanks.

 

[davocean]

I'll see if Home Depot has these. I'd have to see them and figure out if I'd be able to mount them


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Rather than HD you are better off going somewhere like Rockler, and they will most likely have flip up concealed hinges that are spring loaded to carry the load of the door.

Even good stainless hinges will rust over time, you can add more life to them if you scuff and spray w/ clear.

They also make these w/ both a soft close and quick clip removal feature.

I did one cabinet similar to the one posted that gives both, basically I did a face frame on a piano hinge, w/ doors mounted to flip open sideways, nice to have options.

 

[FishN00b83]

Hinge for canopy door

Rather than HD you are better off going somewhere like Rockler, and they will most likely have flip up concealed hinges that are spring loaded to carry the load of the door.

Even good stainless hinges will rust over time, you can add more life to them if you scuff and spray w/ clear.

They also make these w/ both a soft close and quick clip removal feature.

I did one cabinet similar to the one posted that gives both, basically I did a face frame on a piano hinge, w/ doors mounted to flip open sideways, nice to have options.

that's a nice stand and canopy!
Idk if I have a rockler around here. I'll have to check around.

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[davocean]

If not then a local mill or cabinet supplier will carry them, or rockler online, though it's tricky getting the right hinges online unless you really know what you are looking for.

HD is pretty limited as hinges go, and it's cheapo stainless if it even is SS and does not last long.

 

[cesarjimen]

Is it easy and comfortable to do maintenance on a tank with a 90 degree upward opening? I wonder if you'd hit your head or have to be crouched down when trying to work in the tank.

I ask because I'm building a canopy and being offered a similar design but concerned that it may be uncomfortable to work with.

 

[davocean]

Well, depends, I mean that is why I built the one the way I did for full easy access, but that was a non removable inwall.
Can you take the canopy off easily if you really gotta get in there?
You also could probably swap to other hinges that allow more access.
For regular feedings and minor stuff probably no big deal, but gluing down corals way down getting in deep, some tasks may be troublesome.