jondbar628 wrote:I'm trying to understand something here......If not going with a Hurricane Hinge (supposedly weatherproof, in and of itself), why the fixation on a piano hinge? I'm not criticizing, I just don't understand the rational. If you have to provide a layer of sealing material ( bicycle tube, a strip of rubber roofing,canvas covered fire hose, etc), why not use standard stainless (or even brass) door hinges? The sealing process is the same, and the mounting and alignment should be much easier. I'm getting ready to do my hatch by that method, and I wonder if I'm missing something here.........JD
jondbar628 wrote:I'm trying to understand something here......If not going with a Hurricane Hinge (supposedly weatherproof, in and of itself), why the fixation on a piano hinge? I'm not criticizing, I just don't understand the rational. If you have to provide a layer of sealing material ( bicycle tube, a strip of rubber roofing,canvas covered fire hose, etc), why not use standard stainless (or even brass) door hinges? The sealing process is the same, and the mounting and alignment should be much easier. I'm getting ready to do my hatch by that method, and I wonder if I'm missing something here.........JD
QueticoBill wrote:I was wondering if one could epoxy a ployolefin hinge to plywood or fibreglass.
absolutsnwbrdr wrote:jondbar628 wrote:I'm trying to understand something here......If not going with a Hurricane Hinge (supposedly weatherproof, in and of itself), why the fixation on a piano hinge? I'm not criticizing, I just don't understand the rational. If you have to provide a layer of sealing material ( bicycle tube, a strip of rubber roofing,canvas covered fire hose, etc), why not use standard stainless (or even brass) door hinges? The sealing process is the same, and the mounting and alignment should be much easier. I'm getting ready to do my hatch by that method, and I wonder if I'm missing something here.........JD
Continuous piano hinge is stronger than just two door hinges and is actually easier to align because it is impossible to install at an incorrect angle (two or 3 door hinges could potentially be slightly out of line). The continuous hinge spreads forces out over the entire width of the trailer, rather than a couple pressure points. It also makes installing a seal easier because you have a continuous surface to "clamp" the seal against.
I originally had a hurricane hinge, but the forces of my gas struts (120lbs each) were starting to "open" the aluminum hinge and I was getting a lot of slop. The s.s. piano hinge solved my problems. I used "discharge hose" from Lowe's as my rubber cover, and then added offset aluminum trim on each leg of the piano hinge to hold the rubber in place.
One is stainless one is raw. Raw one i coated with metal primer thats also a rust inhibitor (will seal rust). The stainless one is exposed to weather, other one is covered.jondbar628 wrote:Tigris......Is your piano hinge stainless, brass, plated, or raw? Even with a rubber "cap", I'm concerned about corrosion, since my Tear is going to live outside year-round.......I'm somewhat disappointed we haven't heard from any who HAVE used door hinges for the hatch on their tear - I KNOW it's been done, I've seen the pics here.........I was originally taken with the plastic hinges, but the feedback seems to be bipolar - ("They're great! or "They're lousy"!)..
BTW....Nice work Rkanz & Abolutsnwbrdr on those respective hinges!
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