by Ralf » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:55 pm
I just used the McMaster plastic hinge. Piece of cake, I used a strip of 1/16 inch aluminum on top of the hinge and drove screws through the 1/4 inch hatch skin into the 1 1/2 oak top hatch spar. Use a hardwood for your top hatch spar, double it or rip it wider than rest of spars. A little extra width helps the error/slop factor when you hinge your hatch. I used a doubled oak spar for my rear most cabin spar for the same reason.
Changing subject, I used exterior star drive screws 1 1/4 long for initial fastening without predrilling pilot holes. when the glue drys I either back them out and fill the hole or substitute stainless screws depending on location. A real time saver and handy if you don't have a helper. Most times the stardrive screw will hang from the bit so you can one hand it with practice.
Good luck. Remember, mistakes are only design oppertunities. Don't sweat them and keep moving forward.
Fayetteville West Virginia, at the rim of the New River Gorge National River. Whitewater, mountain biking, rock climbing. One of BUDGET MAGAZINE'S TOP TEN COOLIST SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICA. Fetured in National Geographic Adventure Magazine., Noah Adams' (NPR) book,"Follow the River". Neww River George Bridge, 876 foot tall single arch. On Bridge Day sky divers jump from the bridge and live, most of the time.