Hinges

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Six_O'Clock_High - 18 Jul 2009 06:22 GMT

The empty weight of my converted 5 x 10 utility trailer is around 1300 lb.
and I want a slightly larger trailer since I can only carry about 5 giant
scale birds. I will post pictures of it when I am ready to sell it but
before that I need to build a new one out of aluminum. I have the basic
design, have the MIG welder, and have been out on bid for the metal.

The only issue remaining is the hinges for the top shell. Previously we got
some hinges that had 5/16 hinge pins and welded each half to the top or
bottom of the trailer and cut the pin replacing it with a 1/4 long rod.
Four of these were put on each side of the trailer with long rods going
through 2 and coming together in the middle where a lock held them in place.
With removable hinge pins, the top would open either way. This worked well
for weather conditions and parking.

The problem is that it is not a good thing to attach steel to aluminum.
Does anyone know of some large aluminum hinges? I think I need about 8.

TIA

Jim Branaum

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Ray Haddad - 18 Jul 2009 09:12 GMT

> The empty weight of my converted 5 x 10 utility trailer is around 1300 lb.
>and I want a slightly larger trailer since I can only carry about 5 giant
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>The problem is that it is not a good thing to attach steel to aluminum.
>Does anyone know of some large aluminum hinges? I think I need about 8.

Jim, I've always found full scale aircraft scrap yards to have plenty
of aluminum hinges. I suppose they have new suppliers as well.

I built an aluminum box years ago and used a rubber strip between its
anodized steel piano hinge and the box halves without incident. Been
using it for over 20 years now with the hinge riveted on as described
above with aluminum pop-rivets. It's a small box - a clipboard on top
with a paper and pencil holder underneath a flap hinged top. Come to
think of it, the clip part on top is chrome plated steel just riveted
on without a rubber gasket. So is the front catch.

But then, this one never sees outside weather for very long.
--
Ray

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MJKolodziej - 19 Jul 2009 22:48 GMT

> The empty weight of my converted 5 x 10 utility trailer is around 1300 lb.
> and I want a slightly larger trailer since I can only carry about 5 giant
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Jim Branaum

Steel hinges to aluminum and use rivets, not the little pop ones, daddy
ones.
Ray had a dern good idea about checking junk yards. There was one in
Lampasas that had an old aluminum airplane in it, govt. surplus. that was 35
years ago.
mk

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / July 2009

Hinges