I NEED DOOR HINGES or CAN I BUILD MY OWN?

[76mx]

Quite welcome.

[lp670mike]

Thanks 76mx. I appreciate the help. I will try and get this stuff ordered next week hopefully.

[76mx]

Mike,
   Yes, ground and polished. Typical hot or cold rolled bar just does not have the tolerances. It should come in a three foot length. You can get all of this stuff from Grainger or MSC as well. RT is right about the play turning excessive at the other end, but if you assemble it, tap it tight with a mallet, then clamp it down and weld it, you will have zero slop.

[lp670mike]

I think the FJ cruiser would make it today! HAHA
Definitely keep in touch, It would be awesome to see another build in person.
You are welcome to head out this way anytime to see my overwhelming amount of projects. lol

Happy shoveling

[RT]

SURE!  Come on NOW!  LOL
Or maybe when the snow melts.
Let's keep that in mind.

RT

[lp670mike]

Awesome! I didn't think there were any builders near by.  I grew up in bucks county in the Holland area.
I know the area well. We should meet up sometime. I would love to see your projects.

[RT]

lp670mike
About 1 1/2 hrs away.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Buckingham+Township,+PA/Morgantown,+PA+19543/@40.1930551,-75.7506306,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c401f726bc8b7b:0x384ca34de7e34ff4!2m2!1d-75.0494329!2d40.3149535!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c6661894f43f7f:0xbaa39845a92a38a3!2m2!1d-75.8899408!2d40.1552847

RT

[RT]

Yep.  In Buckingham, just outside of Doylestown.  You are not that far.

[lp670mike]

Near Morgantown PA, on the border of Berks and Lancaster county.
Are you in PA as well?

[RT]

lp670mike...
Where in PA are you located?
I have about two feet of snow now and it is supposed to continue 'til about one in the morning.  I'm waiting 'til tomorrow to dig out.

RT

[lp670mike]

Thanks for all the quick replies!  I just came in from shoveling pathways to the barn and garage. Snow is still falling here in PA.

76mx, I appreciate your generosity! I think we have a few ace hardware stores around I will check them out and see if they carry these. I wouldn't want to put you through that trouble over a few bushings. 

I suppose if I have to have the DOM tubing machined to fit the bushings it shouldn't be too expensive?
Also when I asked for the drill rod they told me that they stocked ground and polished round stock. Are we talking about the same thing here?

Thanks for the help.
Mike

[minihawn]

Thank RT , Iv built my own hinges and they work great! Check out my YouTube vid

[RT]

Just remember, if the hinge bearing is 4" wide and you have as little as 1/64" (.015625") excess play on one side of the bearing, that will give you 3/16" (.1875") excess movement at 4 feet (the approximate distance to the door latch).  That can cause big trouble when you try to close the door and have the door latch miss the catch and/or the nicely painted door hit the nicely painted rear quarter panel. OUCH!
You MUST make the hinges with precision.  If you can, make the hinge bearing as wide as possible to reduce the chance of trouble when closing the door.  This is NOT the place to get sloppy.
Also, make the hinge mounting on both the body and door SOLID.  Flex at either location will come back to haunt you.

RT

[76mx]

Mike,
   I certainly agree about not doing it the hard and expensive way. I have no problem getting those bushings from the local Ace Hardware store, couple of bucks apiece. Would you like me to get and send you some?

[lp670mike]

Minihawn,
   Go to any hardware store and get some 1"OD x 3/4"ID x about 1" steel bushings, get some 3/4"OD x1/2"ID bronze hat bushings to fit them, and get a length of 1/2" drill rod for the pins. All of that stuff for two hinges will not come to $20. Cut and drill some plate hinge arms to suit your application and weld it all up. When you weld it, assemble the entire thing, clamp it down, and weld it that way. The pin will keep it all perfectly aligned. The bronze bushings are oilite, meaning that they are impregnated with oil, and the heat from welding will cause some to seep out, but it will not matter. A hinge constructed this way will have zero play in it and be plenty strong. They can be done in aluminum the same way but you will need to get the aluminum bushings from someone like Tube Service Company.  I have always wondered why they are $400 or more a pair, when they are available at all.   

I went to what I thought was a pretty good hardware/ machine shop today to try and purchase these hinge parts.
When I asked for the 1" OD bushings they told me they usually use 1" DOM tube and machine the ID to fit the bushing? Is this the normal way to accomplish this? I would rather not spend extra money on machining if these bushings are available off the shelf?

Thanks,
Mike