Replies

1. 
   oldusty | Oct 07, 2009 10:51pm | #1

       Dan ,

           You can use  butt hinges with the correct off set or depth something like a drop leaf table hinge system .

          look for lid supports there are many to choose from .

       regards dusty

2. 
   SawdustSteve | Oct 07, 2009 11:21pm | #2

   If the legs ar 1/2" proud of the apron, why not mount the hinges on the end of the legs? Yes, I know that you'll be setting the screws into end grain, but that way you won't have to worry about the difference (1/2"). There are ways of setting a hidden dowel into the top end of the two rear legs so the screws go into 'long' grain.
   Another solution is to have the rail closer to the rear face of the legs. That way you can use standard hinges, slightly 'outset' to do the job.

   SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)

3. 
   RalphBarker | Oct 08, 2009 01:17am | #3

   To expand on Dusty's offset hinge suggestion, the pins of the hinges would align with the top outside corner of the legs.

4. 
   flairwoodworks | Oct 08, 2009 02:31am | #4

   Would something like this work?
   http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=40647&cat=3,41241

   Chris @ www.flairwoodworks.com
   and www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

5. 
   Floss | Oct 08, 2009 04:49pm | #5

   You can get a blank butt hinge and cut the leaves and drill the holes where you need them to be in order to accomodate the offset.

   http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

   F.

6. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 09, 2009 03:40am | #6

   Why are the legs 1/2" proud of the aprons?  That's not how you drew it, either.  Insetting the aprons is typically a short cut so that the mortices don't need to be so precisely cut, but 1/2" is quite a lot of inset. 

1. 
   oldusty | Oct 09, 2009 03:49am | #7

     Not really Steve , 1/2" proud leg of apron really depends on the scale and style , never flush unless style dictates , at least for me .Much more forgiving and in most cases leaves more meat .

             regards   from paradise         dusty,  34° this a.m. 78° this afternoon

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 09, 2009 02:27pm | #8

   I agree it does depend on the style, but virtually all the "traditional" styles from before the age of factory furniture went with flush, and it sure would make things easier in this situation.  Yes, more meat around the mortise, but if the tenon is offset in the rail you still get plenty of strength.  That's particularly true if the bottom of the music compartment acts to prevent racking of the bench. 

7. 
   zolton | Oct 09, 2009 02:37pm | #9

   To make this easy, you could move the apron on the back of the bench so it is flush with the legs. Or, you could add a small filler strip onto the apron, between the legs, to accommodate the hinges. Because it's under the top of the bench, you'd never see it...

   Zolton

    

   If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

8. 
   dankolesar | Oct 10, 2009 02:17am | #10

   Thanks for the input, everyone.  Here is the final (and wife approved) design.  I'm going to use the hinges from leevalley.com.  Those look great.

   Dan

   
1. 
   flairwoodworks | Oct 10, 2009 04:40am | #11

   Dan,Looks good, but to me, something about the finger-grip used to lift the lid bothers me a bit. In the picture, it's hard to tell if it's proud or recessed - I'm guessing recessed. If I were buidling it, I think I'd rout the finger-grip across the length of the edge, or 4-6". Of course, it's all subjected. And you already have to go-ahead that's most important.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   dankolesar | Oct 11, 2009 04:38am | #12

   Yeah Chris, I agree.  I haven't figured out what I'm going to do there yet.  It's there in the picture almost as just a place holder at the moment, but I like your suggestion.

    

1. 
   zolton | Oct 11, 2009 05:16pm | #13

   Dan,

   Most piano benches I've seen have an overhanging top. Did you decide not to do that in order to deal with the hinge problem?

   ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

2. 
   davcefai | Oct 13, 2009 08:23am | #15

   All the ones I've ever seen and used were upholstered. I'm not sure that a loose cushion would be ideal for such an application. Just my 2c worth.

   Edited 10/13/2009 1:24 am ET by davcefai

9. 
   489tad | Oct 12, 2009 08:00pm | #14

   Dan,

   I just finished a piano bench.  Legs are proud of the apron by 1/4".  I used lid hinges from Rockler.  The bench I copied had the legs 3/8" proud.  It was made by a family member years ago.  He put a 3/8" x 3/8" strip between the legs to give the hinge clearence to open the lid.  Can't really see the strip unless you lift the top and look for it.  I did not like the look and waited for the hinges I orderd to see exactly how much room they needed.  1/4" worked.  I do like the euro style hinge that someone sent to you.  For 8.00 they would be worth seeing how much room they open the lid from the apon.

   Dan