Door hinges? Any idea?

[Glitzer]

Hello Fellow LAFers

I would like to include moving doors in my buildings, but so far I have no Idea how to include the hinges in foam buildings. My first attempts to build hinges simply fell off again or ruined the walls because of the weight...

So far I have found only one solution: put the hinges as wire loops onto a support beam made from coffee a stirrer. It works so far and looks nice on the city gates, but I do not want to include this into my houses, where I already carved the door frames. How do you do moving doors, or do you have any ideas for a more subtle solution?

[Silent Invader]

If I understand correctly, the doorway is unlined so you need to fit the hinge direct to the foam core?

If so, I think I would try an earbud and paperclip combo.

Cut a short length of the ear bud shaft (with a hollow core) and embed it vertically in the foam, fixing with something non-reactive like epoxy. Take a length of paperclip and bend into an L shape, one end into the door and the other slips into the hollow core of the ear bud shaft, to make the working hinge.

In practice, it might be easier to assemble the hinge on the door then place the door and secure the earbud tube.

[OSHIROmodels]

If you're using foam core for your building structure it might be an idea to cut the frame a little wider and then build it back with something more suitable, such as balsa wood to have s tidy attachment area for the hinges.

If you can get very thing brass wire and tube (say, 0.6-0.8mm) then it will be fairly unobtrusive. You will need a pair of pliers to bend the wire wire though and get a good 90 degree corner 

cheers

James

[Glitzer]

No I'm nor using foamcore, I use only foam (without any paper enclosement) as it's easier to carve half timbered stuctures into it. Hollow ear bud shafts sound like a good idea, I might give it a try.

[ilikepaintinglead]

I bought a pack of these from ebay awhile back that might be of use to you, I'd offer you mine but for the life of me I have no idea where I've put them 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12pcs-Mini-Small-Metal-Hinge-with-Screws-for-1-12-Dollhouse-Miniature-Furniture-/370788957522?pt=UK_Dolls_House_Miniatures&hash=item5654be7d52

Size When Fully Opened (L x W): Approx. 10 x 8mm

[zizi666]

cut out 2 gaps in the foam en create your door so it has 2 matching protrusions.
drive a piece of wire through the foam and the matching parts on your door.
bad drawing but should get the idea across :
 

Oh, you'll need to leave some space for the door to move.

[Sterling Moose]

I've made hinges using those sprung, telescopic rods used for holding watch straps onto watches.

Measure the rod, drill a hole at the top and bottom of the door and in the top and bottom of the frame
Insert the rods so that the telescopic bit sticks out
Put the door in place by compressing the bottom rod then compress the top rod and push into place.  The spring will reassert into the hole and hold the door in place.

I haven't used it for foamcore but it works fine with Sintra.   The rods are cheap and if you have a Walmart or equivalent they'll often give then to you for free.

[FramFramson]

There's also the less-durable option of using flexible paper or plastic strips, with the fold scored into them. 

[Pijlie]

This is how I did it. Glueing the hinges into foam should be possible as long as you make the points long enough and use a decent epoxy glue or something.

http://pijlieblog.blogspot.nl/2012/03/building-tavern-part-1.html

[beefcake]

What about buying some small copper tubing, with a 1.5mm hole down it and then getting a 1mm thick length of copper to go inside. saw off 3 lengths of the tube and attach a top and bottom one to the wall and the middle one to the door. Put the length of copper down the middle and perhaps glue it to one of the hinge parts so it doesn't fall out. Kind of like zizi's idea except using copper tubing.

[Glitzer]

This is how I did it. Glueing the hinges into foam should be possible as long as you make the points long enough and use a decent epoxy glue or something.

http://pijlieblog.blogspot.nl/2012/03/building-tavern-part-1.html

Nice solution.

I've found the way I'll do it from now on: I glue earwig shaft pieces onto small hard plastic rectangles with a carved in furrow to better hold them with superglue and then glue this onto my builings using ordinary glue. Thanks for your help.

[FramFramson]

Nice solution.

I've found the way I'll do it from now on: I glue earwig shaft pieces onto small hard plastic rectangles with a carved in furrow to better hold them with superglue and then glue this onto my builings using ordinary glue. Thanks for your help.

What are earwig shaft pieces? I presume you're not dissecting insects here. 

[Glitzer]

I meant ear bud... sorry I'm getting old.

[mikedemana]

This is how I did it. Glueing the hinges into foam should be possible as long as you make the points long enough and use a decent epoxy glue or something.

http://pijlieblog.blogspot.nl/2012/03/building-tavern-part-1.html

Pinkie, that is amazing! Love your tavern!!! I particularly like the idea of simply drawing the lead diamonds on the windows with permanent marker. I will be stealing that idea.

 One compromise on the tiles you could try is cutting them in strips rather than individually. That's what I did on my Saxon church and -- though still tedious -- goes quicker than individual tiles.

Mike Demana

[Legion1963]

Hello Fellow LAFers

I would like to include moving doors in my buildings, but so far I have no Idea how to include the hinges in foam buildings. My first attempts to build hinges simply fell off again or ruined the walls because of the weight...

So far I have found only one solution: put the hinges as wire loops onto a support beam made from coffee a stirrer. It works so far and looks nice on the city gates, but I do not want to include this into my houses, where I already carved the door frames. How do you do moving doors, or do you have any ideas for a more subtle solution?

Just from the top of my head. What about a small plastic tube (like the ones you find on small brushes) and a toothpick or a similar small and thin piece of wood. Easy to cut to fit and to paint.