Looking to make simple plastic hinges for birdhouses.

[Captain Spaulding]

I have a bunch of bluebird houses. The doors are hinged at the bottom. It’s basically a live hinge, a two inch wide piece of plastic with a thinner section at the hinge point. Rather than being a commercial hinge, it really looks like a piece of vinyl building material adapted for the job.

I need to replace several hinges after 15+ years. Anyone have any ideas of something cheap that would work off the shelf?

 

[WildBill]

lots of options to buy.

Robot or human?

Caterpillar Red 3 x 200mm (7 7/8 in), Low Profile Flex Hinges, Flexible Living Hinges, Transparent, Continuous Acrylic Piano Hinges - Amazon.com

Caterpillar Red 3 x 200mm (7 7/8 in), Low Profile Flex Hinges, Flexible Living Hinges, Transparent, Continuous Acrylic Piano Hinges - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[cgrutt]

What about a piece of nylon strap with staples or screws to hold in place?

 

[Captain Spaulding]

What about a piece of nylon strap with staples or screws to hold in place?

I’ve thought about that. I’m a little concerned it might make it less **** resistant.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

lots of options to buy.

Robot or human?

Caterpillar Red 3 x 200mm (7 7/8 in), Low Profile Flex Hinges, Flexible Living Hinges, Transparent, Continuous Acrylic Piano Hinges - Amazon.com

Caterpillar Red 3 x 200mm (7 7/8 in), Low Profile Flex Hinges, Flexible Living Hinges, Transparent, Continuous Acrylic Piano Hinges - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Little steep to pay $10 for a hinge on a $15 birdhouse. I have 39 of them, though not all need replacements yet. I’ve looked online a bunch and haven’t found anything reasonably priced that claims UV resistance.

 

[carlaisle]

Maybe https://www.mcmaster.com/products/webbing/performance~uv-resistant-2/?

$5/ft, UV and abrasion (****) resistant.

 

[MovingAlong]

I have a bunch of bluebird houses. The doors are hinged at the bottom. It’s basically a live hinge, a two inch wide piece of plastic with a thinner section at the hinge point. Rather than being a commercial hinge, it really looks like a piece of vinyl building material adapted for the job.

I need to replace several hinges after 15+ years. Anyone have any ideas of something cheap that would work off the shelf?

I’ve thought about that. I’m a little concerned it might make it less **** resistant.

I'm with @cgrutt on the strap idea. Pics might help, but not seeing how it would make it less **** resistant...

 

[mike93lx]

Little steep to pay $10 for a hinge on a $15 birdhouse. I have 39 of them, though not all need replacements yet. I’ve looked online a bunch and haven’t found anything reasonably priced that claims UV resistance.

A $300 3d printer, a week to learn cad, $20 bucks in filament?

Or maybe find a model on a site like thingiverse, maker world or printables and have someone print them for you. Material would be under 50 cents each

Here's an example

https://makerworld.com/en/models/880310-hinges-print-in-place?from=search#profileId-834306

 

[MovingAlong]

At $1 per piece, could you use brass hinges?

 

[Old tool guy]

Cut up an empty (did i really have to mention that part?) gallon milk container.

 

[Ike Carlson]

Cut up an empty (did i really have to mention that part?) gallon milk container.

Those will go crusty in no time.

 

[Ike Carlson]

Bike tires work well when cut into strips.

 

[PWC Repair]

Bike tires work well when cut into strips.

I was going to suggest to get an old tractor inner tube for free at the local tire shop. Cut your hinge shape, contact cement 2 or 3 layers together, BAM....hinges.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

At $1 per piece, could you use brass hinges?

Am considering it. Can’t get my head around brass being cheaper than plastic. Even if it’s brass plated steel.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

A $300 3d printer, a week to learn cad, $20 bucks in filament?

Or maybe find a model on a site like thingiverse, maker world or printables and have someone print them for you. Material would be under 50 cents each

Here's an example

https://makerworld.com/en/models/880310-hinges-print-in-place?from=search#profileId-834306

If I was going to spend too much money, I’d at least get a toy, I mean tool, out of it!

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I'm with @cgrutt on the strap idea. Pics might help, but not seeing how it would make it less **** resistant...

I’m not sure there wouldn’t be a little more play on the hinge end to let them get a paw in to get the door off. I’ll get a picture tomorrow. Got chased inside when the storms rolled through this evening and the last one is hitting now.

 

[dura eagle]

Find a piece of treadmill belt. It’s good for a lot of things.

 

[Ike Carlson]

Find a piece of treadmill belt. It’s good for a lot of things.

Yeah, that!^ that stuff is probably better than bike tire because there is no tread.

 

[bugnut]

with the need for that many someone on ETSY will print them for you, can use an design you like and probably fairly cheap

 

[mike93lx]

If I was going to spend too much money, I’d at least get a toy, I mean tool, out of it!

A printer is both a toy and a tool

 

[Spareparts]

Cut a old leather belt up

 

[Danno1]

.


This should be '**** resistant!!!

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

.

 

[BurtEggley]

maybe a piece of stainless wire wrapped around a screw and washer. Not a true hinge but inexpensive and it would work. Or some small chain with a screw and washer thru the links.

 

[Smilodon]

Hey, this is Garage Journal. You'll need a 3D printer... A dedicated computer would probably be recommended... Some sort of roll-around cabinet/work surface to put it all on... Someplace to put the whole setup that is climate controlled... Some time and experimentation to learn how to use it...

Sure, it *might* be a little bit more expensive, but it'll *pay* for itself over time. Think of how cheaply you could run off a batch of hinges next time. Not to mention the job will be done right and the birds will thank you for the lack of shoddy construction!

You could also use it to print small "no *****" signs to post at the birdhouse doors...

 

[rooster59]

old bike chain + chain break tool. chain should be about 110 links long or so. break pieces of chain x links long, screw through the tooth gaps in each end. 1 chain should make a good number of hinges.

 

[nadogail]

old bike chain + chain break tool. chain should be about 110 links long or so. break pieces of chain x links long, screw through the tooth gaps in each end. 1 chain should make a good number of hinges.

You will get a Chain Tool out this project

 

[4xdog]

Maybe “loops” made using weather resistant zip-ties?

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Sorry I dropped off the thread. The night after I last posted, some good friends’ house was damaged when a tornado dropped their neighbor’s roof on their house. Spent several days getting their house watertight, and then we headed to Florida for a while. Finally got a picture of one of the hinges in case anyone has a thought.

 

[southalabama]

Interesting design. Have three different types of bluebird boxes and none have hinges.

One the top held by single screw. Second the side opens and the third the front opens. The opening mechanism is simply a nail driven in for the pivot and screw on the bottom.

Your request. I’d probably cut a small length of water hose and split it down the middle lengthwise for a hinge. On the bottom should survive the elements.

 

[Recoveryman]

I would agree on solid brass hinges, not plated steel. Would be easy to check with a magnet.
Recoveryman