Can this toolbox top/hinge be removed non-destructively?

[stickshift]

I'm moving this toolbox to a shelf, so I'd like to remove the top. I could just cut it off, but if I can save the top without too much trouble, I'd prefer that. It looks like there's a rod inside the hinge, which I tried tapping with a nail and hammer, but pushing it in on one end didn't move it out on the other end.

Any ideas?

 

[The Cobbler]

it should slide out . is there a weld or something holding it?

 

[egdinger]

Sometimes the rods are pinned and can't be removed for security, if it's a locking box I could see them using one.

It looks like it's spot welded, you could drill those out and weld it back on when you want the top back.

 

[stickshift]

it should slide out . is there a weld or something holding it?

Well I tapped one end with a nail and hammer, thinking the rod would come out of the other end of the hinge, but it didn't. Looking closer at the pic showing the back of the box, it may be the tapping on that rod started separating the hinges. Will have to take a look with better lighting.

Sometimes the rods are pinned and can't be removed for security, if it's a locking box I could see them using one.

It looks like it's spot welded, you could drill those out and weld it back on when you want the top back.

What are you suggesting is spot welded - the end of the rod to the end of the hinge? The box top does have a flap that comes over the front so that the box can be locked.

 

[4 FN 27]

Typically Hinge Pins are deformed on one end and this deformation holds the pin in the last Hinge Barrel on one end.

Or the Hinge Barrel May be deformed causing the friction.

Rarely do they ever weld the pin in.

Tapping it out with a drift and a hammer should work. Trick is to pick the correct end to pound it out.

 

[BillK]

And if it hasnt moved in 20 years I would soak the hinge with Deep Creep or your favorite penetrating lube and work the hinge a mess of times before you try to push the pin out.

 

[Viper98912]

You might get lucky and be able to tap the rod out, but my guess is that the ends were probably slightly pressed/deformed/enlarged to keep it from sliding out

 

[cvairwerks]

Tap it to get it moving some. When enough of the pin is hanging out, chuck it up in a drill and spin it out.

 

[egdinger]

What are you suggesting is spot welded - the end of the rod to the end of the hinge? The box top does have a flap that comes over the front so that the box can be locked.

The hinge is spot welded to the box and the lid, if you look in the first photo, you can see the circle indents in the paint, those are the spot welds, probably anyways, I can't 100% tell from the photos.

 

[FredWanaker]

the pin is either welded or deformed at one or both ends. If you really want to do this, and I have no idea why, grind each end a little until you can clearly see the complete circle of the rod within the hinge. Then use a small punch to drive it out. Soak the entire length in penetrating oil first. The other option is to use a spot weld drill to remove the spot welds on one side of the hinge.