Making vintage cabinet hinges
The last cabinet I acquired has three doors, with 6 hinges needed. All that was there were 2 halves. I couldn't find anything close to what they looked like so I thought I would try making some from scratch. I happen to have a mill which helps, but you could do just as well with a file.
I started with some 1/16 brass stock.
Then I annealed it to make it soft and easy to form. This is done by heating it to cherry red and quenching in cold water, just opposite of carbon steel. Then I marked the start of the hinge loop.
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Then bend to 90 at the line.
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Next, bend it back over a lip that is half as high as the hinge pin will be.
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Lay the hinge pin in the half loop, and hammer it around the pin to finish the loop.
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Now mill or file the two halfs to make one complete hinge.
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Put in the pin and peen the ends to keep it in place.
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Now drill and counter sink your holes and you are almost there!
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The hinge is ready, but looks like a new hinge.
I aged them in a warmed solution of equal parts vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
Install and they look like they have been there for decades!
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I hope this inspires someone to give this a try!
Jim