After years of field testing with excellent results, the poly hinge is now considered a viable alternative to the conventional screw pivot method of hinging nestbox doors.
The material is extremely durable - it's been tested to over a million cycles. And it's easy to install, it won't rust and the material is easily cut to length with scissors.
The poly hinge system allows us to build a nestbox with a bottom hinged door with only a 1/4" floor recess. Bottom pivoting doors with conventional screw pivots require a deeply recessed floor, usually 1 1/2", which provides a cozy niche attractive to paper wasps (see diagrams at left).
If you want to change a nestbox with a top pivot door (one that opens from the bottom up) you can easily convert it to a bottom pivot with this hinge.
You can order this material online from US Plastics.com
(Recommended hinge width for nestboxes is 1 1/2")
The material is extremely durable - it's been tested to over a million cycles. And it's easy to install, it won't rust and the material is easily cut to length with scissors.
The poly hinge system allows us to build a nestbox with a bottom hinged door with only a 1/4" floor recess. Bottom pivoting doors with conventional screw pivots require a deeply recessed floor, usually 1 1/2", which provides a cozy niche attractive to paper wasps (see diagrams at left).
If you want to change a nestbox with a top pivot door (one that opens from the bottom up) you can easily convert it to a bottom pivot with this hinge.
You can order this material online from US Plastics.com
(Recommended hinge width for nestboxes is 1 1/2")
Step-by-step Installation
1 - Determine installation type
The nestbox door panel and the hinge mounting surface (usually the floor) should be flush. There are two ways to do this:
Option A
Cut the door panel flush with the nestbox floor.
Option B
Place a wood shim, the same thickness as the floor recess, beneath the hinge.
The nestbox door panel and the hinge mounting surface (usually the floor) should be flush. There are two ways to do this:
Option A
Cut the door panel flush with the nestbox floor.
Option B
Place a wood shim, the same thickness as the floor recess, beneath the hinge.
A
Door flush with floor
Door flush with floor
B
Shim beneath hinge
Shim beneath hinge
2 - Cut hinge to length
Cut a strip of hinge with scissors, approximately 1/2" less than door width. Drill (4) clearance holes (1/4" dia.) in the hinge, 3/8" in from the long edges. This will center the hinge holes in the door panel. If you are using material thicker than 3/4", adjust accordingly. Here we've offset the holes so the screw heads are not directly opposed.
Cut a strip of hinge with scissors, approximately 1/2" less than door width. Drill (4) clearance holes (1/4" dia.) in the hinge, 3/8" in from the long edges. This will center the hinge holes in the door panel. If you are using material thicker than 3/4", adjust accordingly. Here we've offset the holes so the screw heads are not directly opposed.
3 - Install hinge to door
Place the hinge on the bottom of the door, align, and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the door. Fasten the hinge to the door using #8 x 1" lathe or truss head screws.
Note: these types of screws, often called "washerhead" screws, provide additional holding power. And they allow us to drill a clearance hole in the hinge for minor adjustment.
Place the hinge on the bottom of the door, align, and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the door. Fasten the hinge to the door using #8 x 1" lathe or truss head screws.
Note: these types of screws, often called "washerhead" screws, provide additional holding power. And they allow us to drill a clearance hole in the hinge for minor adjustment.
4a - Door flush with floor
Place the door/hinge assembly on the box. Drill 1/8" pilot holes in the floor, using the hinge holes as a template. Fasten the the hinge/door assembly with #8 x 3/4" lathe or truss head screws.
Important - if your floor is less than 3/4" thick, add a washer under the screw to prevent the screw head from protruding into the nestbox cavity.
Place the door/hinge assembly on the box. Drill 1/8" pilot holes in the floor, using the hinge holes as a template. Fasten the the hinge/door assembly with #8 x 3/4" lathe or truss head screws.
Important - if your floor is less than 3/4" thick, add a washer under the screw to prevent the screw head from protruding into the nestbox cavity.
4b - With shim under hinge
Place the shim and the door/hinge assembly on the nestbox floor. Transfer the hinge hole locations to the shim, then drill 1/4" diameter clearance holes in the shim (this will prevent the screws from splitting the shim). Place the shim and door hinge assembly back on the nestbox and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the floor. Fasten with #8 x 1" lathe or trusshead screws.
Place the shim and the door/hinge assembly on the nestbox floor. Transfer the hinge hole locations to the shim, then drill 1/4" diameter clearance holes in the shim (this will prevent the screws from splitting the shim). Place the shim and door hinge assembly back on the nestbox and drill 1/8" pilot holes in the floor. Fasten with #8 x 1" lathe or trusshead screws.
lathe screw
truss head screw
Screw pivots
Poly hinge
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Copyright © 2012 NestboxBuilder.com
This site was last updated on 06/07/2017
Copyright © 2012 NestboxBuilder.com
This site was last updated on 06/07/2017
Polypropylene Hinge
