What hardware is needed to make a box collapsible and easy / quick to assemble. For example, you were to make a Stack of Boxes Illusion. How would you make the boxes collapsible?
I have been using pin hinges. I was thinking that there is a more modern way to accomplish this. Something that can be found in hardware supplies.

Hi Lou,

Have you considered duct tape as a possible hingeing method for boxes of various sizes?

Best Wishes,
Lester

Good idea Lester. I am planning to use 1/4" plywood to make the boxes. I think duct tape and staples would work. But I feel that duct tape won't last long. I think using denim cloth with contact cement would last longer as hinges.
But for temporary holds, duct tape would indeed work. Thanks!

It depends how much yo want it to break down. One way is to hinge all sides together so they lie flat but are hinge together. At performance, at a clip in an L shape that slips down over the corners like an edge molding to stiff it bak up. You might need clips top and bottom on the boxes. This is similar to what Harbin did with his original zig zag. It packed flat and then was stiffed onsite with support pieces.

Cloth tape will work but it is not going to hold up in the long run.

Richard

Piano hinges work good. and Thomas Wayne posted a link for break down joints not long ago.

Piano Hinges are very durable. But it tends to make the box heavy specially when you attach it to the 4 sides plus 2 on the center of the sides. Just like making a collapsible Zig Zag illusion.

Hi lou
these from lee valley may work for you:

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.a......06,41319

bob

One old timer used the catches from bed frames to hook things together.

Richard

There's always T-nuts and bolts (or bolts and wingnuts) on an inside post; but for 1/4" ply, that will leave visible bolts on the outside. Plus you'd want to reinforce the holes in the ply or it would wear out quickly.

-Erik

1/4 inch ply to break down will leave something on the outside it has to, nothing is small and structural enough to hold in that 1/4" without breaking through or back bracing.

J

Just thinking out loud...

You have a four-sided box. Two diagonally-opposite corners are hinged on the inside with "regular" hinges. They could be either butt joints or bevelled, but let's say they're butt joints. In either case, the sides can only open to 90 degrees because the material itself (at the joint) prevents them from going any farther.

The other two diagonally-opposite corners are also hinged on the inside, but with loose-pin hinges. When assembled, the box can't collapse because of where the hinges are placed, and because one set of corners keeps the other set from folding.

I've never done this, but just from visualizing it, I think it might work.

I know 1/4" ply is lightweight, but you might consider 3/8" instead. It'll give you more beef at the corners. Also, I would suggest using very small bolts (or bolts and T-nuts) on the hinges instead of screws. A drop of glue on the bolt before you insert it will keep it tight.

Hope that helps.

Check out this site for a modern collapsible box...

http://www.organizeit.com/powhitmorcubes.asp

I think it's going to be very difficult to build Stack of Boxes and have the ability to break it down. With that plywood thickness and the fact that the boxes are essentially 3 sided (so not very strong to begin with), I don't see anyway for them to keep their shape, so to speak. I'm speaking from experience, having built this illusion for myself.

My wakeling sawing in half however does break down but uses the hinge pins you wanted to avoid.

Mario

Have you considered using the stuff used for damp proof course in building houses. Its strong light and flexible, it should make a good hinge?