RE: [SilverStreak] Walk in cooler hinges would work and be affordable. Take a look.

["Earl Custom" <bigearlscustom@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

My bad on the hinge thought, I discounted the double door.  Mine is a single
door and the hinges would work for that, but I see what you mean.
You are right.  $540 is a deal for a set of  handmade hinges like that, they
don't make craftsmen like that anymore.
AJ

> From: silverport@hotmail.com
> To: sslist@tompatterson.com
> Subject: RE: [SilverStreak] Walk in cooler hinges would work and be
affordable. Take a  look.
> Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 06:12:06 +0000
>
> AJ,
>
> Great idea, but I did not see a compound hinge anywhere
> that would allow two doors to open from a single pivot
> point along with a single open option.
>
> What makes the SS hinge unique is it allows both the
> 'screen' and 'main' door to function separately or together.
>
> $540 is not outrageous for a custom hand made set of hinges.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> > From: bigearlscustom@hotmail.com
> > To: sslist@tompatterson.com
> > Subject: [SilverStreak] Walk in cooler hinges would work and be
affordable. Take a  look.
> > Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 23:03:41 -0700
> >
> > Hello Everyone,
> > Just a thought on the hinge debate and a solution that could very well
handle
> > the job and last for the lifetime of any of our trailers, would be to use
walk
> > in refrigerator hinges.  They are available in many styles and offsets and
are
> > made to carry doors that are 100+ pounds to say the least.  Kason makes
some
> > fine examples.  Here are a couple of websites I found,
> > www.coldsupply.com/hinges/index.htm
> > www.refricentral.com/
> > www.refrigerationgaskets.com/kasonhinges.html
> > I'm sure these hinges would work and with the right style, they would
blend
> > right in with our trailers.  A reinforcement plate may be necessary to
cover
> > the old hinge holes, but it could all be done w/ some stainless or
aluminum
> > sheet, a hand shear or kett sheer, a drill and rivet gun.  If I needed
hinges,
> > this is the route I'd go.
> > All the best
> > AJ
> >
> >> From: rcooke@bak.rr.com
> >> To: sslist@tompatterson.com
> >> Subject: RE: [SilverStreak] New Stainless Steel  Hinges
> >> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 16:20:28 -0700
> >>
> >> STAINLESS STEEL HINGES
> >> I picked up my new Stainless Steel Hinges and my partially repaired
> >> door on Friday morning 5/23/08.  I spent Friday and Saturday
> >> completing the repairs and replacing the door seals on the door, and
> >> installing the hinges, then the door on my 26 foot 1972 Cont. Atlas.
> >> I had the hinges made up slightly oversize to hide all of the damage
> >> from four or five hinge replacements over the past 35 years.  Based on
> >> the hole patterns, the original hinges were much smaller, such as the
> >> older 1960's style.  I have taken a LOT of pictures and as soon as I
> >> get time I will download them to my computer and make them available
> >> to Tom to post, and will send them as email attachments to anyone who
> >> wants them, just send your email address to me at
> >> rcooke@bak.rr.com
> >>
> >> GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.	FIRST THE GOOD NEWS!
> >> The hinges fit and the doors operate perfectly.  I had to use a small
> >> "drift" to help line up all of the holes for the Pop Rivets.  The Pop
> >> Rivets are Large Head 3/16" Aluminum with a Steel Shank.  These are
> >> the strong, large head, rivets we use in Auto Racing and are available
> >> from "5 Star" in boxes of 500 Rivets.  5 Star is a maker of racing
> >> body panels and bodies for various classes of circle track race cars.
> >> I used an Air Operated Rivet Gun to "Set" the rivets, as a small hand
> >> rivet tool is not really adequate, it can be done, but will be a lot
> >> of work and very slow.
> >>
> >> Because the previous instillation of many sets of hinges left the
> >> trailer body looking like "Swiss Cheese", I also ran two 1/4" 4" long
> >> stainless steel bolts through each hinge and the body of the trailer,
> >> into the, sliding door cabinets next to the hinge side of the door.  I
> >> used Stainless Steel Lock Nuts and 1/4 inch Stainless Steel fender
> >> washers to secure the bolts.
> >>
> >> I installed the hinges with a layer of "CRL" Aluminum Silicone
> >> Sealant.  I bought the Silicone Sealant from a small local RV shop.
> >> "Camping World" does not carry this sealant.  I also used this sealant
> >> to seal the new Aluminum panel that repaired the damage to the top
> >> "latch side" of the door.  The use of the sealant sealed all of the
> >> extra holes in the trailer body and the two doors, as well as
> >> providing a seal around the Pop Rivets and Bolts that were used to
> >> mount the hinges to the trailer body and the doors.  I used quite a
> >> bit more of the sealant that necessary, but I am more interested in
> >> "Function" than" "cosmetics".  I lubricated the hinges with Silicone
> >> Spray Lubricant.
> >>
> >> NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS!
> >> PRICE.  My cost was $540 for the set of hinges.  I asked if there
> >> would be a lower price per hinge set if we order hinges in quantity.
> >> I was advised that as everything is very precise "Hand Detail" work so
> >> each set of hinges would cost the same.  Each hinge takes a little
> >> more than 3 Hrs for a total of 6 hours labor for a set of two hinges.
> >> The shop rate is $75 per hour, for a labor total of $450.  The special
> >> Stainless Steel Hinge material, plus the stainless plate and TIG
> >> welding supplies added another $90 for the total of $540.00  I know
> >> the material cost is accurate as I chased down the hinge material and
> >> the stainless plate and my cost was $81.40 including tax, so I was
> >> only charged $8.60 for the welding supplies.
> >>
> >> Only one man at the shop is capable of building the hinges, so "mass
> >> production is out of the question"
> >>
> >> I have been advised that if I prepay for each set of hinges, I can
> >> have any number of hinge sets made up at the $540.00 price, it will
> >> just take time, as there is only one man who can make the hinges, and
> >> it is all detailed and very precise "hand" work.  The guy that built
> >> the hinges is quite a "Craftsman".  I had been told in the past, by
> >> several larger fabrication shops, that they could not build the
> >> hinges.
> >>
> >> I was further advised by the shop owner, that he does not want to get
> >> into the "Hinge" business, and has no interest in building a lot of
> >> hinges and hoping to sell them.  I was also advised that if they did
> >> go to that effort, they would have to mark them up at their standard
> >> 40% mark up, making the end price $756.00 + Taxes of $54.81 for a
> >> total of $810.81.  As the shop has no interest in searching out
> >> potential buyers of the hinges, and or advertising, they will only
> >> build the number of hinge sets that I can prepay for.
> >>
> >> I will help anyone who wants a set of hinges get them at a price of
> >> $550 + shipping, I will check the shipping cost with UPS (they are
> >> more dependable than USPS for shipping high value items).  My guess is
> >> the cost, with insurance, will be in the range of $25 to $40,
> >> depending where in the country they are shipped to.  Because I have to
> >> be involved, I will add $10.00 to my $540.00 cost for the hinges, to
> >> cover my gasoline expenses only.
> >>
> >> I sure wish there was a cheaper way to get good dependable hinges for
> >> our Silver Streak's, but I, as well as many others of you, have been
> >> trying to get a source for hinges for the past two + years, and this
> >> is the only success I am aware of.
> >>
> >> I was able to purchase a set of "New" Silver Streak Hinges that I
> >> bought on Ebay over a year ago for $450.00 + $25 Freight, which I
> >> never installed, as I knew they would not last and there would by no
> >> more "Original Silver Streak Hinges" at any price.  I saved the hinges
> >> to use as a pattern for new stronger hinges and am now convinced I
> >> have a "PERMINANT" set of Stainless Steel hinges, they look good and
> >> should out last the trailer.  As all of us Silver Streak owners are in
> >> the same "Leaky boat" with respect to finding a solution to the hinge
> >> problem, I am willing to take a bit of my time to facilitate a
> >> solution to the problem.
> >>
> >> Several of you indicated that you needed more than one set of hinges,
> >> I suggest you get one set and assure your self that you are truly
> >> satisfied with the hinge fit and quality before you commit to more
> >> than one set of two hinges at $550.00 + freight per set.
> >>
> >> For anyone on the West Coast, I will be attending the Vintage Trailer
> >> Rally at Smithwoods RV Park at 4770 Highway 9, Felton CA 95018, Phone
> >> (831) 335-4321, on May 30 through June 1.  If you can drop by, you can
> >> see the new Stainless Steel Hinges installed on my Silver Streak.  I
> >> hope Tom will have a chance to attend the Rally, as his opinion of the
> >> hinges would carry a lot of weight.  Lets face it if it were not for
> >> Tom Patterson, we would not have this great resource for our Classic
> >> trailers, and we would not be able to share information and knowledge
> >> about our Silver Streak and Streamline trailers, campers, fifth wheels
> >> and motor homes.
> >>
> >> Ralph Cooke
> >> rcooke@bak.rr.com
> >>