The Silver Streak E-mail ListArchive Files[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] RE: [SilverStreak] Walk in cooler hinges would work and be affordable. Take a look.
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 >>
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