| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Spuma 
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Stainless steel hinges for hood?
Posted: March 04 2006 at 10:29pm |
|
I recently noticed that my water tests were really whacky
recently. When I started to vacuum my tank and do some
maintenance, I noticed these chunks of rust flakes all over the bottom
of my tank. I then noticed that my hinges on hood are all rusted
away and are coming apart. Do they make stainless steel or
galvanized hinges that will not rust out like that? What is
everyone else using? Thanks!
|
 |
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21437
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 04 2006 at 11:00pm |
Hey Ludwig, long time no see. How is everything? How is the new Refractometer working out. Did it stop fish from dieing?
The plastic companies have plastic hinges. Try Delvries or Regional Plastics.
Hinges are not supposed to rust that quick. If I recall this hood is only a couple years old. I'm guessing it one of two things. Salt over-spray or not enough fresh air moving through the hood. Can you tell us more about the situation under the hood?
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 06 2006 at 11:16am |
Hey Mark! I can always count on you to reply!
Refractometer... it's awsome... amazing what difference it made... I've been able to monitor my water salinity a lot better... been playing with the salinity levels, trying to find which one works best for my tank. I'm keeping it between 1.023 - 1.025. I've redone all the piping in my crawl space, since I've moved my refugium tank, sump and pump down to my crawl space. I'm actually pretty proud of my little system. I can actually do water changes in less than 10 min. No buckets or nothing... I just turn some valves and the water goes straight out in to my sewage. I redid my refugium system after reading some of the comments in the forum. Right now I'm trying to get an autotop off system. I'm following John's instructions on the way he did his. Got all the parts, just have to get some acrylic sheet to cut out so I can place the vales on it. Needless to say... I've been very busy with this tank... Live stock... been holding out on that until I feel confident enough that my tank is running pretty stable. Need more consistency with my salinity levels... Hence the need for autotop off system!
Well... the hinges hang right above the the water. The hood sits about a foot off the water, so it does get sprayed occassionally. I tried to clean as often as I could... but can't really keep up with it. Airflow... hmm... the back of the hood is open.. about 4 inches from the wall, so I don't know if you could say there was much airflow there. The hood is made of particle board, so the hood is starting to absorb some of the moisture as well and I'm afraid I'm going to have to replace the entire hood. The majority of the hood has a fake wood laminate, but where the hinges sit, it has exposed particle board that has absorbed some of the moisture. I'm going to see if I can perhaps stop by and pick some plastic hinges, just afraid that when I try to change the hinges out, the particle board is going to crumble!
|
|
unixnum1
Guest
Joined: January 08 2004
Location: Highland, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 482
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 06 2006 at 11:46am |
Here is a trick to fix crumbly/soft wood.
Get some very thin super glue (Model airplane stores have it).
Remove the screws.
Drip the superglue into the holes until the wood stops absorbing it.
Let it sit for a few minutes in the holes and then either wick it out with the point of a paper towel or dump it out.
The let it dry 30-60 minutes and then put your screws in.
You now have a very hard surface for the screws that is stronger than the original wood.
However, you must use the very thin SG for best results!
Be careful with the very thin SG, it goes everywhere  .
Even through little cracks in the wood you don't see and gets on everything!
|
220G with 30G sump, SPS/LPS. RoboTank Controller. =====================================
If life is a bowl of cherry's,
why am I always the stem?
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 06 2006 at 12:28pm |
Great advise... I'll try that... see if I can find thin super glue. Thx
|
|
Mike Savage
Guest
Joined: July 15 2005
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 19173
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 06 2006 at 4:46pm |
Ludwig, you will really like the auto top-off when it's done. I put one, in the sump, on my 120 and my salinity never changes.
Mike
|
|
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 06 2006 at 5:09pm |
|
I've got a rubbermaid tub that hold my return water... and that's where I'd like to put the auto top off. But not sure how I'm going to mount it so it will stay stationary and secure, cause the sides of the tub bow out... So been thinkin on how to install the float switches...
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 08 2006 at 2:25pm |
This is what my hinges look like now!
I doubt they make plastic hinges like these... what can I replace this with?
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 08 2006 at 2:51pm |
Replace those nickle plated hinges with stainless steel euro hinges. Here's some online: http://www.kitchencabinethardware.com/enter.html?target=Stai nless_Steel_AccessoriesEuro_Hinges.html but I'm sure you can find 'em locally. Just be sure to get stainless steel...
|
|
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 09 2006 at 3:57pm |
|
I never knew there was so much to know about hinges!! I think I've called every specialty cabinet store and hardware store...
The only brand that I've been able to find that make stainless streel european hinges is Sugatsune. Unfortunately their product is not fully compatible with the Salice style of hinge that I have! So... I'm thinkin that perhaps a stainless steel piano hinge would probably be better and save me the grief of having to special order a hinge that will probably not fit my hood!
I stoped by and asked at Aquatic Dreams what they use for hinges and they tell me they just replace theirs about every other year! Am I the only one that uses this type of hinge?
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 09 2006 at 4:08pm |
|
A piano hinge may or may not work because the euro hinge kind of pivots out and away from the edge. Look at the hood closely before installing a piano hinge.
|
|
|
|
Spuma
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 89
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 09 2006 at 4:21pm |
|
I guess there are two ways you can put the hinge. One of the cabinet places said I can either place the hinge on top of the hood. That would leave a big hinge sticking out from top, or I can try to wedge the hinge in between the main hood and the swinging part of the hood and that would leave either a little bit of the hinge sticking out, all depended on how thick the wood on the hood was! I'll take a look at it and see which way works best.
I'd rather put the euro hinge, but can't find anything locally to test and would hate to order online just to get something that won't work. Been doing too much of that lately!
|
|
Mike Savage
Guest
Joined: July 15 2005
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 19173
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: March 09 2006 at 4:28pm |
 Spuma wrote:
I've got a rubbermaid tub that hold my return water... and that's where I'd like to put the auto top off. But not sure how I'm going to mount it so it will stay stationary and secure, cause the sides of the tub bow out... So been thinkin on how to install the float switches... |
Maybe Kevin (Unixnum1) can tell you how he likes his and send you a picture. I saw his beautiful tank and his mangroves, sump, and topoff last night and that's how he does his as well. I looked like it was working well to me.
Mike
|
|
|
|
