This reader is making a toy box for the holidays and wonders if there are any kinds of safety hinges he should consider for the lid?
Lee Grindinger: Great question! There have been children killed by falling lids from toychests and similar chests so it’s very important that some form of lid support be used. These lid supports can take the form of a spring- loaded hinge or a separate support very much like the supports that are attached to the hatchback doors of automobiles. The choice you make will depend on the weight of the lid and how it sets in relation to the base. Most hardware catalogs carry a variety of solutions to this problem, so hit the catalogs or go on-line to find the right support for your application.
