Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Hobbit Door

Author

Message

Bbentler
Player
Player

Joined: 4/26/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17

Topic: Hobbit Door
Posted: 4/28/08 at 7:53am

So our Toad has very round door that needs to be hinged somehow. Maybe our main building man has an idea, but any ideas of hingework for such an unusual shaped door?

IP Logged

pdavis69
Celebrity

Joined: 3/26/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437

Posted: 4/28/08 at 8:47am

Rent the Lord of the Rings. Frodo's house had an operating front door which was round. They did a nice job building the sets. Still pause on the door, sketch it and bingo! You have a design.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

IP Logged

bmiller025
Star
Star

Joined: 10/06/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 82

Posted: 5/03/08 at 11:50pm

I think the best way of hinging a circular door is to not use traditional hinges, and instead use a long rod that is bolted to the back of the door close to the side edge, but not at the edge, and which is mounted to the door frame above and below the door itself. In other words, the door extends outside of the "hinge assembly." It needs to be mounted in an unusual manner, but the results are well worth the trouble.

I am not in a place where I can review LOTR right now, but I am quite sure the doors they built operated in this manner. I think if the circular door frame has some strength to it, you can thread the long bolt through the frame, and attach it to the door once it is in position.

Sounds like a really fun project! I wish I were building it!

http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm

IP Logged

JoeMc
Celebrity

Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 832

Posted: 5/04/08 at 11:41am

I had forgotten about this thread - thanks Brain!

I was going to mention using gate hinge 'gudgeon's';-

http://www.eltrak.com.au/elgate/gatehinge.html.

However the steel rod would work well!

[Same horse different jockey}

remember the further you place the pivot from the centre of the door, the more it's weight becomes a factor.

If you wish the door to swing fully, it will take a substantial hinge & reinforcement of the door frame.

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

IP Logged

Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Topic: Hobbit Door Posted: 4/28/08 at 7:53am
	So our Toad has very round door that needs to be hinged somehow. Maybe our main building man has an idea, but any ideas of hingework for such an unusual shaped door?

	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 4/28/08 at 8:47am
	Rent the Lord of the Rings. Frodo's house had an operating front door which was round. They did a nice job building the sets. Still pause on the door, sketch it and bingo! You have a design.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 5/03/08 at 11:50pm
	I think the best way of hinging a circular door is to not use traditional hinges, and instead use a long rod that is bolted to the back of the door close to the side edge, but not at the edge, and which is mounted to the door frame above and below the door itself. In other words, the door extends outside of the "hinge assembly." It needs to be mounted in an unusual manner, but the results are well worth the trouble. I am not in a place where I can review LOTR right now, but I am quite sure the doors they built operated in this manner. I think if the circular door frame has some strength to it, you can thread the long bolt through the frame, and attach it to the door once it is in position. Sounds like a really fun project! I wish I were building it!
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 5/04/08 at 11:41am
	I had forgotten about this thread - thanks Brain! I was going to mention using gate hinge 'gudgeon's';- http://www.eltrak.com.au/elgate/gatehinge.html. However the steel rod would work well! [Same horse different jockey} remember the further you place the pivot from the centre of the door, the more it's weight becomes a factor. If you wish the door to swing fully, it will take a substantial hinge & reinforcement of the door frame.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Topic: Hobbit Door( Topic Closed)