FIX AND FIT

The Turn of the Screw

No, this isn’t a book review; but reading it can help you work smarter with spring hinges

henry James wasn’t exactly talking spring hinges when he wrote “The Turn of the Screw.” We are, however, because these hinges abound on contemporary frames of all sorts and styles.

The problem? The screws often loosen, plus the spring tension will frequently trap them. Here is what you can do to repair or replace them.

When possible, it’s good to use the original screw to tighten the temple in order to maintain the original appearance of the frame. If, however, the screw is missing—or is stripped—a substitute will work.

SCREW SIZE

To begin, be certain you have the proper diameter screw. Test it by putting the screw into the part of the frame with the threaded barrel and see if it tightens.

If the barrel of the temple is stripped, even the proper screw may not tighten. If that’s the case, then you’ll need to select a larger, oversized screw.

TOOL CHOICES

After removing the screw, you will need to determine what type of tool you want to use to hold the frame parts in position while replacing the screw. It’s a good idea to keep several tools on hand as some work better with certain types of frames. Plus, you will probably have a favorite after trying a few different options.

MISALIGNED HOLES

If the holes are moderately to severely misaligned, you will need a device to extend the retracted barrel and hold it in place, allowing the barrels to be aligned and a screw dropped in.

The Vigor 46.5250 holds a screw securely, allowing it to be pushed into its hole without slipping

Dynamic Labs’ 1621600 spring hinge tool allows for opening the hinge, blocking it open, aligning the holes, and easily replacing the screws

The Western 2018 spring hinge pliers come with a device to open the hinge while locking it into place with the ratcheting pliers to allow easy alignment and screw insertion

The tools that can accomplish this all have some things in common. One is a method of pulling the hinge barrel out of the shroud that is welded on the temple. Regardless of appearance, it will have a pin that is inserted into the barrel, and very close to that pin will be a part that rests on the butt of the temple. When the temple is moved in relation to this device, it functions as it does on the frame and is extended.

JAWS OF LIFE

A device that works well here is similar to a pair of pliers that has a pad on the jaw that rests on the outside of the temple and a narrow, almost knife-like jaw that grips the extended barrel and holds it in its extended position. If you approach the temple from the bottom, you will be able to align the holes and drop a screw into the top unobstructed.

VERSATILE KITS

There are also kits that utilize an extending device. Instead of grasping the extended barrel with clamping-style pliers, however, there are pins that are inserted behind the barrel to prevent it from retracting. Some kits offer both options.

SURVIVAL STRATEGY

Holding the temple in place with the holes aligned while inserting the screw is not always as easy as it looks. One of the kits available has a spring-loaded aligning pin that makes this easier. With a little practice, however, any of these options will leave you asking, “How did I survive without that?”

— Alex Yoho, ABOM