Woodworking involves making a series of decisions about how (and in what order) to perform certain tasks. Deciding among several approaches can be part of the fun of building a project. Other times, particular operations provide clues that guide you to a reliable method. Hardware installation is a good example.
A few recent projects around here all used SOSS hinges. Never heard of them? The key to this hinge is the knuckle mechanism. It’s a set of boomerang-shaped links connected by a hinge pin. As the hinge closes, the links fold inside the body of the hinge and disappear, as shown in the left photo.
Everyone who sees the hinges inevitably picks one up and spends a few minutes opening and closing the hinge. It’s mesmerizing.
I figured the hinges have been around for more than 100 years. Around 1903, Joseph Soss came up with the idea after tripping on an exposed hinge on the deck of a ship. By the end of the voyage, he designed and built a prototype.
