Cabin doors hinges backplates

[rvanstory]

Slightly off topic of your question... One of the best mods (if you haven't already done so) is to add nutplates to the door side hinges. This saves considerable time taking on an off the doors especially if you glass over the hinge pockets for a McMaster Carr door seal.

[RandyAB]

Originally Posted by rvanstory

Slightly off topic of your question... One of the best mods (if you haven't already done so) is to add nutplates to the door side hinges. This saves considerable time taking on an off the doors especially if you glass over the hinge pockets for a McMaster Carr door seal.

I second this. It was very easy to do and quite a bit cheaper than the rather expensive product mentioned earlier.

Has anybody fabricated a decent looking cover for the hinge on the cabin top side? I?m thinking about perhaps making a small cover of some sort that will screw into the hinge itself. It would be pretty simple to tap a small #6 drilled hole or two.

[rocketman1988]

I made stainless covers for the exterior hinge pockets...the hinge was drilled and tapped for two 6-32 screws. I think I used 025 SS for the covers...

[Richard Connell]

I made a plate holding 4 floating nutplates.
Then made up a super dry fluffy spheres mix and filled the whole hinge pocket.
Taped and waxed the hinge first.
Once dry, pulled the hinge out and sanded back the fill to the door.

Now the hinge just slides into a perfect slot in the pocket and you bolt in from the outside. You wouldn?t even know there was ever a pocket there.
It has probably added some weight but likely also made the whole area a lot stronger. I toyed with doing epoxy then expanding foam then more epoxy but just went the simpler way.
I haven?t countersunk the door yet. As I?m repeatedly installing and removing I?m just using regular AN bolts.
Just another way.

[RandyAB]

Originally Posted by rocketman1988

I made stainless covers for the exterior hinge pockets...the hinge was drilled and tapped for two 6-32 screws. I think I used 025 SS for the covers...

I thought that it was you who did that Bob. Do you have a pic of how it turned out?

[rocketman1988]

Yes, I have pictures but won?t get back to my shop until at least the weekend...

[oren_rokach]

Originally Posted by RandyAB

I thought that it was you who did that Bob. Do you have a pic of how it turned out?

+1 for pictures!!!

[rvanstory]

Originally Posted by RandyAB

Do you have a pic of how it turned out?

Here is a builders log with pics of a hinge cover. (Credit to Robin Marks) http://www.painttheweb.com/painttheweb/RV-10/Doors.aspx

Here's a couple of pics of how they did it.