Stacking Corners - Lee Valley Tools

Stacking Corners
XK605
Made in Sweden.
These unique stackable hinges enable you to make stacking frames for
a host of purposes. Just screw boards onto hinges to form a square or
rectangular frame, and then stack as many frames as you want, until you
reach the desired height. When not in use, each frame collapses nearly
flat for compact storage. Useful for making raised-bed grow-boxes,
composters, or stackable and removable sides for wagons or utility trailers.
To unload whatever is being held or carted, you can remove one layer at a
time and then the contents, working your way downward.
Safety Note: These stacking corners are made by the manufacturer in the
millions, primarily for use in the shipping industry as pallet hinges. As
such, they are not as fi nely fi nished as we would like and may have sharp
or rusty edges. Depending where you locate your stacking frame(s), and
whether children (or even adults) could come in contact with these edges,
we suggest that you lightly fi le these (edges) before assembly.
Making Stacked Frames without Gaps
(e.g., Grow-Boxes)
Sides can be made in several styles. If
you wish to use them for raised-bed
grow-boxes or composters, where
you do not want any soil to escape,
the sides should be constructed
so that there are no gaps between
frames. For this type of application,
use 1"×8" ( 3 /4"×7 1 /2" dressed) boards
(see Figure 1), or 1"×4" ( 3 /4"×3 1 /2"
dressed) boards. If you are using
hardwood, pre-drill 5 /32" pilot holes.
#10× 3 /4"
Round-Head
Screw, 8 per
hinge.
Fasten top edge of wood flush
with top edge of hinge.
7 1 /2"
Figure 1: Sides with no gaps.

In order to hold the heavy load exerted by the soil inside the frames,
braces are recommended when boards longer than 4 feet are used
(see Figure 2).
21/4"
4' Max. Unsupported Span
3" to 6" wide × 7 1 /4"
long × 3 /4" thick braces
screwed onto boards.
2"
Place extension of bottom
brace into ground. Successive
braces/boards are restrained
by adjoining board.
Figure 2: Brace supports for spans greater than 4'.
Boxes should be no longer than 12' to prevent excessive bowing and
no wider than 5' so you can reach across them comfortably. Most
raised-bed grow-boxes are made 4' wide and 8' long.
Note: It is possible to build the frames using 2"×8" (1 1 /2"×7 1 /2" dressed) or
2"×4" (1 1 /2"×3 1 /2" dressed) material, but this will require a small chamfer
on the inside corner edge of the boards to allow the two pieces to sit at 90°
to each other. If 2" material is used, it will not be possible for the frame to
collapse fl at for storage unless it is partially dismantled.
Filling Raised-Bed Grow-Boxes: Although you may fill a grow-box with
plain soil, a soilless mix is a better choice. We had great results with a 1:1
mix of sand and compost. (Although we tested only mushroom compost,
yard waste compost and composted animal manure should also work.)
This mix makes a light aerated growing medium, ideal for root growth and
virtually free from any weeds. Make sure you adjust the pH to about 6.5 by
adding sufficient lime. Once every 2 weeks, depending on the needs of the
crops, add a water-soluble complete fertilizer to your waterings.
Soil in boxes tends to dry out faster than on the ground. Make sure you
keep an eye on the moisture levels during dry periods. Test the dryness of
the soil 4 to 5 inches below the surface before adding water. It should be
moist, not dry or soggy.
You may also notice that the raised beds drain better in wet weather and
warm up sooner in the spring, allowing for early plantings.
2

Making Stacked Frames with Gaps
(e.g., Wagon Frame)
The extensions on the bottom end of
each hinge not only allow you to stack
the frames on top of one another, but
also serve as locators for fitting the
lower frame onto a flat-bed wagon
or utility trailer. To fit properly, the
planks should be cut 2" shorter than
the dimensions of the flat-bed on
which the frame(s) will rest.
3 1 /2"
3 1 /2"
1/2"
Gap
When these hinges are used to make
wagon or trailer sides for hauling
material, the sides may be constructed
so that there are gaps between the
boards. In this case, you may use
1"×4" ( 3 /4"×3 1 /2" dressed) boards to
obtain a gap of approximately 1 /2" (see
Figure 3). If you are using hardwood,
pre-drill 5 /32" pilot holes.
You may wish to increase the gap
between boards by using 1"×3"
( 3 /4"×2 1 /2" dressed) boards. This will
yield a gap of approximately 1 3 /8"
(see Figure 4).
The screws will be quite close to
the edge of these narrow boards. To
prevent splitting, drill 5 /32" pilot holes
for the mounting screws.
1"
Figure 3: Sides with 1 /2" gaps.
2 1 /2"
2 1 /2"
Pre-drill 5 /32" pilot holes.
Position 2 1 /2" sides so these
distances are roughly the same.
Repeat for lower sides.
Figure 4: Sides with 1 3 /8" gaps.
13/8"
Gap
Safety Note: If you will be making frames for utility trailer sides, it is
essential that the frames are fastened to each other, and that the bottom
frame is fastened to the trailer, in order to ensure that the frames do not
bounce off the trailer! There are many ways of securing a frame to a
fl at-bed; here are two suggestions:
a) Place four screws into the sides of the fl at-bed, near each corner
(see Figure 5). Hook a bungee cord over each hinge on the uppermost
frame, with the opposite end hooked over the corner screws.
3

) Drill 7 /32" screw clearance holes in the lower extensions of each hinge
(see Figure 6). The lower frame can then be fastened by driving a
screw through each of these holes into the edge of the fl at-bed.
Successive frames can have this hole transferred into the upper end of
the adjoining hinge, with a screw going through both holes and into
the side boards.
Trailer
Flat-Bed
Hook bungee
cord over screw,
one at each
corner of trailer.
Figure 5: Trailer sides secured
with bungee cords.
Drill 7 /32" holes through steel
hinge only, then fasten with
#10× 3 /4" round-head screws.
Figure 6: Trailer sides secured
with screws.
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© Lee Valley Tools Ltd. 2009
www.leevalley.com
1090 Morrison Drive 814 Proctor Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario Ogdensburg, New York
K2H 1C2 Canada 13669-2205 USA
1-800-267-8761 1-800-267-8735
customerservice@leevalley.com
INS-380 Rev. C
Printed in Canada.