Anyone use gas springs in their canopy?

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 3, 2017

I have a DIY canopy made of birch plywood. The access door can be a chore to open. I've been thinking of using gas springs in the canopy to assist with door opening.

Has anyone tried this before? I can get all stainless gas springs, but all of the online engineering tools are in metric...and I've so far been too lazy to do the conversions

. I may have to just suck it up and do the conversions to select the right gas spring.

surgeon1 · Mar 5, 2017

both of my tanks have gas springs on the doors. they seem to fade in strength after a couple of years or so. don't know if they can be recharges or if they need to be replaced.

JoshH · Mar 5, 2017

typically after a few years it's easier to just replace them. If they start to fade or loosen up usually it means a seal is warn inside the cylinder which aren't repairable like most other things in this disposable age we live in.

jsker · Mar 5, 2017

these work real well link

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 6, 2017

jsker said:
these work real well link

Cool. I'll have to look into these! I like the fact that they don't have oil in the actuating mechanism.

jsker · Mar 6, 2017

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Cool. I'll have to look into these! I like the fact that they don't have oil in the actuating mechanism.

Find a cabinet supply company by you. I will warn you that blum is pricy but well worth it

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 6, 2017

jsker said:
Find a cabinet supply company by you. I will warn you that blum is pricy but well worth it

The pricing I saw online wasn't too bad...about $18-22 per spring hinge. It's comparable to gas springs, depending on the type.

Txdragonslayer · Mar 6, 2017

I know some people will use a counter weight mechanism to lift the whole light hood, not sure if that is an option for you

jsker · Mar 6, 2017

AllSignsPointToFish said:
The pricing I saw online wasn't too bad...about $18-22 per spring hinge. It's comparable to gas springs, depending on the type.

That is pretty good then.

LbulletM · Mar 7, 2017

Not yet, but that was the plan. I want to do a built in with a section of wall that would open above the tank with the gas springs. Was just planning some cheap car hood pistons. Good to hear people have made them work!