Paint Can Hinge

thingiverse

I found this concept intriguing - a pivot for the top of a standard 1-gallon paint container. The inspiration came directly from this section (http://www.youtube.com/v/DjCPS6FD7RM?version=3&start=57&end=83&autoplay=0&hl=en_US&rel=0) of a tips and tricks video by Jimmy DiResta. He uses it for a can of Bondo body filler, but I thought that creating a printable version for a standard paint can might be feasible. It's used to easily open and close the paint can without touching the lid (avoiding messy hands). The largest part measures just under 9 x 4 x 1 centimeters, so it should print easily on most printers. A hole in the pivot is sized to fit a 1/4 inch bolt. All credit goes to Jimmy DiResta for this brilliant design idea. To use this hinge, first print one of the file named "paintcanhinge_arm" and two of "paintcanhinge_support". Next, slide and fasten a 1/4inch bolt into the hole. Finally, secure the apparatus on the paint can using hot glue (or your preferred adhesion method), allowing you to paint without worrying about messy hands when opening the lid.