Bolt to lever warped oak front door shut

[milkloss]

when we did the house up we had a monster thick arched oak door made up. We had a normal latch and lever lock mid point and another lever lock 2/3 up, top and bottom is a bolt. The idea was that because the door has modern seals fitted it might bow slightly outwards at the top and bottom so the bolts were supposed to prevent allowing the warp and ingress of cold northerly air. Of course we never did and tonight it's blowing a fecking hoolie round the door!

It's difficult going to shut the bolts and the Mrs never will and will curse me when someone comes to the door. Does anyone know of a kind of latch that will lever the top and bottom of the door shut easily?

Many thanks

 

[foxbox]

Expanding foam

 

[milkloss]

Expanding foam

No, my life is worth slightly more than that!

 

[simmy_bull]

I have no ideas to add I'm afraid but may we see a pic of said door it's sounds like an impressive feature

 

[phillipe]

i have seen an old oak door with a flat bar top and bottom ,with a lever halfway up door you turn lever and it shoots the bars up and down ,black wrought iron i think

 

[phillipe]

this sort of thing

 

[milkloss]

I have no ideas to add I'm afraid but may we see a pic of said door it's sounds like an impressive feature

It's not that impressive but you wouldn't be hanging it on your own that's for sure! I'll try and get a pic when the weathers a little more friendly.

this sort of thing

Good idea, I presume the 'latches' are tapered and lever in to pull it tight? It's a traditional door so ideally would like individual bolts/ levers.

 

[Greenbeast]

I was just going to say, whatever it is would need to be tapered

 

[phillipe]

It's not that impressive but you wouldn't be hanging it on your own that's for sure! I'll try and get a pic when the weathers a little more friendly.



Good idea, I presume the 'latches' are tapered and lever in to pull it tight? It's a traditional door so ideally would like individual bolts/ levers.

a good blacksmith ccould knock one up i would off thought

 

[Greenbeast]

a good blacksmith ccould knock one up i would off thought

i would offer but no workshop to speak of at the moment

 

[norse]

You maybe need something like a more ornate version of the latches on the back door of a curtainsider !

 

[milkloss]

You maybe need something like a more ornate version of the latches on the back door of a curtainsider !

Exactly, but pretty and must fold out of the way for everyday door use.

 

[Greenasgrass]

I used to have a similar problem at my last house - beautiful pair of arched oak front doors!
Couldn't bloody use them in the winter as they used to swell - if you opened them they were impossible to close. I had 12" long decorative bolts on the back (similar to what you would see on a church door)

http://www.doorways.co.uk/monkey-tail-bolts-monkey-tail-97-946914

http://www.doorways.co.uk/bow-handle-bolts-bow-handle-97-946908

Something like the above is what you need.

 

[norse]

I used to have a similar problem at my last house - beautiful pair of arched oak front doors!
Couldn't bloody use them in the winter as they used to swell - if you opened them they were impossible to close. I had 12" long decorative bolts on the back (similar to what you would see on a church door)

http://www.doorways.co.uk/monkey-tail-bolts-monkey-tail-97-946914

http://www.doorways.co.uk/bow-handle-bolts-bow-handle-97-946908

Something like the above is what you need.

What op needs is something with a bit of leverage to spring the door shut .

 

[Badshot]

Would you be able to adapt something like this?

 

[Dry Rot]

Could a local metal worker make something up using the lever principles of this latch on the ramp of an Ifor Williams horse trailer?

 

[Greenbeast]

@milkloss, what is the gap like?
the above two suggestions are not bad, but would probably need to be custom jobbies to take into account you frame depth and the gap to overcome

 

[Dry Rot]

Google Images is your friend -- but the problem is deciding on what words to search on! "Cold store doors" came up with a few interesting ideas!

On a completely different theme, electromagnets can yield some pretty impressive forces. One top and bottom switchable? But I suspect the OP really wants something off the shelf.

 

[MickMoor]

Try "Toggle Clamps" in Google.

 

[jamj]

I think that you need a lever action, not a tapered push bar. The push bar would require more effort to open/ close and the wife may not be too happy.
Maybe consider putting a 'fake' box down the back of the door ( in oak) to hide levers.