Bolt to lever warped oak front door shut

[milkloss]

Thanks for the posts all. Got some pictures of the door in question to follow.

I thought maybe a plate screwed to the door with a clevis going over the frame. A spigot of some sort then attached to the frame with a coarse cutaway thread for quick attach. Can't find an image but you cut two sides of the threaded spigot away so you can slide on a nut (with a wing) and twist to tighten, this avoids threading all the way down. They have a similar thing for the Browning m2 qcb .50 machine gun. I might have some components but they are too big. Not sure if it would work on a smaller scale very well because you wouldn't have enough thread to tighten enough.

 

[milkloss]

 

[Greenbeast]

Very nice, in my head I've been working to an open out door. Open in means you've got to push it and any mechanism has to as well with little space

 

[milkloss]

Very nice, in my head I've been working to an open out door. Open in means you've got to push it and any mechanism has to as well with little space

There's a bit more space if I get permission to angle it to the top right.......but it might be a challenge!

 

[Badshot]

There's a bit more space if I get permission to angle it to the top right.......but it might be a challenge!

What you need is an eye on the frame, then a latch which is a cam hook on the end of a bar, it'd crank it tightly closed then

 

[David.]

Lovely door, how long do you expect it to move for, am told it can be 5 years before they settle.

 

[JWL]

With the existing bolts could you modify them by taking the keepers off where the bolt slides or just take off the tops leaving guides so that you can put the end of the bolt into the keeper on the door jam then lever the bolt towards the door and hold with a swing down latch or pin. I'll scribble something down on paper and add it to here in a bit

 

[JWL]

 

[milkloss]

With the existing bolts could you modify them by taking the keepers off where the bolt slides or just take off the tops leaving guides so that you can put the end of the bolt into the keeper on the door jam then lever the bolt towards the door and hold with a swing down latch or pin. I'll scribble something down on paper and add it to here in a bit

I think you've hit the nail on the head! I was mulling over the idea of modifying the bolt this morning, I might have to modify the plate under the bolt as well as the keeper nearest the edge to allow it to rock.

 

[Greenbeast]

I think you've hit the nail on the head! I was mulling over the idea of modifying the bolt this morning, I might have to modify the plate under the bolt as well as the keeper nearest the edge to allow it to rock.

Yes that would potentially work

Edit: this will hinge (no pun intended) on small tolerances. Because there naturally isn't much space between the door edge and the frame.
As an aside this really has me hankering to be pottering in a workshop

 

[milkloss]

Lovely door, how long do you expect it to move for, am told it can be 5 years before they settle.

Thanks, you certainly know when the wind catches it when all the house is open, it's managed to bend a coupe of latches.

It's not really moving, it's actually the modern seal that is making the door bow a little which was predicted and why the bolts were there top and bottom. Just a shame we never used them! Same company (local) did all stairs and ledge doors, proper dry wood and none have moved in four years so far.

 

[Zebbedee]

Build an extra little porch outside your oak door with another door would be my suggestion, you will be very lucky to get that one to seal correctly once it starts to change shape I would guess. Cracking door though very nice.

 

[phillipe]

Thanks, you certainly know when the wind catches it when all the house is open, it's managed to bend a coupe of latches.

It's not really moving, it's actually the modern seal that is making the door bow a little which was predicted and why the bolts were there top and bottom. Just a shame we never used them! Same company (local) did all stairs and ledge doors, proper dry wood and none have moved in four years so far.

wet and cold one side ,dry and warm on the inside,plus being oak a little movement is to be expected ,a lot of the old places with oak doors had inner porches to combat the draught problem

 

[milkloss]

wet and cold one side ,dry and warm on the inside,plus being oak a little movement is to be expected ,a lot of the old places with oak doors had inner porches to combat the draught problem

Yes, it is porched and north facing so does stay quite dry from direct rain but I see what you mean.

 

[wr.]

If you were closer, my son would pop around and make something in his forge for you.
My brother's front door is held shut with a piece of oak which fits into a square hole in the wall and slides out to lock it. Mind you, the date on the door is 1583.

 

[renewablejohn]

If you were closer, my son would pop around and make something in his forge for you.
My brother's front door is held shut with a piece of oak which fits into a square hole in the wall and slides out to lock it. Mind you, the date on the door is 1583.

Do you have a photo where trying find a door of similar age to our house approx 1650

 

[wr.]

Do you have a photo where trying find a door of similar age to our house approx 1650

PM sent