WIP - Old door made usable 🤞

[Accipiter]

Probably around 1990 I bought a half glazed door from the local B&Q - closed a couple of years later. The door had a damaged edge to one of the stiles so I got it for a good price. Thing is, it was 27" wide and I'd not realised we didn't have a doorway it would fit. Idea was to fit additional side stiles to gain the width.




Well... with the work on the workshop resurrection, the door was getting in the way - as it had over the last 35 years... waiting for the LOML to decide where she'd like it to be fitted. I dragged it out from the back storage area yesterday to check it over, expecting to find lots of worm holes and probably some rot! Two ww holes... no rot. So, measured up and checked the damaged stile - not as bad as I'd remembered on buying it. Decision made to rip 6mm from both and fit 2 ex 2x2 strips to make a width of 30".



The 2x2 x 2mt lengths purchased... finished sizes of 45mm sq. Door stiles are 35mm th... so planed to 35mm. Trimmed the damaged edge off as well as the opposite one. Needed to be done as the original edges had a slim rounded finish which would give a groove down the length of joining.



Next job is to make either slots/mortice for biscuits or drill for dowels at intervals along the edges and then glue and clamp... Then treat/paint (?) before fitting... It felt good to make some shavings today

 

[AndyT]

I do like that you are repairing and using it, not just chucking it out.

The timber should be dry and stable by now too!

 

[AndyP]

Good on you for being above to keep it for so long waiting for the tuit.

 

[Malc2098]

I'd go biscuits.

BTW, I cans till recite, in feet 'n' inches, the door sizes we used to sell int he 60s; six six two six, six eight two eight, seven by three, six six two three etc etc

 

[Accipiter]

I do like that you are repairing and using it, not just chucking it out.

The timber should be dry and stable by now too!

Thanks Andy. The back room had some dampness/mould issues which I found last year - from which I contracted pneumonia... Had to do a bit of a clean out and disposal of the old kitchen units I'd been using in there... air movement not helped with all the stuff/timbers I'd got in there. Hopefully resolved but it was another reason for me to make the effort to sort things and 'resurrect' the front workshop area... use up as many of the offcuts from all sorts of timbers/sheet materials. I'm getting there .

When I dragged the door out there was a distinct 'damp' smell... and one of the stiles had moved slightly away from the bottom and central rail. Last night was a glue up/clamp job and put on the dehumidifier. This morning the smell had gone and the glue worked - joints didn't open up when clamps removed .

 

[Accipiter]

I'd go biscuits.

BTW, I cans till recite, in feet 'n' inches, the door sizes we used to sell int he 60s; six six two six, six eight two eight, seven by three, six six two three etc etc

far better than trying for metric

 

[Accipiter]

Yesterday I made a start in the sides/stiles for the 'homemade' biscuits - the slots (mortice...) using the Elu MOF 96 router using a 5mm bit... had to stop just before 5pm to collect LOML...

Managed to get back to it today... realising that I'd need to widen the slot to 6mm/¼" as as I didn't feel safe (or fancy) cutting 5mm biscuits on the TS... So, cut enough biscuits and cut the slots again to 6mm/¼".



Then the fun to glue up one side while easily accessible upright on the floor... lift up to the (mobile) benches, glue the next pieces and the clamp up. Good job I've got 7 sash cramps


Tight squeeze getting round...

 

[duke]

Tight squeeze for sure , must be frustration.

 

[Accipiter]

Definitely Scott... I'm not a 'big' bloke but... shows the limitations of my workshop

 

[Accipiter]

A step nearer... new timber stained with light oak and brought into the living room to acclimatise before cutting for door catch and hinges. Needs extra work to try to hide the joints...

 

[Accipiter]

A big thanks to the Admin/Mod for inserting it as a full-time image instead of the thumbnail - and for the message in the notification - appreciated