New workshop doors

[Jeff]

Hi All,

I'm needing to install new doors on my workshop (door opening 2m high x 2.5m wide total). I am replacing the all wood construction with a box section door frame and the doors themselves will be wood in an angle frame. I need a bit of advice on the type of wood to use. I have to keep the cost reasonable and while I would love Oak etc. the price just rules it out. Speaking to a few sawmills and Jewsons, they seem to be recommending dressed redwood pine. Is this a good choice for a set of external doors? Idealy I don't want to paint the wood but rather use a clear varnish of some type, should I coat it with something like Johnsons Waterproofing first?

Any advice gratefully accepted.

[dom]

I'm guessing with an angle iron frame that the fit will not be particularly close (i.e. you're not worried about draughts), and that they would be able to take a considerable weight?

What sort of woodworking facilities do you have - or does it have to be pretty much finished timber apart from sawing to length?

It would be terrifically heavy, require quite a lot of heavy work, and wouldn't offer a close fit - but thick, heavy, green oak boards aren't very expensive, and will look wonderful as they age.

Another option is reclaimed timber, particularly floorboards.

The cheap and easy option is new pine floorboards.

Well drained oak doesn't require protection (it'll show splits as it dries, and turn silver grey), but otherwise look at Sikkens wood stains.

BTW - why go for the angle iron door frame - is it simply that you metal better than wood?

[Jeff]

The doors will be mounted on a heavy box section frame. Draughtproofing will be important but I have close fits on the angle frames and the doorframe and I'm sure I can find some sort of draught strip I can use between the frames.

Pretty good facilities I suppose, Bandsaw, Routers/ router table, planer thicknesser etc. Pretty much a full woodworking setup (my future hobby :-) I can T&G the boards and plane them up no problem.

Not thought of green oak, my machinery can handle it no problem and there is a sawmill at Fairlie I could ask.....

I'll look into that, thanks.

I've got this idea somehow that pine will disintegrate, at least the stuff our local DIY are trying to push on me :-)

A couple of reasons, first, I work in the local forge and welding/fabrication is my trade. Second, security, living in a very rural location on a farm, I need to protect this investment from light fingers. Also I thought it might look nice to have the frame in black and the wood a natural finish which would hopefully show it off a little.

Many thanks for the help, gave me a bit to think about