Dave - how are those adjusted? I have one and it would be useful to reduce the pressure on it. The maker's catalogue (at
If I did that I'd also have to fit a cat flap.
There's one on a door in a church near here which appears to be contemporary with the church, which was put up by Thomas Telford in the late 1700s. It's got a little brass wheel on the end of the arm and seems to be working just fine.
Weight and string, attached as far out on the door as is practical. It has the advantage compared to a spring that the force is constant throughout the door's arc. Most spring arrangements are quite non linear.
Best of all though is a 1960s school firedoor closer - big old cast iron hydraulic job. They have damping too.
I didn't realise they were as cheap as that. Might get some for this house.
Dave
Has anyone seen the type that has a spring loaded roller that hits a U shaped thing on the frame? When the roller is hit it slowly pulls the door closed (poor description)
They knew how to make things back then. These days you have a bit of ali channel to take the end of the steel rod without any roller or wheel, it's not long before the ali channel is very badly worn.
Make sure you can get a good fixing on the door near the top. They take quite a lot of strain as the door is opened.
This thing's quite impressive. The spring and the arm are all the same bit of metal. Blacksmith made, I guess, a long metal bar has been beaten into a thin strip for perhaps 3/4 of its length and wound up into a coil with a bit welded on first to grip it by. The remaining tail has been cut to allow for the roller. There are sufficient turns on the coil that it's not very heavily stressed, and a hefty iron channel is provided for the roller.
Any piccies?
Remember, too, that you'll get the same force on the hinges - depending on the configuration that can pull the top hinge off the door or the frame.
One of the clerics is on some of the same school committees as me - I'll ask her if I can pop round and do some. Don't hold your breath, though.
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