Replies

1. 
   Lansdown | May 25, 2007 05:31am | #1

   Sweet.

2. 
   mojo | May 25, 2007 05:43am | #2

   Can I ask if you made or bought the arched casing?  I tried a few times to do the laminated strip technique for a palladian window top but failed to get the spacing right on the tablesaw.  Finally gave up and went with resinart.

   This looks very nice. You must be pleased with the results.

1. 
   basswood | May 25, 2007 05:57am | #6

   The builder supplied the arched casing...one was too short though and required scarf jointing (a royal pain to get that just right on curved stock).It all worked out though.

3. 
   grpphoto | May 25, 2007 05:47am | #3

   Love it!

   George Patterson

4. 
   JDRHI | May 25, 2007 05:50am | #4

   Nice work bass.....the door itself isn't arched, is it?

   J. D. Reynolds
   Home Improvements

    

    

   
   

1. 
   basswood | May 25, 2007 06:01am | #7

   Normal square pocket door with a 32" radius arched raised panel in the door. Arched jamb and casing are 36" radius.

5. 
   rez | May 25, 2007 05:53am | #5

   Nice.

    Curious tho'.

    What type of light switch cover will be used on that switch? Standard white?

     One day, when my axe had come off and I had cut a green hickory for a wedge, driving it with a stone, and had placed the whole to soak in a pond-hole in order to swell the wood, I saw a striped snake run into the water, and he lay on the bottom, apparently without inconvenience, as long as I stayed there, or more than a quarter of an hour; perhaps because he had not yet fairly come out of the torpid state. It appeared to me that for a like reason men remain in their present low and primitive condition; but if they should feel the influence of the spring of springs arousing them, they would of necessity rise to a higher and more ethereal life.  -Thoreau's Walden

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/24/2007 10:53 pm ET by rez

1. 
   basswood | May 25, 2007 06:04am | #8

   Most of the switch plates are just white. Not always the best look though.

6. 
   zak | May 25, 2007 07:20am | #9

   very nice.  Was the top split jamb supplied, too, or did you make it?

   zak

   "When we build, let us think that we build forever.  Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin

   "so it goes"

    

1. 
   basswood | May 25, 2007 03:42pm | #12

   Zak, arched jamb stock was supplied, but I had to rip it to the proper width, and the radius was not quite right (not uncommon though).Running a semi-circular piece of wood though a table saw is a kind of nerve racking for me. I made my own jamb legs.Glad you like it.

7. 
   Heck | May 25, 2007 03:06pm | #10

   I like it.

   Good work.

   _______________________________________________________________
   CITUIS, ALTUIS, FORTUIS

8. 
   Shoeman | May 25, 2007 03:30pm | #11

   nice work

1. 
   basswood | May 25, 2007 03:57pm | #13

   I think this is less expensive than a true arched-top interior door and provides a similar effect.I don't have picture, but I had to plow 1/2" out of both sides of the pocket door frame (at the corners above the curved split jamb), to add little triangles of drywall (since the arched casing did not cover these corners)Clear as mud, right.

9. 
   basswood | May 26, 2007 04:27pm | #14

   Here is that door I told you about.

   This week I spent four days on the lower level, just hanging and casing doors (18 interior doors and 3 exterior doors). Next week, windows and base. Then stair rail.

1. 
   arcticcat | May 27, 2007 05:24am | #20

   Hey thats pretty cool Bass.  Nice job!

   Mike

1. 
   basswood | May 27, 2007 05:33am | #21

   Mike,I thought you might like the idea of it. I don't even know if the idea came from the HO, Builder, or if they saw it elsewhere.

2. 
   stevent1 | May 28, 2007 12:31pm | #28

   Nice work!

   Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

10. 
    TimLoupe | May 26, 2007 05:52pm | #15

    Basswood,

    Do you have access to the rollers for future maintenance? I have done lots of pocket doors but never an arched top, thats cool!

     

    Tim

1. 
   basswood | May 26, 2007 06:00pm | #16

   No provision was made for maintenance access. I warned the builder about this.Taking that door back out, would involve surgically removing arched casing and jamb on one side. Both rollers could be adjusted by drilling a hole in the drywall just above the arch on the pocket side. Reach through the hole with a wrench, adjust, patch drywall.

1. 
   Mark | May 26, 2007 09:06pm | #17

   Very nice work dude!

   When I opened the pictures the question regarding provisions for future adjustment was the first thing that jumped into my head.  Good thing you covered your butt by being pro-active with the builder about this.

   But don't worry,  I'm sure nobody's gonna poke a hole in the door while hanging a picture...  ;-)" If I were a carpenter"

1. 
   basswood | May 26, 2007 09:14pm | #18

   Thanks.That house has 3 pocket doors...I put nails into one of them myself. Managed to use the proper length nails for all the casing and all the base...except for one side of one door. DHOH!At least the holes were way down near the floor. The painter did a nice job fixing that door for me.

2. 
   TomT226 | May 27, 2007 04:26pm | #23

   Wouldn't work on an arched door, but the two I recently installed can be adjusted or removed by removing only one head casing and an extra strike jamb.

   I just build the finished opening 1/2" larger than the door, hang it, and put a removeable strike jamb of 5/8" stock.  Round it off, and you really don't notice it.  To remove the door, remove the strike, unscrew the head jamb, center the door, and un-hang it.  Use square drive trim head screws. 

1. 
   basswood | May 27, 2007 05:04pm | #24

   Thanks Tom.I will say it is a unique idea. I've never seen one before. I hope some people that see it here keep it in mind for a future project.This is a place where a pocket door was a good choice (a standard, hinged door would open against stairs, switches, walkway, mail sorting area--no good place for a door that will often be open).The pocket door is in a grand entry and blocks off the mudroom/laundry/garage/pantry areas. It makes sense and adds flair.Your ideas for making the frame larger and the door accessible are good. I told the builder it would be better if I hang the pocket doors (they are put in during framing, before I show up). The framers don't always do the best job of it.

1. 
   Mark | May 27, 2007 05:28pm | #25

   I couldn't agree more about framers!

   I have always been of the contention that whomsoever will be the person ultimately installing the pocket door should always be the person who installs the framing, track, etc.

   I've met precious few framers who have even the slightest ability to properly install a pocket door frame....  Present company excluded of course... Blue,  Joe,  et al    ;-)

    

   Of course,  all of that fine craftmanship goes right out the window after we've left and the flooring guy knocks the jamb leg out of whack in order to force his stuff into place.  I'm sure that's happened to all of us more than a few times.  " If I were a carpenter"

2. 
   basswood | May 27, 2007 05:49pm | #26

   I was trying to be nice when I said, "The framers don't always do the best job of it."I think it would be great to trim behind some of the framers here, as you alluded to. Man that would be just awesome.The house with the "arched" pocket door has 3 windows in a row with just a few studs between them--just enough room for trim-- and they were set at different heights (one 1/2" higher than the lowest one).It wouldn't have been too hard to hide that, but there is a counter backsplash just an inch below these windows. That kinda stuff sure irks me.Well, I won't let that bug me today...I'm gonna go play outside!

11. 
    user-246028 | May 27, 2007 02:48am | #19

    Very cool! It never occured to me to do something like that. What did you use to trim it out?

    Dave

12. 
    TomT226 | May 27, 2007 04:19pm | #22

    Truly exellent work.

     

13. 
    brucet99 | May 28, 2007 11:14am | #27

    Nice work!

    How did you get the door on the track? Most tracks I've seen require tilting the door or at least significant lateral movement to slide a hanger into the roller body.

    Must have been a pain adjusting hangers to square the door with the jamb too.

1. 
   basswood | May 28, 2007 04:34pm | #29

   I hung the door and then assembled the jamb around it. I adjusted the door so it was plumb and shimmed the jamb for a nice fit right to the door.