Replies

1. 
   doitall | Mar 20, 2006 06:00pm | #1

   Remove all the nails (did you say that the hinges are secured with nails?!), and replace with screws that are long enough to be run through the thickness of the jamb, and into the framing.

   If you keep messing with the nails, you will have this problem continually reoccurring.

   dia

2. 
   ETG | Mar 20, 2006 07:53pm | #2

   The real question is how historic is your house and how much effort do you want to put forth to preserve what you currently have.  As the previous poster stated, you can replace the nails with screws.  However, if these are hand wrought nails and hinges, you could devalue it by using screws.

   My house is 250 years old plus and all my hinges are held in place with hand wrought nails and I've had few problems.  The wood match/toothpick solution doesn't work here.  You need to take split moulding off, glue the split areas and then reattach it.  Also, glue and clamp any frame areas that are split/cracked.  Fill the old nail holes with a good wood filler or split pieces of similar wood and glue.  then reattach everything and use small piolt hole for the nail.

   This whole procedure is for a restoration - again your house may not call for that - you need to decide how relevant it is to have hinges nailed to the jambs or simply replaced with screws.

1. 
   SpecialK | Mar 20, 2006 08:10pm | #3

   ETG,

   While the house was built in the 1920's, all of the hardware in the house is original colonial period hardware, so while the historic integrity is somewhat muddy, I think the restoration method is preferable.

   The hinges are 8" and the nails are near 1/4" in diameter.  I'm amazed the wrought nails held for so long.  I assume the pilot hole needs to be just undersized for the nail, right?

   Drew

3. 
   mike4244 | Mar 20, 2006 09:46pm | #4

   Here's an idea, remove the door. Remove the hinges. If you have solid wood where the screw holes are, then rout out an area smaller than the hinge. Glue a wood dutchmen in. I would think that a piece 1" thick would do the trick.Replace the hinges and renail after the glue is completely dry. Predrill for the holes, probably two thirds the size of the nail. Experiment on scrap first.

   mike

1. 
   ETG | Mar 20, 2006 10:01pm | #5

   Unless the wood is very soft - meaning a tiny pilot hole, I would make it 1/8 or so smaller for the pilot.  Nails used for hinges many times had "barbs" on them, actual digs or cuts made along the nail shank - not too deeply - to hold the nail in placen and resist being pulled out.  Really a forerunner to our ring shanged nails today.  You could try raising some barbs by using a sharp cold chisel and making several "digs" - not too deep! - around the shank facing the head as you chisel - I've found that worked very well in helping to keep the nail in place.

   If you need "new old" nails here's one of many places that have them available and they may also have them with the barbs: http://www.firstperiodcolonial.com/nails.htm

   Good luck!

1. 
   SpecialK | Mar 20, 2006 10:55pm | #6

   These nails are actually almost screws (but without slots) in that it appear that they were forged as square in the cross section and then twisted 360 degrees.  The corners of the square then make threads.  I've never seen anything like them.

1. 
   ETG | Mar 21, 2006 04:06pm | #7

   Wow - sounds interesting.  When you get into these things, you always have to balance how far to go in maintaining historical presence.  If you really want to go the extra mile, find a local blacksmith - he or she can usuallly duplicate such items fairly easy and reasonably to give you even a longer and thicker nail if need be.  But again, these kind of project can take on a life of their own - it's up to you when to draw the line.

   Good luck!