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Pocket Door Hardware

| Posted in General Discussion on January 4, 2000 11:53am

*
In a 2 family house, converted to a condo, I have recaptured the 2nd floor landing of the back stairway by building a pocket door at the top and getting rid of the old swinging door off the kitchen. The problem is that I can’t seem to find the appropriate hardware that is durable and locks. All the recessed hardware I’ve seen is meant for interior, non-secure applications. I’ve considered a surface mounted bolt lock on the door stile but this restricts to open width of the door.
Any suggestions? I prefer something which is flush mounted so that the door can slide all the way into the pocket.

Thanks!

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  1. Guest_ | Dec 02, 1999 11:59pm | #1

    *
    Dan,

    unfortunately, Im gonna ask a question instead of answering yours. How did you weather proof that door?

    For hardware, try Accredited Lock Supply of Secaucus, NJ. They have a catalog that is the best door hardware catalog I've seen.

    1. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 04:30am | #2

      *Mortise-in head and foot bolts.

      1. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 06:53am | #3

        *Dan,I agree with George. Mortise bolts. If you can put them in the edge of the t-astragal for a double door, then why couldn't you mortise them on the side of the door facing the inside of the house. The only problem I see is that they don't lock.On the same note, I have seen front door privacy sets that have like a 24" back set. The door knob then can be mounted in the middle of the door. Why couldn't you mount the lock strike in the top of the door and have the extra long backset come down to where you could reach the knob. Just an idea.Ed. Williams

        1. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 07:11am | #4

          * Dan,

          You might be able to use the one on the bottom but, the one on the top will be very difficult at best to get to work. The top will need a long length for the bolt. It will have to travel the length of the trollies plus the length of the attachment bolts and the off set of the track and then about 3/4" min in to the header.

          Joseph FuscoView Image© 1999."It is better to be feared. . . Then loved!" Machiavelli

          1. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 07:36am | #5

            *If the trollies(sp?) are set back from the edge of the door a couple of inches (or even less), the bolt can remain protruding above the door edge all the time. The bolt would need to be unusually long but the throw of the bolt would need be no longer than usual.

          2. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 08:00am | #6

            *Perhaps I haven't read carefully but if you want a Pocket door lock then you might use Baldwin's #8595-264. That model number is for a single cylinder, brushed chrome, lock that also provides all the pull functions. They are a couple hundred bucks a pop; what did you expect from Baldwin? The lock cylinder may stick out a little from the face, and this lock may not be suitable for 1-3/8" doors.Joe

          3. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 09:42am | #7

            *Joe, he could mortise the top one horizontal. It would act like a dead bolts on the hinge side of a safe... preventing the lifting of the door to defeat the footbolt... which would be acting like the active bolts on the safe, securing the door from travel.

          4. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 10:34am | #8

            *I WOULD AGREE WITH JOE DUNCAN, I'VE USED THE BALDWIN KEYED LOCKING POCKET DOOR HARDWARE. I BELEIVE IT WAS ON AN 1-3/8" SOLID CORE POCKET DOOR. IT WORKED GREAT. GOOD LUCK

          5. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 10:34am | #9

            *Dan,On second thought, the door knob thing won't work because you want a flush mount. Without the knob you loose the lock. Still thinking.Ed. Williams

          6. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 10:42am | #10

            *George,The trollies sit back a few inches from the edge of the door right? At least the hanger bolt does. If you could set it back a little further but not upset the balance you could then cut back the track (the trolly won't be riding on the very end anyway)and install a block with a keeper plate for the mortise bolt as close to the top of the door as you wanted. I still don't know how you would lock it.I think that Joe Duncan has the answer with the Baldwin hardware. I've never seen it before but if it's Baldwin I'm sure it's well made.Ed. Williams

          7. Guest_ | Dec 03, 1999 11:28am | #11

            *DanI've never seen an effective, readily available and secure lock for a pocket door. The lock that comes to mind, and which may or may not work in your situation, is the vertical sliding lock used in sliding patio doors. However, the frame it is installed in is not as thick as your standard wood door. You would have to find a way to mortise it into the face of the door at the lock position as well as into the edge.Another thought - you didn't say if the door must lock and unlock from both sides. Answer that so we can think some more.Ralph

          8. Guest_ | Dec 04, 1999 04:47am | #12

            *Dan: Did you oversize the door so it doesn't clear the opening ? I don't have a clear pic. of what you did, but if I were doing it I would have an opening of say 36" and a door of 38" and it would slide across the opening into a ONE inch pocket. The pocket would have to have say a 3" to 4" casing on it so you could mount a CAM-style locking latch similar to a locking sliding door reach-out cam.In operation you slide the door out of its deep pocket, and seat it in the one inch pocket, turn the thumb latch to lock it or use a key .That would secure the door, and the stops at the top would keep the door from being dropped off the trolleys, and even if it were, the door is still captured in the double pockets.I don't think I could dream up anything satisfactory for my climate and an exterior door though in terms of satisfactory weatherstrip. What climate are you installing for ?

  2. Dan_Stubbs | Jan 04, 2000 11:53pm | #13

    *
    In a 2 family house, converted to a condo, I have recaptured the 2nd floor landing of the back stairway by building a pocket door at the top and getting rid of the old swinging door off the kitchen. The problem is that I can't seem to find the appropriate hardware that is durable and locks. All the recessed hardware I've seen is meant for interior, non-secure applications. I've considered a surface mounted bolt lock on the door stile but this restricts to open width of the door.
    Any suggestions? I prefer something which is flush mounted so that the door can slide all the way into the pocket.

    Thanks!

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