Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 16, 2004 12:30am | #1

   Baldwin has a decent pocket door latch, but it is a dickens to align, and I don't thenk it has that much backset.

   Ives has a simple pull but no latch that I know of.

    

    

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1. 
   gdavis62 | Oct 16, 2004 09:39pm | #2

   All I have ever used is the Ives type that requires three stepped mortise cuts, one on each door face for the flush-mounted cup pulls, and one on the edge for the pullout edge pull.  All that step mortising and handwork is tedious.

   For privacy when using the Ives, I just use their little jamb bolt piece, which mounts to the door slab face near the pocketing edge, and when flipped to "lock," fixes the door from being able to in the pocket.

   I was hoping that there were more elegant pieces available for the standard old 2-1/8" diameter bore and 1" edgebore, other than the Johnson and Kwikset models, neither of which is available in the oilrubbed bronze finish we want.  Of the two, the Kwikset looks a little less pedestrian, but it doesn't speak "higher end" enough to me.

   After exhaustive Googling, I think I am striking out.  The Baldwin is a full mortise lock, and I'm looking for something simpler.

   I am wondering whether this is worthwhile. View ImageCosts about 25 bucks, is available in every finish under the sun, and while I cannot find the machining specs for it, I'll bet that you simply jigsaw a square "bite" out of the stile edge.  Flanges cover up your nasty cut edges.  The Hardware Hut in Spokane sells them, and identifies the make as "Deltana."

   Sometimes you just wish you lived in a huge megalopolis market, where you can go to product showrooms and see this stuff on display.  But living in the boonies, it is just not available to me.

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Oct 17, 2004 12:44am | #3

   yea... I installed that one in my house and a few others.  The privacy model had what I considered an inherent design flaw - can't remember exactly the specifics, but the latch mechanism doesn't work exactly right.  I'll look into it if you like.  You are right - you just cut a rectangle out of the edge of the door and the flanges cover over it.  If you have some other questions I can likely answer them or will take a pic if you want. Matt

1. 
   gdavis62 | Oct 17, 2004 02:34am | #5

   What's the design flaw in the privacy model?  Details, please!

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Oct 17, 2004 03:42am | #6

   OK - maybe not an inherent design flaw, but now that I've fixed it 2 or 3 times, I'd have to say it's not the greatest.  Maybe it will stay this time, although, the privacy latch is never really used, except maybe by guests, so I hadn't messed with it in several years.  I just now "adjusted" it and took picks as I did it.  Pics aren't great, and I had to lighten them a bit.

   So, pic 1 shows the the hardware with the latch mechanism extended. 

   Pic 2 shows the piece you install in the door jam to catch the latch.

   Pic 3 shows the lever you can pull up to pull the door shut.

   Pic 4 shows the thumb knob plate removed.  Notice the small pin protruding toward the camera.

   This pin mates up with the slotted lever shown in pic 5.  This lever swings as you turn the latch thumb knob.  For some reason, the pin has come disengaged from the slotted lever several times.  I just bent the slotted lever out with some needle nose pliers so hopefully it won't come out again.  We will se, but like I said, it is rarely used.

   I sent you an E-mail too. Matt

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Oct 17, 2004 03:25pm | #10

   Another idea would be to go over to Joe Jusco's bullitin board and ask the question - if that web site still exists...   Matt

2. 
   Piffin | Oct 17, 2004 01:50am | #4

   I don't honestly believe anything "elegant" for pocket doors is available. I have worked with some top name interior designers from London, NY, and Paris who have turned me on to some fine sources for hardware items, but I have yet to see a pocket door latch that I and my custiomers totally like. The Baldwin is nioce but looks similar to what you pictured and is still tedius to line up right with the latching catch which is a pointed knurl that can hurt like heck if you hit an elbow on it.

   the finest pocket door solution I have ever used was a pair of 36" leading into a dining room from living room. i uses crystal knobs like a regular swing door and set the stops on the doors so that the knobs came 3/4" short of the jamb to keep from pinching fingers or damaging the millwork and paint. Of course, that won't work with a singl;e because you lose about 4" of the openning width. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   JohnT8 | Oct 17, 2004 08:26am | #8

   I think piffin has the right direction.  About the only way I know to make pocket door hardware look attractive is to design a pocket door that isn't going to completely vanish into the pocket.  Then you can use whatever pretty handle you like, and that simplifies the lock.

   The handle plus finger space will protrude from the pocket (which is what piffen was saying with his 3/4" short of jamb).

   Hmm...never tried it and I'm not sure how it would look (ie it might look really crappy), but I suppose if you used piffen's standard crystal knob and then just cut a chunk out of the casing.  Big enough chunk to accomodate the knob and a hand around the knob.  You could then have the edge of the door flush with your side trim (and not lose the 4" width).

   While I do like pocket doors, I'm not real fond of the style of latch Bob has pictured... you can't get a very good grip on it when the door is closed.  Especially in cases where the door wasn't hung quite straight, or when the wheels have started to wear. 

   jt8

1. 
   gdavis62 | Oct 17, 2004 03:22pm | #9

   You push on the edge feature and a hook flips out.  Grip the hook and pull the door.

   View Image

2. 
   JohnT8 | Oct 19, 2004 01:03am | #11

   You push on the edge feature and a hook flips out.  Grip the hook and pull the door.

   Opening, not closing...  With the door closed and a bad track or wheel you can have a heck of a time.  Which is why I lean towards pocket doors that have a handle I can grab ahold of and get better leverage.  But obviously it isn't always an option.

   I also tend to put in lever style door handles on non-pocket doors.  Easier to open if your hands are full.

   Noticed a display door at Lowes.  I thought, "man, that would make outstanding double pocket doors."  Attached pic is from their brochure.  They are shown as french doors, but wouldn't they make nice pockets?

   Wheew, stuff like that can break a budget in a hurry.jt8

2. 
   billyg | Oct 17, 2004 05:34am | #7

   I know that you asked for hardware other than Johnson, but won't this one work for you?  2 3/8" backset and 2 1/8" bore.  I've used it and it works well, but it's not the most beautiful hardware in town:

   http://www.johnsonhardware.com/1521.htm

   Billy