Replies

1. 
   DougU | Sep 26, 2003 01:21am | #1

   Scout

   Use good quality hardware, Johnson makes some, use the higher grade. Also we have used Hafel(sp?) they are very good, pricey but good. I cant find a web site for the hafel though. I know that you can get them through Bear.

   Doug

   You might be better off posting this in the construcion section, you will probably get more results, also there has been numerous discusions regarding this subject, do a search and you will probably get more reading than you want.

   I see your new so welcome, there will be others that will offer more advice.

   
   

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   Edited 9/25/2003 6:24:14 PM ET by Doug@es

2. 
   WayneL5 | Sep 26, 2003 02:31am | #2

   They don't feel substantial to you, but has your client felt with her own hands the kind of doors you are considering?  They may be just fine to her.

   I built some custom doors for my foyer coat closet and used the Johnson hardware (the heavier rated set) and I'm happy with them.  Each door weighs 85 pounds.  Perhaps it's the door as much as the hardware that gives you the unsubstantial feel.

   I would say that there is sort of a rumble or vibration, somewhat of a slickness, with the nylon rollers on a metal track.  I wonder if isolating the brackets on the top of the door with rubber below the bracket and between the screw head and the bracket would give a more dead feel.

   
3. 
   Piffin | Sep 26, 2003 03:25am | #3

   You are talking about two different things here. one is the door, the other is the hardware.

   I use Johnson too. It;s goiod stuff. Don't know what you mean about maintainence issues. It's not like they need a lube and oil change avery two thousand miles.

   If the client wants a substantial door, she/he/it needs to select a sunstantial door. A cheap door feels cheap whether pocketed or swung.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   DougU | Sep 26, 2003 04:16am | #4

   Steve

   I know what you mean by the old houses with the pocket doors, they sure are not the spindly little one-bys that they use today.

   When we build a pocket door we use Hafele hardware and make the whole frame system out of full 2 X 2 walls, on both sides, usually run them horizontally, then haul the whole thing out and install. Solid as hell.

   Doug

5. 
   Piffin | Sep 26, 2003 04:24am | #5

   So what kind of hardware do youuse?

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

6. 
   Piffin | Sep 26, 2003 01:07pm | #6

   I see, nothing less than a thirteenth century limestone Italian villa with two foot thick walls should do nicely.

   ;)

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

7. 
   csnow | Sep 26, 2003 11:03pm | #7

   The Johnson 200 and 300 lb stuff is substantial.

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

   IMHO, pocket doors are the ideal solution for taming the love/hate relationship that folks have with today's popular 'open floor plan' designs.

   When they are open, all the rooms flow as one, but they can be closed to control noise, and support multiple concurrent uses.  Best of both worlds.

   Party mode/Family mode.  No wasted floor space.

   The Victorians knew what they were doing.  Also helped to isolate heated spaces, in their case. The fact that folks sometimes have trouble with the antique ones is a function of them being 100+ years old, and the fact that some hardware designs were better than others.  Precision ball-bearings, and big nylon wheels help matters.

   The cheesy hardware used for small bathrooms and such is a whole other matter, and gives pocket doors a bad image.

8. 
   KGambit | Sep 30, 2003 02:31am | #8

   Scout,

    I put 3 pocket doors in my house with the heavy Johnson hardware, and they run fine.

    When I installed mine I routed a 1/4 dado down the bottom of the door, and screwed a piece of aluminum angle to the floor inside the door pocket to cut down on the side to side play...it worked real good. I was thinking of adding a 2' strip of hardwood to the edge of the door that stays hidden inside the pocket to give the angle more "hold" when the door is partially or fully open....but I never got around to it.

    Also if you are looking for a door that feels "substantial" you may want to look into an MDF door. There is a company, I think called, "trustile" that manufactures them. They weigh a ton!...and that should definitely make the door feel more robust.

   I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!