Replies

1. 
   Mike_Maines_ | Jul 06, 2001 03:09am | #1

   *
   Jeff, I don't know how many magnets you would need, and I know they're expensive, but you could order one pair and test them by gluing one to a little tray, let the other magnet stick to the first, add weight until you can pull the magnets apart. Then you know how strong the magnets are. Guess at how many times that force you'd need. My guess is quite a few because you have so much leverage.

   Have you considered the option of an oversize sliding bolt to lock the doors together?

   Mike

1. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jul 06, 2001 03:46am | #2

   *Hey Mike.....the bolt may be the way to go! I thought about dowels, or something internal......but a bolt would be way easier to align. It's just gonna be light weight bi-folds....and the locked in place swing action is gonna be few and far between......so you might be on to something! Thanks, Jeff

1. 
   Ed_Hilton | Jul 06, 2001 03:51am | #3

   *I bought some from Lee Valley, they're about 5/16" dia, and I bought the cups that go with them and the washers for the strike. I used two for a linen press door (18" w x 5'6" t) one top & one bottom, and I had to remove one because the pull was too strong. I think I paid mor for the shipping charge than I did for the magnets. Actualy, I didn't remove one magnet, because I can't get it out of the cup! That sucker really grips. The cup is a very thick washer with a countersink for a screw - bore a hole for the cup, screw it in place, and pop the magnet in place. The cup is only about 1/16" greater dia than the magnet, and that much deeper. I actually had to remove the strike to disable the magnet. They are much stronger than the mag catches available at the hardware store, and very unobtrusive.

1. 
   bill_burns | Jul 07, 2001 04:09am | #4

   *i did this using a sash lock from a double hung window. just flip the lock and it folds away. i think it cost about 3 bucks.

1. 
   Mike_Maines_ | Jul 11, 2001 12:51am | #5

   *Jeff, to get fancy you could make the "holders" out of some 1x2, notched into a U-shape, and make the bar out of some more 1x2 with a knob on one end. Just make sure it all goes on the outside of the door swing! Glad to help--Mike

2. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jul 14, 2001 09:17pm | #6

   *Door went in today. Used no-mortise hinges....just like already on the bi-fold....to swing it. Figured that was the easiest way to deal with an 1 1/8 thick door. Used a brass slide bolt across the center rail. The door is full louvered in case ya care. Had to dado the slide in....to fit across the stile. On other door, plowed a groove to recieve the slide/catch. A ball catch was used to keep it shut when in full door mode. I removed the existing strike plate, and put the ball catch into the door jamb. The door itself is too thin to accept the catch, so the door edge got the ball catch plate. Existing jamb was a wide split jamb, so I took off the door stop......moved it in farther.....remember, the door's only 1 1/8th.....and just caught the edge of the split jamb gap. Could have used 3/16 more.....but the stop is pretty much for looks....the ball catch does all the work. After the stop was off, I put up a 1x4 header, just tacked to the jamb, then shortened and ran the stop under that. Looks and works good. Customer knew I'd figg'er it out. Just gonna use the brass slide as the exterior handle, and will have to get a tiny brass pull for the interior. She didn't like the dummy knobs I'd picked, and the interior would have kept it from folding back on itself as tight as it does now. Still can't be folded completely.....it binds on the interior door casing if folded tight. Gotta open it a few small inches......then sits back there real nice. Thanks for the help, Jeff

3. 
   George_Roberts | Jul 14, 2001 10:45pm | #7

   *I think you want to use the magnets to hold the door closed.If that is the case, don't do it.I simply glue a block of wood on the edge of the door (either at the center or top/bottom). Then I adjust the hinge location so the closing the door is like using a toggle clamp. The door locks in position.This also works on pairs of doors.

4. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jul 15, 2001 04:58am | #8

   *george, the magnet idea was to hold the doors as a 30" unit when needed, but allow it to be folded back onto itself for most of the time. I used the slide bolt instead of mag's.......but I can't picture how your wood block/toggle clamp deal would work. Can you explain it again? Who knows when I'll have to do something similar in the future! Thanks, Jeff...does the block method allow the bifold to still be folded?

5. 
   Mike_Maines_ | Jul 16, 2001 01:49pm | #9

   *I think George is saying he adjusts the door so it closes with a spring fit. I'd rather use the hardware that comes with the door, myself. Glad it worked out for ya Jeff. Where's my cut?Mike

6. 
   bill_burns | Jul 20, 2001 02:25pm | #10

   *If you want a flush fit on the small brass knob on the back side, consider using a pullring type like those used on boat hatches.

7. 
   Art_B | Jul 20, 2001 03:15pm | #11

   *REM cute tricks: Drop a REM onto a copper plate (flat), it kinda just floats down. The bigger the magnet the better the effect. Have a silver bar and NeFe magnet that is used to demonstrate this to show eddy currents. 45 deg slant on bar and magnet slides down like it is stuck in axle grease.

8. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jul 21, 2001 06:31am | #12

   *Good Idea! Jeff

9. 
   mitchell | Jul 23, 2001 10:42pm | #13

   *Lee Valley (Canadian Woodworking supply house http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=40071&category=1,42363,42346&ccurrency=1&SID=) has lots of rare earth magnets as well as cups etc.Their catalog gives "power rates", but I couldn't find it on the website. From the catalog as follows:Size (") Magnetic Strength (lb).25 x .1 2.5.375 x .1 5.5 x .125 9.75 x .125 221.0 x .125 30Mag power increases by a factor of 4 using cups.To ensure the mags come out of the cup, file a slot in the side first to pry it out.I use these things for lots of nifty applications with success.Hope this helps others.Mitch

2. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jul 23, 2001 10:42pm | #14

   *
   I've seen rare earth magnets in some woodworking catalogs......so....I have a customer that wants a bi-fold door installed.....hinged on the side....to sit folded against the bath wall.....so (while folded) it blocks only half the towel rod(as opposed to the regular door that's there now that blocks the whole rod).....for 95% of the time.......and still kinda function as a door....when unfolded.....in the rare 5% of the time that's needed.
   Hanging the bi-fold with side hinges seems the easy part......keeping the bi-fold operating as a single panel door when need be seems the hard part. So....I'm thinking those rare earth magnets......bored into the door edges.....strong anout to stick it together...if perfecty balanced/hung.....yet able to "release" with a simple push and allow the door to fold!
   So.....any idea what size magnets I should order? I'm thinking three pair along the edge......
   .....just a simple bi-fold with out the track! Jeff