Replies

1. 
   Jim_Walters | Jan 30, 2001 02:58pm | #1

   *
   If you have the skill, and the tools, just copy the old ones. If you can't figure out how to do that, you may be going in over your head. Books have a way of leaving out things that are really important, if you lack the skills.

1. 
   Don_Papenburg | Jan 30, 2001 03:46pm | #2

   *Jim has good advice there , tear one of the old ones apart and use it as a guide. Use stable and rot resistant wood . Don

1. 
   bobl_ | Jan 30, 2001 06:57pm | #3

   *The latest issue (just out to subscribers) has a reference to an old FHB on the subject, check the what FHB ment to me article.

1. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Jan 31, 2001 01:21am | #4

   *Shouldn't be hard at all. Just dado grooves for the parting stops. And more shallow dados for the exterior stop. How ya palnning to balance then. Plenty of old sash weights laying around, but I bet hard to locate. Jeff

1. 
   John_Sprung | Feb 01, 2001 10:38pm | #5

   *Check out http://www.bbmc.com, Boston building materials co-op. Haven't done business with them myself, but they do specialize in training and supplies for rehabilitating double hungs. The tough thing with double hungs is getting weather stripping that's tight enough to stop wind driven rain without being so tight that you can't move the sash without a bottle jack. ;-) That's why I prefer casement -- you can close them with cam latches that put more pressure on the weather stripping than is possible with any kind of sliding design.-- J.S.

2. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Feb 02, 2001 03:37am | #6

   *I agree with John Sprung about casement and awning windows. If you are gonna build your own, they are much easier to make weathertight. Whitco hinges are a Godsend for that type window. But if you want to replace some double hung sash the single best manual I've seen for that is "Ed Knox' Window Book". It's a self published manual for repairing and building many types of windows written by a guy who spent his life doing it. No glitz, but lots of grit. I love it. I got my copy from Builder's Booksource in Berkly, CA. "Windows & Skylights" by Taunton is a real good reference too. It's a compillation book of articles that appeared in FHB back in the good old days when they ran more of that kind of thing. Particularly, there is one article that begins on page 26 "Making Window Sash" by John Leeke, that was the cover article for issue 18. He goes into great detail about making the type sash you are talking about, including router set ups and grinding custom bits. It's one of the best articles they ever published.

3. 
   John_Gudmundson | Feb 02, 2001 07:54am | #7

   *Jeff, you asked about the sash weights. Since we moved in here acouple of years ago I've been digging them up in the garden everyonce in a while... Once I have enough, I'll go ahead with the job!

2. 
   John_Gudmundson | Feb 02, 2001 07:54am | #8

   *
   I have been tossing around the idea of building my own double hung
   sash windows to restore the damaged and aluminum insert-altered
   original ones in my old house. My searches of the Net result only
   in hits on companies selling the latest and greatest in high tech
   versions of this classic. What I'd like to get my hands on is some
   plans or a howto book for those like me who think they are up to the
   challenge.

   What do people think? Is it unreasonable to want to replicate what
   this house used to have (adding double glass and decent weatherstripping)?
   Are there books or resources out there?

   Feedback appreciated!

   John