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I have a beveled oval door-glass that is in an old door that was my mother-in-laws. I want my husband to build me an oak door to put it in and use as an entrance to our house. He doesn’t know how, if there are any special considerations or conditions? Does anyone know how to do this, and where we can find plans and instructions? Thanks! Terril56
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Keep watching those home shows on cable, I'm sure they'll get to that soon.
*Terri there are some informative books written on exterior door construction. the taunton press has one and i know an article writtne in fww that explains how to build one. I 'd say stay away from the hd and go to a local hardwood store. they tend to carry some books on the subj. austin hardwood and hardware comany in santa ana calif. has some and i think if you go to amazon.com you will find some. I think it great that you are helping and encouraging your husband keep it up
*Some examples, as door building is one of my hobbies. The request for advise may be a put on, but maybe not. Some of us were once poor and also had to start at the very basics, such as building furniture from crates. I'll treat it as such, as this is somewhat of an autobiography of building doors. A. Skill level: ambitious 12 year old can do this with low risk. Early door, 1950's, simple but functional, net value Mat'ls: 2 sheets of plywood and 30 feet of 1x4, glue, screws, window moulding --- cost $5 up depending on plywood if not recycled. Can look relatively nice if good hardwood plywood used.Tools: Hand saw, plane, chisel, hammer, brace and 2 bits, nail set or screwdriver, coping saw if oval window. B. Skill level: decades of practice and numerous stitches while learning, most lucky to have all fingers. Later doors, 1990's, net value >$1K: Salvage 12 ft 3X4 oak from pallets or buy hardwood as desired, select clear ones, run thru 15" planer after checking for nails if salvaged. Mortice and tenon stile frame with appropriate tools to desired degree of complexity and mill for panels made from other purchased or slavaged resawn oak, with space for appropriate beveled or stained glass. Carve stiles and panels as desired. Leave in living room near heat vent for 2 months or in kiln for a week to dry good, double check for straighness. Assemble with epoxy glue and clamps. CNC Drill, route for hinges and lockset. Finish to suit, lots of options for the weather. Get 2 friends to help mount it to the frame. Material cost = finish and glue, fasteners $15; all else can be recycled, even glass and came. Tools: Unlimited access to major shop, >$10k in tools.PS: Latin quote for fun:Begun by me alone in ten late nights, wife nevertheless delivered all the door in fifteen days. This from a ribald quote from Proculus by Gibbons: (took the liberty of adding one word and using "spin" on a web translator)Please take this in good humor as to what a web translator can do - Gibbons didn't even try to translate in his text. Original is: "Ex his una nocte decem inivi; omnes tamen, quod in me erat, mulieres [portae] intra dies quindecim reddidi."
*"Doormaking - A do-it yourself guide" by John Birchard, Sterling Publishing - best book on this subject I've seen. He writes very clearly and gives a real good overview on joinery, various styles and just plain common sense advice. He used to write for FHB. "Building Doors and Entryways" by Craig Weis, Sterling - more glitz, less grit than Birchard's book, but well worth reading."Handcrafted Doors & Windows" by Amy Rowland, Rodale Press - again, many color photos of beautiful doors, very inspirational, but short on technical information.I'd hate to be without any of them.
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I have a beveled oval door-glass that is in an old door that was my mother-in-laws. I want my husband to build me an oak door to put it in and use as an entrance to our house. He doesn't know how, if there are any special considerations or conditions? Does anyone know how to do this, and where we can find plans and instructions? Thanks! Terril56