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Discussion Forum

Pocket hardware

Sailfish | Posted in General Discussion on November 9, 2007 06:54am

I am looking for some pocket door locks/handsets that are out of the standard realm.

I have 1 3/4″ doors, and the standard, small locksets just are not quite what I was looking for.

 

I found these http://www.pocket-door-hardware.com/locks.html

however , they are VERY pricey.

Anyone know of another company or website that may have something (doesn’t have to be exactly like the above) “heavier” in appearance and functionality yet isn’t $180 +?

 

—————————————————————————–

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it”

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Replies

  1. TomT226 | Nov 09, 2007 08:41pm | #1

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

    Or try http://www.woodworkershardware.com

     

     

     

    1. etherhuffer | Nov 09, 2007 10:44pm | #2

      I used this set. It was 150 bucks two years ago. Prices are skyrocketing.

      http://www.door-locks.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=5982

      If I had to do it again, and I didn't need a privacy lock, I would get a pair of super strong magnets and bore for them down low and use a simple pull up top. http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

      1. TomT226 | Nov 10, 2007 03:17am | #3

        You know, all these fancy locks for pocket doors are BS.  What's the matter with just closing it? A PD door stays open or closed unless you really fudged up the install.  If it's a bath, closed means don't come in.  I didn't put any on mine, and it works fine.

        'Course I do look good nekkid.... 

        1. Dave45 | Nov 10, 2007 03:49am | #4

          My sentiments too, Tom (except for the nekkid part - lol)

          Pocket doors aren't really used in places where they need to be latched or locked.  If you gotta do that, you really need a better type of door.

          I have pocket doors in both of my bathrooms (between the vanity area and the shower/tub area) and actually had to look pretty hard to find the hardware that didn't have a latch.  The rule around here is that a closed pocket door is only opened by the person who closed it.

          1. User avater
            Sailfish | Nov 10, 2007 04:35pm | #6

            Pocket doors aren't really used in places where they need to be latched or locked.  If you gotta do that, you really need a better type of door.

            Thats a matter of opinion isn't it?

            We installed pocket doors in our master bedroom #2 and our office (we work out of the house)

            These are all heavy, solid doors. They require (IMHO) better hardware than the $12.97 stuff someone picks up at the big box. However, boy $150 + is just ALOT of money

             

            Thanks for your input though, it's always interesting to hear others thoughts.

             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

            "If you come to a fork in the road, take it"

          2. Piffin | Nov 10, 2007 06:13pm | #7

            That will work for a privacy lock on a guest bedroom just fine but there is no security lock for an office you are trying to seccure finances etc. A pocket door latch is easy to pick or to jimmy. I could have thaat one open in a couple minutes.The price on what you show is actually quite good for what it is. Appears to be a better latch mechanism than the Baldwin for a lower price.But I agree with the others, if you want real security, there is a need for a hinge door.BTW, I think I need to get the same mirror that Tom has;) 

             

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

  2. oldbeachbum | Nov 10, 2007 04:24am | #5

    When I saw the thread title I was thinking something KINKY.   Darn !    :0(

    ...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it.  -Mark Twain...

    Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.

    ...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!

  3. ruffmike | Nov 10, 2007 06:19pm | #8

    I am working at a place now with pocket doors and the privacy ones have a little lever on the end of the door that rolls out to keep the door from opening. I believe the hardware is unique, perhaps custom. There are no latches at the handle. I'll take a pic today

                                Mike

        Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.

  4. saulgood | Nov 11, 2007 10:01pm | #9

    I know this isn't what you asked, but I have another vote for no latch.

    When I remodled my bathroom, I wanted to change from a swinging door to PD but I didn't like the cheap look, feel and action of a typical set up.

    My solution was to use the existing paneled door that came with the house, buy the best track/roller hardware I could find, trim the openings as close as possible, and replace the standard "guide wedges" that rub on the sides of the door with a hand made brass pin on the floor that runs in a narrow slot cut into the bottom edge of the door.

    Since I find most PD pull/latch hardware inherently too cheesey for daily use, I decided to leave it off. When it's open, the door edge sits just proud of the split jamb and looks like part of the doorway. To get the door out you have to push it in slightly so it can bounce off a rigid spring I installed in the end of the pocket (I think it came from a car hood mechanism).

    The result is an attractive door which closes with a heavy yet smooth feel using a small brass finger pull on the inside stile of the door. The outside has no hardware at all, which helps to discourage people from thoughtlessly opening the door from the outside in case they don't realize that it's a bathroom.

  5. Lansdown | Nov 11, 2007 10:20pm | #10

    The Baldwin 8500 series is rather stout but pricey, Emtek is cheaper but flimsier. Though I too would not recommend a lock for a PD door either.

    1. Piffin | Nov 11, 2007 11:01pm | #11

      I had a client list a latching/locking mechanism for the pocket doors in a renovation several years ago. I told him to have his architect spec it. The arcchy was a good one with a lot of background in interior design also. He speced the Baldwin.When the job was done, that mechanism was the only complaint in the whole house, "This was the best you could do????"They were not impressed, but I think that one comes under the heading of managing customer expectations, because it turned out they were imagining some kind of leverhandle three point hardware that would throw pins top and bottom but where the handle would magicly cease to exist when you opennned the door into the pocket 

       

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

    2. User avater
      Sailfish | Nov 12, 2007 05:26pm | #14

      thanks.

       

      the "lock" isn't to protect anything of value......well other than potential embarrasment maybe.

       

      With the kids and the home office, occassionally we can't have an unexpected pop-in, say when we are on a conference call.

      And the bedroom, well you can guess there too ;) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      "If you come to a fork in the road, take it"

      1. Lansdown | Nov 12, 2007 05:42pm | #15

        Sailfish,I adjusted a friends lock in the Bahamas last week and it was the Baldwin type I mentioned, was impressed with it's construction. It was in a corridor and my friend said it was useful since it kept her daughter from going down that corridor. The only problem is that pocket doors tend to drop after a while unless the top carriage assembly has an effective lock nut on it, and then the latch did not catch properly. So in your application, I can understand your desire for a latch, but you are probably better to fork out the dollars for a decent one. I cheaped out on Johnson hardware on my pockets and now have to rip them out and replace with Hafele, cause anytime anyone opens the door to fast, the top carriage pops off when it hits the stop. grrrr.

        1. Piffin | Nov 14, 2007 05:36am | #16

          There is something wrong with the installation there, not the hardware. I have installed over a hundred Johnson pockets and still see them regularly. None of the problems you describe there.Not argueing against Hafelle, but it will need to be installed right to get it to satisfy too. 

           

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

  6. ruffmike | Nov 12, 2007 04:46pm | #12

    Here's a pic of some hardware, don't know maker.

                                Mike

        Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.

    1. User avater
      Sailfish | Nov 12, 2007 05:23pm | #13

      that is different.

      hadn't see one like that yet.

      thanks

       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      "If you come to a fork in the road, take it"

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