sash cord replacement springs
There was a message from Andy Clifford posted in the summer Houses issue of FH in which he mentioned “simple metal spring devices” that hold up old windows, replacing sash cords and weights. Does anybody know where I can find those? I saw them in a catalog I had saved for this project, but I lost the catalog.
Replies
yeah, what are those called? They're pretty common, they often have them at the drugstore in the "hardware" (candles and eyehooks) section. If you can't find them, you could make them from any thin tempered steel (spatula, saw blade). It's basically just a 4" strip, bent like a little kid draws a bird,. I think they have a couple of holes punched through the "valley" to dig into the wood a little .
I'm not sure those are the same as what foursquare is thinking of. There a spring sash balances that replace the sash cord, pulley, and weights. Basically it is a tension wound piece of metal "tape" that goes in in place of the pulley, allowing the sash weight pocket to be filled with insullation. Check the Old House Journal for suppliers.
Bryan, for the metal tape springs go to http://www.pullmanmfg.com/Mike K
Amateur Home Remodeler in Aurora, Illinois
Thanks for the input. I looked at that site and that would be good if I had old window frames and the sash cords broke. What I have done is built an addition on my old house. To match up the windows, I went to a salvage yard and found old sashes that were the same as on the old part of my house. I then built simple frames to hold them, not allowing for any weights, as I had planned to nail these springs into the space between the sashes and the frames. From what I recall, they were an L-shaped piece of spring steel (the long leg of the L was actually more like a C to apply tension to the side of the sash) that you slipped in from the top sides of the lower sash and nailed it or screwed it to the tops of the sashes.Has anybody seen these?
Yeah, that's the one. They have them at most Ace Hardware's around here, and even at Wallgreen's (drugstore). I'm sure you could find them with three phonecalls. But while we're on the subject, those things are far from smooth - If you're finishing a home built window, the ones Mark is talking about are going to be way nicer to use, and you can install them in minutes with a drill and a chisel. Get the right ones for your window's size (weight), and they will replicate the balance and feel of a counterweight. The other ones are just scrapers -sort of a landlord fix.