I recently toured a house built in 1870 in upstate New York. It has 12′ high doors, 4+” thick, with half inch “veneer”. Though a few of them have cracks, they still close flush with their jams. I was told that they have never been repaired nor refinished. Most of these massive doors are hung on only two hinges. They really impressed me.
So now I want to know how those guys built those doors.
Does anyone know of a book(s) that describe how 19th century woodworkers built and finished their doors ?
Tom
Replies
Tom,
I am not the one to answer your question. Maybe Adam Cherubini. He is the most well known historian around here.
I was wondering however. You seem to be taken with the idea of the four in thick doors with 1/2 inch veneers. If 4" is good, wouldn't 8" thick be twice as good? Better insulation too. If two hinges is good, why not go to a single hinge. A single piano hinge would work, for example.
My questions are only meant to probe your mind to see where it seems to be going and why. Please don't take offense. My questions veer toward the philosophical, but if you think about them, they are no more or less valid than your questions. They just go a bit farther.
Have fun.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
The only book in print on the subject is Modern Practical Joinery By George Ellis - from 1905 or thereabouts it will tell you everything you want to know on the subject.
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com
Alan and Gill Bridgewater have written a good book on building doors and gates in traditional English styles, and such were probably the methods used in early American work. The book is entertaining as well as technically informative.
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