help needed!! ledged and braced battened door

Wood working questions and answers in here please

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busted thumbs
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help needed!! ledged and braced battened door

Post by busted thumbs »

hi there, just came across this forum and think it is great. i have a query that i hope someone can give me advice on. i have an alleyway/entry at the side of the house that i closed in with ledged and braced battened door, and when i close it, the top corner of the closing side sits out from the frame, whilst the bottom of the door closes flush. is it possible that there could be a twist in the door, and if so, how has this happened ( i also made the door myself from t+g matchboard so maybe the twist was put in by myself unknowingly) or is the frame not fitted properly. i understand from advice of a joiner friend that you are supposed to line the two sides of the door frame up, but because of the entry being attaced to the house i was unable to do this as the house wall was in the way. if it is the frame, how do you line it up when in this situation. i can rectify the problem by fitting a sliding bar at the top where it sits out, so that it pulls the door tight with frame, but i would like to know where i went wrong!! cheers
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Teabag
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Post by Teabag »

hi welcome to the forum,
to check your frame pin/staple a length of thin string from top left to bottom right so its tight,
(string must be against the wood frame, no good just tieing string to a nail)
then pin another piece from top right and hold the other end to the bottom left of the frame making a cross in the opening this will show any twist, the string should be touching but not forcing against each other, any gap or forcing against each other, where they cross, will mean twist in that direction.

you could use the same method on the door its self with a single piece of string. same effect will happen, but this time the door will be showing any error for twist. either by having a gap across the diagonal.. If it doesnt show any gap in either direction on the door, ybut you cant check on the othe side of the door due to its covering then remove the door, use blocks all the same thickness at each corner on the door, use 2 strings and check the same as the frame method.

how has the twist happened? well soft wood isnt seasoned, from memory,
during the kiln drying process or if its presure treated timber I cant recall which, it can be whats known as case hardend, and will twist and bow in climate change if its not treated once cut,

when you cut the timber, did you seal the end grain? this is the first thing that draws in moisture like a sponge, then the wood will do what it wants...
but this is just one possibility for explaination.

hope this helps
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busted thumbs
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Post by busted thumbs »

hi teabag

thanks for the reply!! i didnt seal the end grain of the t+g boards when making the gate, but thanks alot for the advice on checking the frame with string!

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Post by Teabag »

Your :welcome: saw all the views you had with noi response, sorry for the long read but put crossed stings across the frame wouldnt quite have explained it for some people. better to make it so anyone who reads it hopfully understands the principle :thumbright:
If you can't convince'm with arguments,
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