FlyinFish Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Finally made something nice enough to display in the open. We've needed a new screen door for a while since I tore the old crappy metal one off and threw it out. With record summer temps in WA, it was much needed. I used 1x CVG fir, and was thankfully able to find it without the edges rounded off! Using 3/4" stock made it hard to find knob/latch hardware, but it's what matched the trim and I eventually found some awesome quality hardware. I used lap joints and mortise and tenon for the dividing bottom rails. My first time chopping mortises by hand. Not too bad. I wanted the screens to be easily replaceable, so I cut a 1/4" deep rabbet and stapled the screen to the removable frames. The wife said she wanted bronze screening, so I shelled out a couple hundred bucks for 50 ft of the stuff. My dad told me I could re-screen the entire block with all that. I said it gives me an excuse to make some old style wood window screens. Finished with General Finishes Outdoor Oil. Very pleasant stuff to apply and it's the perfect finish. The finished product, just in time for 80+ degree weather. Made the little twist latches myself out of scrap. Old style metal ones are actually pretty pricey and don't actually look that great. I got the hardware from screendoors.com. Not sure who makes it but it is very, very nice quality stuff. At just over a $100, it better be, but I bought a $30 option and cursed my way back to the store for a refund. Remnants of the old screen door makes this pretty hardware seem out of place. Then there's the hinges. I searched for a while, and even quality spring hinges were not that impressive and very pricey. Then I found these on eBay and I was blown away by their simplicity and awesomeness. Decades old and they still work perfect, not a single squeak, and smooth as butter. Note that you can unlatch them for removal in the winter without unscrewing the screws. So much "they don't make them like they used to" in these hinges. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Wow! That's a beautiful door, and really cool hardware. No squeaks would just seem wrong for a screen door around here, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Snazzy. Great looking door. - Rick M, sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Super looking door! Another item on my "honey do" list! Where in WA are you? I'm up in the Northwest corner.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Fantastic job. Screen doors are cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Damn nice job. Should last a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Nice work! I've said is a million times, but CVG fir is my favorite species. Looks absolutely fantastic! The hardware is a nice finish touch. It might have been pricey but it will give you a lifetime of service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Fantastic work man, looks great! she wanted bronze screening, so I shelled out a couple hundred bucks for 50 ft of the stuff. Wow! Had no idea that stuff was so expensive. But big kudos to you for doing it RIGHT! Awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFish Posted June 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Thanks guys! Next up is one for the back door. Mike - I love the look of fir myself. It's a bit tough to work with such a soft wood, tear outs and dings and dents, but the grain lines are gorgeous. Do you have a favorite stain color for fir? I always want to give it a bit more red/orange, but I also just want to keep the natural color and not go too far. TIODS - I'm in Seattle proper. Got the wood from Crosscut, FYI. I love that place. It seems like it's super fancy and may be expensive, but certain things are very well priced. This was top quality fir with straight edges for a bit less than anywhere else in town. Hard to beat. Also, the screws were from Tacoma Screw. If they don't have something in stock, they can have it for you usually next day for pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Mike - I love the look of fir myself. It's a bit tough to work with such a soft wood, tear outs and dings and dents, but the grain lines are gorgeous. Do you have a favorite stain color for fir? I always want to give it a bit more red/orange, but I also just want to keep the natural color and not go too far. I used amber shellac last time around. It gives the wood a nice, even tone that ages well without obscuring the grain. Obviously shellac is not good outside - I think the outdoor oil was a good call. You can easily refresh it every couple years as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 We have friends that inherited an old farm house and they restored it for a country home. It has an old screen door, that they restored as well, that squeaked when you opened it. Sounded like our old doors back home and that loved that squeak. They let another couple borrow it one weekend and when they took the key back, the guy bragged that he fixed that "damn squeak" for them. The next weekend, they went up and soaked the hinges in water to form a little rust to get the squeak back! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 My mother still ("you do woodworking so...") wants me to make her a screen door and your design looks good. Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Very nice. Brings me memories. My first woodworking project ever was a screen window, still in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banderson Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Great looking door. The hardware really accents the color and the beauty of the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodhunter31 Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 I'd like to point out the hinges. Very sophisticated looking, and if they're so great in use as you described I'm totally enchanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Biermacher Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Very, very nice. With all that screen I would consider doing a pie safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFish Posted July 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 That is a fantasic idea. The wife is big on making pies and I'm big on eating them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Nice job. Looks really good. I'm wondering if it would be possible to make a replacement sliding screen door? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Looks awesome. Pardon my noob-ness. What type of wood is it? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Grandpa Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Beautiful! Well Done! Take a bow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Great looking door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snibley Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Very nice door and hardware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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