Info on making doors and windows

[DigitalM]

I want to learn to make doors, and maybe windows for my Victorian house. The current doors are a warped mess of old letter box and cat flap infills. I've bought a couple of books on amazon on the subject and while they're both nicely put together, they both ended up being more about design options than construction – the construction stuff was really glossed over.

Can anyone recommend anything (books, videos, DVDs - whatever) that they personally found useful on the subject?

I also interested in what peoples 'go to' references are on the subject.

 

[PAC1]

Modern Practical Joinery by George Ellis is my go to book on all things Joinery wise

 

[dzj]

Obtain an old door or two and do some reverse engineering.
Same with windows.

 

[DigitalM]

Modern Practical Joinery by George Ellis is my go to book on all things Joinery wise

Thanks PAC1.

Crikey you have to be careful with old books these days. The first version of this I found on amazon was (on research) a scanned copy of the text, converted using OCR (optical character recognition) and without any illustrations. I presume that old works, once out of copyright, are being routinely scanned and dumped on amazon as print to order junk.

Fortunately, they've got older versions with "Look Inside" preview, so I could see what it was you were actually referring to! Well, it's £12, and probably the same construction methods used to make my old doors, so I'll probably grab a copy.

Do you mind my asking what it is you particularly like about this one?

 

[DigitalM]

Obtain an old door or two and do some reverse engineering.
Same with windows.

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea, I'll have to look for dumpster diving opportunities.

 

[RobinBHM]

Go to the general woodworking section on the board index on this forum and have a look at the sticky on making a casement window.

Somewhere there is also a thread about making a set of bifold doors made in iroko where the door leafs are made by laminating 3 layers together instead of making m and t joints -if you dont have the machinery for joinery it may be a useful, albeit unorthodox construction method.

Door frames and even window frames can be made by screwing together square section timber and planting on a bead to make the rebate.

There is a lot involved to create a lockable and draught sealed window and door, so expect quite a bit of research!

 

[Jacob]

Obtain an old door or two and do some reverse engineering.
Same with windows.

Yep best way to learn. You will find everything different from what it says in the books. Do some repairs too, you could always put in a cheapo temporary door or a sheet of perspex. Modern stuff is another ball game altogether, if thats the way you are going.

Linseed oil paint is the only one to use on old and new work. - Holkham Hall, Allback, Oricalcum etc.

 

[AndyT]

Assuming you are not a professional with a spindle moulder and a mortiser, you need old books which describe hand techniques.

There are two excellent old handbooks from the early 20th century, one on doors and one on windows, recently reprinted by Lost Art Press in one volume. In the UK you can get it from Classic Hand Tools.

A similar book to Ellis is Cassells Carpentry and Joinery, edited by Paul Hasluck. This can be read online or downliaded from archive.org for free.

 

[richarnold]

Door making and window making by lost art press. This is available from classic hand tools. This is a no nonsense book writen by an anonymous victorian joiner, and unlike Ellis, it deals with the very basics. Can't recommend it enough

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Just to endorse Richard's suggestion - the book has something of a remarkable history. Richard, on starting his apprenticeship, was given a toolchest and tools that had belonged to his grandfather. The two booklets were in that chest. Richard says he found them so useful, he recommended them to other craftsmen, but could never find second hand copies. Thus, he was delighted when Chris Schwarz agreed to republish them.

The book is available here - https://www.classichandtools.com/acatal ... Press.html - and scroll down. It may seem pricy, but it's pure, unadulterated wisdom on the subject. It really is a superb little treasure-trove of practical knowledge.

 

[pollys13]

As Robin says,
" Go to the general woodworking section on the board index on this forum and have a look at the sticky on making a casement window.
There is a lot involved to create a lockable and draught sealed window and door, so expect quite a bit of research! "

There is a lot of information, advice on the forum, search the topics, threads.
If you have no other woodworking interests or aspirations. It would be a load cheaper, less of your time tied up, learning curves etc. To buy some Wickes pine doors, stain them to suit your taste and have them fitted.

 

[DigitalM]

If you have no other woodworking interests or aspirations. It would be a load cheaper, less of your time tied up, learning curves etc. To buy some Wickes pine doors, stain them to suit your taste and have them fitted.

I know a lot of hobbyist woodworkers make side tables and jewellery boxes, but I need a door and consider it a challenge as good as any other, and probably just as interesting. I'm also looking forward to seeing the wife's face when she gets a door for her birthday.

 

[pollys13]

OK go for it

 

[DigitalM]

The book is available here - https://www.classichandtools.com/acatal ... Press.html - and scroll down. It may seem pricy, but it's pure, unadulterated wisdom on the subject. It really is a superb little treasure-trove of practical knowledge.

Ordered, TYVM

 

[DigitalM]

http://www.classichandtools.com/

OMG that's a dangerous site to be on

 

[Cheshirechappie]

http://www.classichandtools.com/

OMG that's a dangerous site to be on

Just a bit! I have to adopt 'short arm long pocket' mode whenever I refer to it!

 

[DigitalM]

Thanks for the recommendations

 

[richarnold]

With those two on your book shelf. You will have just about any traditional joinery job covered!
Now for the fun bit, putting it all into practice at the bench. I predict you will have much fun and enjoyment.

 

[Mike Jordan]

A Manual of Carpentry and Joinery by J W Riley.
I regard I it as the best reference work, and it's free on line as its out of copyright.
Mike.

 

[DigitalM]

A Manual of Carpentry and Joinery by J W Riley.
I regard I it as the best reference work, and it's free on line as its out of copyright.
Mike.

Once you're past the first fifteen thousand pages on technical drawing, it's another classic. Thanks for this