Anyone built barn door hinges?

[smiley]

The camera angle makes things look crooked, but they're not, I checked after looking at the photo. These strap hinges were off an old barn door so I can't claim credit for actually making them. I just reworked them to fancy them up a bit, by beating the rounded ends on and hammered the straps to give them a hand forged look. We handmade the door itself including cutting the logs and sawing the lumber (for the whole house). The window was out of a 100 year old church in Montreal and the Iris leaded glass center was made for us by my late brother in law. It's been working good for 35 years and I expect will be good for another 1000 or more.

 

[travis potter]

My work is on steel doors and frames on comercial blds and schools. When I built my work shop this year I used regular 4 1/2 in hinges on my 5 x 11 doors 2 x2 tubing for the frame 5 hinges per door. the doors seal better than sliding doors to keep the critters out. When I learn how I will post pic of the shop and doors.

 

[rtimgray]

I've built several doors that size or larger (up to about 12' tall) using 2x6s for the frame with metal sheathing and have just used 3 or 4 large T-hinges. I've always used the right sized wood screw (usually like 4 or 5 #12s in each part of the hinge) and I've never had a problem with the doors.

I did have a latch get torn off and the wind got one door and ripped it off once, but it pulled the hinge screws out of the post. Luckily didn't damage stuff too much, but it was a pain to put back up.

Good luck and take care.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Years ago, we built a shop and the owner wanted a 16' opening on the front with two 8' swinging doors. We built them like you are thinking - 2x6 framing, sheathed front and back with solid insulation in them. We built the hinges using DOM for the barrels and solid pins, 4" x 48" straps . We capped both ends of the DOM to prevent water from getting in, but they were still stiff. Just before we were about to scrap them and come up with a different design, I said "what if we add a zerk fitting on the top and bottom of each barrel. Worked like a charm.

 

[doramide7]

make hanging-rolling doors. much easier and will last forever

(TSC has tracks and hangers)

of course they don't fold back so may be in the way.....

Lots of ways around the problem -- make them roller as previously suggested, use gate hinges, use four large strap hinges per door (11 to 13 inches). For a six by eight door, any of those methods should support the weight unless you sheath it in lead
I used the uprights from a gate hinge drilled through posts on the barn side and carriage bolted 1/4 plate strips with the ends made into circles for the door side on some old barn doors that are 10 by 14 made out of 5/4 rough sawn pine -- they work fine


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[Justinbrt]

Check Craigslist. They often have antique hinges for sale from barns that were torn down or refurbished. You can also buy new if you want. Make sure the barn door hinges are rated for what you need them for. Better to get heavier duty hinges than what you need.

 

[orezok]

Check with your local welding or steel supplier. Most have heavy duty gate hinges in stock and generally cheaper than box stores.

 

[Ed of all trades]

If you decide to go to the local library and check out the blacksmith books, many have hinges in them.