Create a New Locking Point for Garage Door

[soonerbrink]

My garage door (like most I believe) has a slot in the rail where the bar latches through when closed to keep it locked.

I want to try and create another lock point several inches higher, so I can latch my door closed several inches off the ground to allow air to flow in during the evening.

Any suggestions on how to cut through the rail that the rollers are in?

 

[larry_g]

Chain drill a series of holes and then file smooth. OR Screw a short length of chain, with a clasp on it, to the door and put an eye screw in the wall near?


lg
no neat sig line

 

[nehog]

I'd use my Dremel with a fiber disk to open the area between two drilled holes.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Don't forget that leaving it open by a few inches also makes it really easy for critters to move in.

 

[The Cobbler]

add a latch to the door lower and use that to latch to the track.

 

[upndown]

Don't forget that leaving it open by a few inches also makes it really easy for critters to move in.

In my area, that would be Rattle Snakes. Scorpions, Pack Rats and two legged vermin.

 

[brownbagg]

i welded a 1/2 pipe on bottom of door and a piece of angle with hole on the frame, i stick a bolt through pipe into angle. the pipe is only three inches long so its like a slide bolt

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

Don't forget about skunks.

 

[914wilhelm]

Weld up a frame six inches tall x the width of the door. Cover this with screen and hinge it to the bottom of the door. In use, it flips down to keep critter out. Not in use, it hinges back and up out of the way

 

[pmiranda]

Don't forget that leaving it open by a few inches also makes it really easy for critters to move in.

This.

Had some critter get in my garage before I closed the door one evening and it jumped up on some shelving. In the morning the noise of the door opening scared it into knocking some stuff off onto my wife's convertible. Luckily it landed on the soft top so no paint damaged.

Also, it makes it real easy for somebody to put a floor jack under there and lift right through the cheap stamped-metal lock that's standard on most garage doors.

 

[Bobby Cole]

Raccoon flow would be much improved.

 

[yhprum]

I used vice grips clamped on the track to keep it form being opened more than it was.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I used vice grips clamped on the track to keep it form being opened more than it was.

This is exactly what I do!

I like to work in the garage sometimes with the door open just a bit to let in fresh air, but don't want the door open all the way.

It's easy, its fast, it allows the door to be opened up a lot or a little, and most of all it's cheap!

Jim