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Sliding Shop Doors

jkesselr

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
382
Hey guys:

I am looking for ways to secure sliding shop doors. I have looked all over Google, but I keep getting hits for residential sliding glass doors and for garage doors (the traditional roll-up type). The doors I have slide on the outside of the building. I am looking for any tips or tricks to keep honest people honest. Lord knows, if they want it, they will find a way to get it, I just hope I can get some suggestions for latch mechanisms or something that will help keep the bad guys out.

Thanks in advance!
 
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matt_i

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Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,726
Location
SE Michigan
You have to think of a system that's simple enough, but requires time. Like go find a ladder to climb up and remove a bolt, except that it requires a snap ring pliers. Make it robust enough so that hammers and prybars will have a challenge.
 

why worry

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Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
301
Couple of ways to go maybe a cane bolt on end assuming the door slides into a pocket of some sort. Another way to go would be a hook and eye. both of these methods assume you have a man door into the building someplace so these can be accessed from the inside.
 

rsanter

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Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,514
Location
visalia ca
Does it have to be able to unlock from the outside?
If you can handle it only opening from the inside then you will be better sucured. You can install a couple pins or padlocks on the inside.
For the outside I would come up with some steel trim around the top slide that will not allow someone access to loosen or unbolt something without completely removing the trim. That trim can also be done along the closing edge that will not allow someone to pry the door off as it will fit into a pocket.
On the other side you can use hooks or pins that reduce the chance someone can pry that side off. You could also do a steel plate on a hinge that flips out and padlocks to that end to reduce the ability for someone to pry it open

Bob
 
OP
J

jkesselr

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Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
382
All good ideas guys. There is a man door into the building, I am just trying to figure out ways to secure the sliders that they can't be unlocked from outside. I thought about a hook and eye, but was concerned that someone could slip something between the door and the building and unhook the hook. Maybe if I drill a hole in the hook and padlock it after the hook is in place, that will prevent it from being unhooked from the loop without removal of the padlock. Thoughts?
 

speed bump

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Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
6,317
Location
Butte Montana
Big hasp and a padlock on the inside of the door to the frame. I wouldn't over think it to much because a boot to the man door is probably going to be the first method of entry.
 

D45

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Joined
Mar 21, 2014
Messages
4,834
Location
NW INDIANA
I have a sliding "Barn door" in my garage, works well........but I rarely use it

Most of the times I just leave it all open

I can get some pics if needed
 
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lostmind

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Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
788
Location
Wellington,Ohio
Type in google search:

" images for barn door locks and latches"


Shows the type I have. Most horse barns use these.
I switched to Windows 8 , and I can't figure out why it won't cut and paste the images.
 

BikerDad

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Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
975
Location
Utah
Hey guys:

I am looking for ways to secure sliding shop doors. I have looked all over Google, but I keep getting hits for residential sliding glass doors and for garage doors (the traditional roll-up type). The doors I have slide on the outside of the building. I am looking for any tips or tricks to keep honest people honest. Lord knows, if they want it, they will find a way to get it, I just hope I can get some suggestions for latch mechanisms or something that will help keep the bad guys out.

Thanks in advance!

Look at railroad boxcars for some ideas. Probably more large sliding doors running the rails in this country than in all the stationary applications put together. Well, boxcars and airplane hangars. A lot of airplane hangars use sliding doors as well, so that may be a good place to turn for inspiration.
 

NUTTSGT

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Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,942
Location
Northern Central Ohio
Is there a lower "track" or concrete gutter the bottom of the door rides in. Does it free hang and not touch the ground so to speak like some of the older barns ?

If there is a way to prevent the door from being pulled away from the building on the outside, I think a "home fabbed" version of a barrel bolt would help. Mount the large sliding pin on the door frame so the pin slides out. On the door, drill a hole for the pin to rest in, which could be beefed up with some flat steel and round tubing fabrication. The former could be lagged into the door frame and the latter would be inset into the frame
 

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mheinz

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Joined
Apr 13, 2016
Messages
46
I have a quick question. What is the advantage to using one of these sliding barn doors over using a regular garage door? Is it cheaper or because it wouldn't take up any garage space? Im just curious. Thanks
 

NUTTSGT

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Northern Central Ohio
I have a quick question. What is the advantage to using one of these sliding barn doors over using a regular garage door? Is it cheaper or because it wouldn't take up any garage space? Im just curious. Thanks

Cheaper when you are talking a very large opening for a barn/farm equipment or storage/RV/enclosed trailer.
 

Farmall 1066

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Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
1,805
Location
Suburban Rockford, NE
Use a couple Vise-Grip welding clamps and clamp them shut on the inside.
Like the OP said, if they want in bad enough, they'll find a way, but this will buy you time.
 

kbs2244

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
As has been the real trick is to keep the door bottom from bring pulled out enough for someone to crawl inside.
If the bottom of the door is not in a track then you need into the floor rods to keep the door up tight to the wall.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Joined
Sep 24, 2013
Messages
2,398
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I tried posting links into the "insert image" box but I can't seem to load pics. But here are some links to how I did my friends sliding barn doors. The plywood covers some 1.5" SM blue styrofoam cut to fit the sheet steel door. The outside has a stop that the door slides into when closed preventing that end from being pulled outward. The first two linked pics show how that side is locked.

https://goo.gl/photos/fM4U4GRcfzZCc1kA7

https://goo.gl/photos/fs1rKyv7t5ixNmy6A

The last linked pic shows the opposite side and as it needs to slide past the wall this is how I achieved that sliding without catching on a protrusion.

https://goo.gl/photos/gm2er2shrQKUdLxf9

There is weather striping on all four sides [two sides and top and bottom].
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2013
Messages
2,398
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I tried posting links into the "insert image" box but I can't seem to load pics. But here are some links to how I did my friends sliding barn doors. The plywood covers some 1.5" SM blue styrofoam cut to fit the sheet steel door. The outside has a stop that the door slides into when closed preventing that end from being pulled outward. The first two linked pics show how that side is locked.

https://goo.gl/photos/fM4U4GRcfzZCc1kA7

https://goo.gl/photos/fs1rKyv7t5ixNmy6A

The last linked pic shows the opposite side and as it needs to slide past the wall this is how I achieved that sliding without catching on a protrusion.

https://goo.gl/photos/gm2er2shrQKUdLxf9

There is weather striping on all four sides [two sides and top and bottom].

Added some pics, front door;

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back door;



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It's been thru a winter now and he says that he's really happy. Minor frost build up but of no concern. The only thing is not allowing snow to build up outside where it slides.
 

432bullet

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
70
I use bungee cords on the hook cam locks to keep them from popping up from high winds or someone slipping a thin bar in and popping the hook up.
 

olytdi

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
2,202
Location
Olympia, Washington
Added some pics, front door;

IMG_20160604_125930703.jpg
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back door;



IMG_20160604_125545591.jpg
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IMG_20160604_125523556.jpg
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IMG_20160604_125515493.jpg
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It's been thru a winter now and he says that he's really happy. Minor frost build up but of no concern. The only thing is not allowing snow to build up outside where it slides.

The cantilever latches in the photos above is what I have on my shop sliding door (10x12) and they work wonderfully. It "*****' the door tight once it's in its closed position. You could put a second set at the bottom to be used if concerned about someone prying out the bottom corners and crawling in.
 
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