would retro fitting a vintage commercial door be practical?

[Fyrme]

I know this may be an odd question. I recently ran across a really cool old commercial steel door with a wired glass window, as well as an old chromed brass grab handle on one side and push plate on the other. I'd love to have a frame made for it to use in my shop. However, I've worn out the internet trying to figure out who the manufacturer is based on the hinge measurement to no avail. I called one local company a few days ago for help, but once the sales rep couldn't figure out a manufacturer, he just blew me off. I'm starting to think this is a lost cause and the door is bound for the scrap yard......

 

[LXCam]

If you're any good with metal work and own a welder just buy a steel case frame and adjust it as needed. The hinge pockets are nothing but cut outs with spot welded inserts as is the strike too. It wouldn't be all that hard to modify one and make it look good. The only problem I might see would be these frames are made for 1-5/8 thick doors and your might be a 1-3/8".

Also you can always buy wood jambs that haven't been mortised and make it yourself with nothing more then a saw and chisel if you're handy

 

[Fyrme]

I had thought about trying to find a three piece frame blank and some inserts, then cut the hinges in myself. The other oddity is that the door is 7'-1". Of course I can always cut it down and reweld it. But now we are talking expense AND time. It's not so much that the two aren't worth it to me, but finding the extra time to invest would be tough.

 

[LXCam]

Just buy a jamb for a 8' door. How thick is the door?

 

[The Cobbler]

any hollow metal door company can fix you up. cost may not be in your range...
make a wood jamb and paint it up.

 

[Fyrme]

Just buy a jamb for a 8' door. How thick is the door?

I don't remember off the top of my head, but i think 1 5/8 or 1 3/4.

 

[LXCam]

Take a look here and also search "timely" jambs. You really need to look at commercial offerings and stay away from resi stuff.

http://www.trudoor.com/commercial-hollow-metal-door-frames/kd-knocked-down-drywall-frame

 

[Shootinok]

A commercial door supplier will make a door jamb to fit. Many commercial jobs have unique door jamb requirements so they do it often.
A Wood jamb as the cobbler suggested, is also not too tough.

Where in green country are you ?
Send ma a PM

 

[rsanter]

Welding up a casing from tube material would not be hard and would be strong as hell

Bob

 

[padroo]

When I labored for the bricklayer layers when I was young they got steel door frames from the masonry supplier that he block came from. I used one in my basement and it came from the lumber yard.

 

[Fyrme]

Take a look here and also search "timely" jambs. You really need to look at commercial offerings and stay away from resi stuff.

http://www.trudoor.com/commercial-hollow-metal-door-frames/kd-knocked-down-drywall-frame

Thanks LX, I sent am email to them for a quote.

A commercial door supplier will make a door jamb to fit. Many commercial jobs have unique door jamb requirements so they do it often.
A Wood jamb as the cobbler suggested, is also not too tough.

Where in green country are you ?
Send ma a PM

That's what a guy would think huh? I called Windor Supply and the guy blew me off because he couldn't figure out a manufacturer. I was thinking it would be easy as taking a blank and fabbing it to fit my door. I'll try someone else local maybe.

I'm not real keen on the wood jamb idea. Not because it won't work, but it's kinda like putting standard radials on a armors car. With the mass of this door (over 100lbs) one good kick on a wood frame will tear it to pieces.

Welding up a casing from tube material would not be hard and would be strong as hell

Bob

lol, yes sir it would. I don't know what a 20' stick of 2x6 16ga tube plus the rabbit trim would cost me, but surly I can buy a jamb for cheaper.

When I labored for the bricklayer layers when I was young they got steel door frames from the masonry supplier that he block came from. I used one in my basement and it came from the lumber yard.

That's thinking outside the box. There is a Termite treatment company around here that does new construction pre-treatments. They also sell rebar for the slab.... Ingenious!

 

[Gotcha640]

We put old church doors (10 feet high, 4 feet wide, 2 inches thick) on a strip center we rented years ago. We knocked out the door frames and cut some of the cinder block wall, took out the glass header and one pane of glass, and built a frame 2 inches oversize. 1x2 box for the door, cutouts for the hinges, bolted to that frame, a few holes in the slab to drop the pins in, and we were all set.

Maybe $70 in materials and a weekend of work for 3 guys.

 

[coljar]

When I labored for the bricklayer layers when I was young they got steel door frames from the masonry supplier that he block came from. I used one in my basement and it came from the lumber yard.

Our local masonry supplier had them in stock, because I seen a stack of them when I was there a couple of months ago.