One of a kind security storm door

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I got this door because I shot my mouth off. The fellow wanted to know why he couldn't get a 96" X 43" security storm door. I told him if you had enough money you could get anything made. The door had to fit the opening (he is 6'8" tall), have the large casting in the first pic, have screens, glass windows, z-bar weather stripped frame, a lockset that could be keyed to match the circa 1930 set in the door, and it had to be a one off original. The frame is 1" X 2" x .065 rectangular tube. I ordered the custom door frame from a manufacturer in Mississppi (they have the jig tables I don't have the room for, and are one of the largest security door manufacturers in the US, though China is beginning to hurt them pretty bad). The frame actually cost me less than I could purchase the material to build it for and it is first class work. The inserts, finials and cups are cast iron. The bars are 1/2" hammered steel bar stock. The rosettes and hinges are brass (the hinges are antique reproductions). The rosettes are attached using brass screws (try finding metric brass screws), and the hinges use brass sheet metal (probably wood screws in actuality) on the frame side and brass machine screws on the door itself. I chose the lockset specifically because the lady is disabled (her hands are in bad shape due to arthritis and she can't really grasp anything well). The door has double closers and doubled safety chains. It weighs approximately 250lbs. I barely came out ahead on it by the time it was done and let it go with a few tiny things I didn't like (the welds in the detail pic, but by the time it is painted again they will not show). The last pic is of the complimenting security bars. Sorry about the quality but they were installed behind the screens which couldn't be removed (made to fit the opening and replace the piece the windows slide against). The lady actually cried when she saw it installed. Attached ImagesThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Wow - that is extremely nice. One observation though - if it's a security door and the hinges are on the outside, doesn't that defeat the purpose?John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Thats beautiful workmanship, I'd be proud to have that on my home.
Reply:One observation though - if it's a security door and the hinges are on the outside, doesn't that defeat the purpose?
Reply:Well criminals are inherently lazy and you hope they aren't industrious enough to pull the 18 screws holding it to the frame. The frame itself is mounted with 1/4 X 4 tamper resistant screws. You can't keep anyone out that really wants in. Built one for a deputy that flat out told me the door was only to slow them down long enough for him to get to his Glock. The guy I did this for is a retired army Colonel who happens to collect firearms. The neighbors there all keep a good eye on each other and everyone watches out for his wife. I normally use weld on hinges set in between the door and frame, but can't with an aluminum frame. As he put it "as long as momma is happy I am happy".The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Where I'm at, not only would they take out the 18 screws, but they'd steal the door as well.
Reply:New Orleans criminals are lazy. Hopefully if they try it will fall on them. Would definitely break a bone or two. Took 4 of us to carry it up the steps. I guess this actually qualifies as my first commissioned piece, though I never thought of it that way until just now.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:thats a very nice door great job you should be very proud of that job Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:better than my storm door... should have ask you to built for me just cant afford the posting fare...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Looks good and secure.  If they take out the screws, it will fall on em and knock em out!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:the srew on the outside was mean for the parent keeping their children safe inside... when they forget the keys they can always...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Hmm, I think you are going to eventually get this welding thing figured out.
Reply:I mean it as a humor... I am more attracted to the anestatic of the pattern Attached ImagesLast edited by Mandau; 03-05-2008 at 10:00 AM.Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Nice door Jolly!Just a thought. You could have the company hang the hinges in the jams so the hinge pivots are only exposed. This is how we install the hinges on our doors and "prevents" lifting the door. My parents in Florida are saying there is a real demand in the south for blacksmiths/welders to fix old cast iron gates and doors. You should look into that.Again nice!!DanMy instructor said someone will catch on fire during class...He wasn't joking!!
Reply:That is fine work, I would display that door anywhere,,,,,,,,,Boo,,,,,,,,,,,,
Reply:Thank you all for the complements. Xxcel - I normally use a steel tube frame and weld on hinges with only the pins exposed, but this door was a special case. You can't see the detail on the hinges but they have a really nice relief in them and the customer wanted them exposed.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:That is a nice looking door !!Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:Beautiful door! Nice workWouldn't do much good on my house. I don't even lock the doors.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerI got this door because I shot my mouth off. .... I barely came out ahead on it by the time it was done .....
Reply:Door and window security bars always make me nervous. They make egress in case of a fire difficult to impossible and on the other side of the issue make access an issue for fire and emergency personnel.Beautiful work by the way.Last edited by 5foot2; 03-07-2008 at 12:21 AM.
Reply:There always the windows...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Well I didn't make my hourly rate on it, but I was able to show a profit. This particular house has multiple escape routes in case of fire that have no security bars on them. We only did the front porch and basement windows. I don't install fixed bars on any bedrooms and all other rooms must have at least one set that is releasable from the inside. That's covered in the fire code. It has cost me a lot of business because I refuse to do it, but I won't ever have to worry about anyone dying because I went ahead and did it.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerWell I didn't make my hourly rate on it, but I was able to show a profit. This particular house has multiple escape routes in case of fire that have no security bars on them. We only did the front porch and basement windows. I don't install fixed bars on any bedrooms and all other rooms must have at least one set that is releasable from the inside. That's covered in the fire code. It has cost me a lot of business because I refuse to do it, but I won't ever have to worry about anyone dying because I went ahead and did it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerWell I didn't make my hourly rate on it, but I was able to show a profit. This particular house has multiple escape routes in case of fire that have no security bars on them. We only did the front porch and basement windows. I don't install fixed bars on any bedrooms and all other rooms must have at least one set that is releasable from the inside. That's covered in the fire code. It has cost me a lot of business because I refuse to do it, but I won't ever have to worry about anyone dying because I went ahead and did it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly Roger... The lady actually cried when she saw it installed.That hell one of a kinda cage door... no problems from neighbour wont hear em knockin... great door for mother-in-law christmas list Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:I don't have any pics of the few I have done with a release. Normally I do those with a mesh backing and thumb turn deadbolt. I have gotten out of the ironwork except for a couple of doors I have to do for a lady down here. These are going to be something else, but I am just doing them for the cost of the material.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerI don't have any pics of the few I have done with a release. Normally I do those with a mesh backing and thumb turn deadbolt. I have gotten out of the ironwork except for a couple of doors I have to do for a lady down here. These are going to be something else, but I am just doing them for the cost of the material.
Reply:Not without some major work.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.