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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Glass Door Adjustment Screw -- See It Here!



I was at a condo building on a completely unrelated task but noticed the glazing channel was missing from the top of the inner vestibule door. This allowed a clear view of a device built into most of these doors which is seldom seen. At the top near the opening edge is a small block of nylon with a bolt pushing down on it from the top stile of the door. Here the block is turned almost a quarter turn since the glazing channel is missing and would usually hold it square and in place. The screw has also put enough pressure on the glass to form some curved fractures. (They are called conchoidal fractures and more detail is at Wikipedia.)

I would not wind this screw any further down but if you understand its function and limits, it can help you solve a common problem. Glass doors with aluminum frames are partly held up by the glass which always stays square. However, the frame can slip and sag at the opening edge and the block allows you to bring up the opening edge.

(OOPS! The frame is part of the building which is build into the wall and the door closes into it. The outside part of the door is called the stile. I know this. However, your customers will do just as I did and call all of it the frame.)



If you close the door, and see the header is level but the door sags and you see the crack at the top of the door as it progresses away from the hinges, then this may help you. Start by opening the door and take the pressure off the block by wedging up the bottom of the door. When you start to wind in the adjustment screw, their should be very little torque or turning pressure needed. You should have lifted the door with the wedge and are now just bringing the block down on the glass so when you take the wedge out the door will come to rest on it but high then it was before. (The screw may be hard to turn still but you should turn it slowly and listen for any bits of cracking. If you hear this, STOP!) Close the door to see how it sits now.

Questions? Toss a reply and I will try to answer it.

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The contents of this post are released for non-profit or educational use in whole or in part provided this statement and the attribution below are kept attached.

Laux Myth ... Thoughts From a Locksmith
By MartinB, Found @ http://lauxmyth.blogspot.com/

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