Barn Door Latch

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 4, 2011

OK, you guys haven't let me down yet. I need a latch for a sliding barn door that I can open from either side (inside/outside).

Anybody have a source or a good picture if it's homemade?? I've been Googling and keep coming up empty. Stopped at the local lumberyard where I get all my steel trim and door parts and they've got nothing. I really don't want to cut a hole and reach through to open it.

Right now it's a swinging 5' wooden dutch door. I'm siding the old barn with steel and I'd like to just replace it with a slider, but the latch is fouling me up.

Thanks,
Tim

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2011

just a latch or does it have to lock etc????

I done something pretty simple for a door once that I may be able to sketch for you.

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 4, 2011

Just a latch is the important thing. I can deal with locking it as a secondary problem...... we never really lock this barn anyway.

freezer pig at g mail dot com

Thanks Dave

rpirkle1 · Oct 4, 2011

Hi Tim,

I don't have a picture.. but what I'm thinking is something like a drop bar and rope.

Left door gets a catch (be it a piece of pipe or steel or 2x4) that points into the barn.
Right door gets a bar with a groove/notch cut to drop over the catch on the left door and single bolt to hinge it.
Rope with hole 2-4 feet higher on right door so while you're outside you can pull to left the bar.

Bar needs to be long enough to where it's easy to hinge

Or if you are looking to latch secure enough to stop thefts, you could rig it the other way (bar/catch on the outside with rope ran to the inside) with a lock on the outside.

Have seen it done with 2x4 on farms and around RR stuff with 1/4 steel, just don't have a picture.

Hope the description helps.
Randy

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 4, 2011

Thanks Randy,

This is a single door and I forgot to mention, I'd like to be able to open it all the way, so the latch needs to be kind of skinny so I don't gouge up my siding by the door.

Tim

26Red · Oct 4, 2011

Search for sliding door jamb latch.

http://www.hardwareworld.com/Barn-Door-Hardware-cIRUC1J.aspx
sliding door

26Red · Oct 4, 2011

http://www.fbibuildings.com/stepsaver/
latch

Jimmy King · Oct 4, 2011

My Uncle has a barn that his Granddad, My Great Granddad built all doors are latched in side with hooks and loops, and the doors have a hole just big enought to stick you hand through. It has 5 sliding doors, and 3 or 4 walk through.

BushogPapa · Oct 4, 2011

Make a sliding latch, like that used on OLD Wooden Cow Stanchions..(Milking Cows)...

Should be simple and work fine..

Ron..

Janicholson · Oct 4, 2011

Not too tough to make. Position such that it just
sticks out of the door edge far enough to latch.
Hole in hook is for small lock. This can be scaled
to suit. Latch plate on siding has a ramp for the
hook to allow sliding W/O holding the levers down.
Stops for travel are as needed to stop motion both
directions. Jim

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 5, 2011

I think we have a winner!!! I should be able to make that thin eough to fit within the door itsef.

Thanks Jim, I owe you one.

Tim

Janicholson · Oct 5, 2011

You are welcome. I sat and thought of the devices I hated and took the best of each and made one that seems to be what you need. A little Illustration with Corel Draw, and there it is. Jim

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 5, 2011

I don't know if I'll get it done anymore this year, but I'll take a picture of the finished product when it's installed.

Thanks again,
Tim

Barn Door Latch

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