Door Closer

https://www.qualifiedhardware.com/brands/yale/974.htm?vfsku=972&vfsku=972&gpla=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp8Cu6LO57AIVTuDICh2_iAiLEAQYASABEgLX5PD_BwE

i googled door closer for arched doors and yale makes such a beast. these yale products are pricey. there are two configurations; one for the push side, with means the closer would be outside and the one i link above, the hinge side as your doors undoubtably open in.

i am not putting myself forth to install this item. i was curious myself and will still look for a quality side mount closer. if i can find something i can make a lot of people happy.

first, i am a locksmith, legally, but i do not have the training of a locksmith. i install locks and closers as part of my door restoration business and do not have the full breadth of experience locksmiths have. i also do not compete against local locksmiths as i often rely on them to set things up for me and sell me things when i am in a bind.

the round top doors are a full time pain in the neck without getting into the closer issue. i have three calls right now from people who want me to come out and reset the top hinges that pull out on these because they are set much lower than a hinge should be set and the weight of the door pulls on them (with leverage).

i generally tell people i will not put a closer on a round top door. but, since we encounter this a lot, i have been thinking about this since i saw your post last night (i was dreaming about door closers – the kind that have the covers on them but these had the covers stripped off and I could see the rounded edges of the body of the unit) and was wondering if there is a way to mount a closer on the fr ame and put the arm to the door. this is sometimes done in certain commercial sitations. i have not yet done such.

also, there are other closers that can mount low on the frame. i do not go to these as they are “gimmicky” to me. they used to use these springs (which look horrible and work kind of “rough”) where some of these newer frame mount closers sit. i am going to look at a wholesale cataloge now in case you reach out to see if they make anything substantial to mount on the frame, mid way up the door.

i am not sure i am putting myself forth to do this job. i have a lot of pending service calls right now (on site, hourly repairs) in addition to the restoration side of my business. i can tell you this, i would not charge the price you mention unless the closer was a $300 item (and maybe they are thinking of some high grade unit made for funky situations; customers have to ask about the hardware the intend to install; they might know something i don’t). i will tell you something else; i have a milk crate full of closers here and i was going to donate them to habitat for humanity but when someone calls and wants a closer installed, i tell them i have used ones i will give them and i will charge for the labor (i have a high first hour labor rate which covers some of the costs of running a business and i can justify giving stuff away – incidentals such as screws, lock plates, and used closers). if you emailed me and told me you wanted a free closer, i am in 11379 not sure if it is worth the trip. if i had the time to do that work now, i would be offering you the closer for free as part of the job.

All i work on is doors. i do not do anything else.

and by the way, that 5th ave lock and key bob mentions. the are IMO one of the best locksmith shops in the city – they compare with the best shops in manhattan.

Steve
www.thetinkerswagon.com

IF locksmiths do indeed work on these you wouldn’t go wrong with the 5th Avenue Key Shop? actually located on 9th Street, just west of 5th Avenue in Park Slope.