Kiln door hinges & latches

D6c · May 22, 2019, 05:20:49 PM

I've got most of my solar kiln put together and am ready to build the doors which will be 7' wide x 6' high.
What have you used for door hinges? Barn hinges, strap hinge?
I'd like something that's plenty big enough to bolt through the doors and walls rather than just using screws because of the weight.
I was trying to find some type of offset hinge so that I could run a batten to cover the door gap but haven't found anything.

For door latches I was considering taking the latches off the back of a semi trailer and adapting them to the kiln.
They would hold the doors shut at both top and bottom.

YellowHammer · May 22, 2019, 07:42:01 PM

Some heavy duty barn hinges work fine. Put some weatherstripping between the door and frame and squash it when the door closes and that will also work and is very easy.

I use a couple techniques for securing doors, but the best I've used are the trailer door cam latch kits for semis and enclosed box trailers.

WDH · May 22, 2019, 10:01:03 PM

You can get one of those enclosed trailer door latches from etrailer.com

Cam-Action Lockable Door Latch Kit w/ Narrow Hasp for Small Enclosed Trailers - Zinc-Plated Steel Polar Hardware Enclosed Trailer Parts 383200

You can get the 3/4" black iron pipe from a hardware store.

Here it is installed on my kiln doors.

Been working great for 5 1/2 years.

K-Guy · May 23, 2019, 08:42:24 AM

For door hinges I would recommend heavy duty T-hinges and for the latches, a multi-point cam type is best as it will force the door onto the gasket to give a tight seal all around.

These are available from agricultural supply and hardware stores locally or on the web.

Brad_bb · May 23, 2019, 11:28:21 AM

@K-Guy Can you post a link to an example of that?

K-Guy · May 23, 2019, 11:38:01 AM

@Brad_bb
This Link has information and on some gives a load weight.
McMaster-Carr

Brad_bb · May 23, 2019, 11:42:32 AM

@K-Guy Sorry, I meant of the "multi point cam system".

Crusarius · May 23, 2019, 12:32:31 PM

Tractor supply sells nice havy duty half pin hinges. I used those on one of my sheds with some pretty big doors and they worked great.

K-Guy · May 23, 2019, 01:16:03 PM

@Brad_bb

I don't have any examples of them. The truck latch in the photo is one and I have seen individual cam latches put on doors.

Tom the Sawyer · May 23, 2019, 01:21:10 PM

Brad,

Here is an example of the ones I bought.
Buy Trailer Accessories - Free Shipping over | Zoro.com

farmfromkansas · May 23, 2019, 09:18:10 PM

Did not someone post pics of building their own hinges from pipe and strap metal?

btulloh · May 23, 2019, 09:48:29 PM

Kbeitz made his own.

kelLOGg · May 26, 2019, 06:13:17 AM

I made my own "hinge" that allows the door to open like that on a bank vault. No particular advantage to it other than I can adjust it for sag. The latches are toggle clamps. The kiln is on the 2nd floor of my barn.
Bob

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caveman · June 01, 2019, 11:23:41 PM

Last weekend Jmoore and I started siding our box that we will use to sterilize hardwoods. Thursday afternoon I cobbled up four of these hinges. I think that they will be adequate since the doors are not too big (roughly 50"x53) and each will get two hinges. We framed it over by the shop in the shade and moved it over to the surface of the sun by the solar kiln while the tractor would still lift it. If these hinges work well, I will probably make a more robust set for the kiln after we get rid of the entry panel and make two large doors.