Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Budget hangar door ideas?

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Budget hangar door ideas?
Goto page 1, 2 Next

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:03 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

I'm building a hangar on a tight budget and I'm stuck on a hangar door solution. Bifolds start at $3k so that's out. Anyone have any experience with 'do it yourself' hangar doors?



I once built a pair of sliding doors for a horse barn using half inch plywood and a 2x6 frame but a single 10x6 door weighed close to 100 lb. I can get by with a pair of 16 ft doors and a really big shoehorn to get my Model 4 in the hangar. Any ideas?

henrysfork1(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Build yourself a bi-fold using a steel frame welded together and sheet it with metal. Its rather simple to do and when your done you have something worth while. I have a hanger with a wood frame door and it's a pain in the butt. I also have a hanger with a Schweiss bi-fold door which is great. I have a friend who duplicated a commercially built bi-fold and it works just as good as the Schweiss.



Dee Young

Model II



Do not Archive

  ---

bmwebb(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Better yet, sheet it with those wavy plastic panels, use for roofing, at the

builders supply. It would be lighter, easy to repair, and let light in.



You could build tracks at the top and bottom, and roll them open and closed.

This way the weight is supported by the trucks, and you're just moving them,

not trying to lift them.

Bradley



--

Rex Hefferan

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 147
Location: Olney Springs, Colorado USA "NOT a Kitpig"

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Budget hangar door ideas?

I don't have complete information for you, however I have done some research. There is a company named The Ultimate Door, Inc. which can supply a kit. There is at least 1 person on this list which has a door from them and stated he was very happy with it. 

http://ultimatedoor.homestead.com/ultimate.html

 Theirs is a single panel door and I perferred a bi-fold. Like you I'm resistant to spend $3K for a garage door, but my garage would benefit from the bi-fold features more than any other design. I figured that if I could build a kit plane how much trouble could it be to design and build a garage door? ( I don't know the answer quite yet   )



 I'm planning on building my own home made Bi-fold door for my garage door opening which is 16 X 8 feet. I haven't had time to complete the concept, but I was thinking of using 1" square tubing as the basis for the 2 frames and 2 wall polycarbonate to skin the frames. 

 Hey, I just noticed as I was writing this on the forum page that Dee mentioned a friend who duplicated a Schwiess door. Maybe he could get some details?

Rex

Florida

_________________
Rex
N740GP - M2/582
Colorado

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Wingnut,

Some food for thought, I have seen several low dollar hanger door ideas, 1) 

Use two 16' fiberglass garage doors side by side, outside rails are fixed 

and the inside rails are mounted on a swing up center post. When the doors 

are up the center post is swung up and latched to allow a 32' opening. 2) 

Swing up door sections that are framed and covered with light fiberglass 

panels, uses a cable and boat winch to lift, heard of the same thing covered 

in non-certified aircraft cover.



---

Richard Rabbers

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Benton Harbor, MI - USA

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: Budget hangar door ideas?

Garage door shopss tend to toss away a lot of good doors. I hate waste!

Many shops accumulate old doors then toss them all. 

My 'preferred model' has fiberglass panels and is translucent.  For a hanger door the panels could be joined or free to hinge depending on your design. The fiber glass type usually has an aluminum framework so very light. Sliding, bi-fold, or standard garage OHD. all options. Materials free!

_________________
Richard in SW Michigan
Model 1 / 618 - full-lotus floats (restoration)

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Budget hangar door ideas?

I might be interested in attempting to duplicate the bifold idea with a good set of plans or even an example to copy. Anyone in the Greenville, SC vicinity with a bifold that I can examine? 



That UltimateDoor looks like it might be a good option as well. Looks like it's made of wood which is a plus since I've never done any welding. I guess $35 for a set of plans is a safe bet just to see some details of the lift mechanism.



Thanks for the help guys.

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Luis,



I live in an air park and almost all of the houses have hangars attached. 

We have bifold, rolling and roll-up here.  Mine is roll-up.  Actually it is 

a pair of 16 ft wide garage doors that moves into the ceiling of the hanger. 

My door is about 12 feet tall.  The trick is that the center pillar - track 

for the guide wheels will move out of the way with both doors up.  It is on 

a track with an indexing fixture at the top and a pin that goes into the 

floor at the bottom to secure itin the center position.  The track is sloped 

to the side so that when the pillar is moved it elevates it about 6 inches 

when it is fully at the side and there is a detent on the floor there for 

the pin also.  This secures it in the side position.



The only issue with this set-up is that you are in pretty deep do-do if you 

start to lower the doors with the pillar still at the side.  I have solved 

this by always lowering the left door (the door nearest the side stowed 

pillar) first.  It won't go down as there is an interference on that side. 

Experience has taught me this.  Both my doors are manually opened by chains 

that rotate wheels on the top.



A neighbor has my door and uses power to roll his up.  He has figured a way 

to have the center pillar swing up to the side using a cable attached some 

how to his electric system.  The only negative on that is that the cable is 

visible as a diagonal line in front of the door when it is closed.



I don't know how much this cost, but a quick check of garage door companies 

would give an estimate.  If you are interested in this idea I would be happy 

to take some photos and send them direct.



Lowell

---

gjfpilot(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Hi,

  I have some bi-fold door info if you're interested.

My local EAA Chapter had planned at one time to build

a hanger and since I do mechanical

designing/engineering for a living, I did the plans

for the building and the door. I looked at about half

a dozen different doors at a few airports and drew

what I needed on the computer.

Grant Fluent

Newcastle, NE

Classic IV 912ULS

 



--- wingnut <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <wingnut(at)spamarrest.com>

 

 I might be interested in attempting to duplicate the

 bifold idea with a good set of plans or even an

 example to copy. Anyone in the Greenville, SC

 vicinity with a bifold that I can examine? 

 

 That UltimateDoor looks like it might be a good

 option as well. Looks like it's made of wood which

 is a plus since I've never done any welding. I guess

 $35 for a set of plans is a safe bet just to see

 some details of the lift mechanism.

 

 Thanks for the help guys.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=29250#29250
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 browse

 Subscriptions page,

 FAQ,

 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 Admin.

n79rt(at)kilocharlie.us
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Hi,

  I have some bi-fold door info if you're interested.

My local EAA Chapter had planned at one time to build

a hanger and since I do mechanical

designing/engineering for a living, I did the plans

for the building and the door. I looked at about half

a dozen different doors at a few airports and drew

what I needed on the computer.

Grant Fluent

Newcastle, NE

Classic IV 912ULS

 



<snip>



Would love to see your plans...am a steel draftsman myself...but have

learned to not reinvent the wheel unless you have to 



Am about to have to build a door myself and am tickled that this

discussion came up...hadn't thought about asking a bunch of PILOTS about

hangar doors (DOH!!!)  I was sitting around thinking about how to

reinvent the wheel 



Jeremy Casey

Jeremy(at)kilocharlie.us

Rex Hefferan

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 147
Location: Olney Springs, Colorado USA "NOT a Kitpig"

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

I'm interested in your plans too. Also once was a draftsman.

Rex

Florida



Jeremy Casey wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Hi,

  I have some bi-fold door info if you're interested.

My local EAA Chapter had planned at one time to build

a hanger and since I do mechanical

designing/engineering for a living, I did the plans

for the building and the door. I looked at about half

a dozen different doors at a few airports and drew

what I needed on the computer.

Grant Fluent

Newcastle, NE

Classic IV 912ULS

 



<snip>



Would love to see your plans...am a steel draftsman myself...but have

learned to not reinvent the wheel unless you have to 



Am about to have to build a door myself and am tickled that this

discussion came up...hadn't thought about asking a bunch of PILOTS about

hangar doors (DOH!!!)  I was sitting around thinking about how to

reinvent the wheel 



Jeremy Casey

Jeremy(at)kilocharlie.us

 

 

 





  




	


-- 

Karla and Rex Hefferan

Gypsy Bee Innkeepers

719-651-5198 or 719-651-9192

_________________
Rex
N740GP - M2/582
Colorado

n79rt(at)kilocharlie.us
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Better yet, sheet it with those wavy plastic panels, use for roofing, at

the

builders supply. It would be lighter, easy to repair, and let light in.



<snip>



Food for thought...the translucent wavy panels let more light in...which

means more UV exposure for the fabric.  Heck it might decrease the life

of your fabric by .7 minutes.  



I'm just thinking out loud so don't call me bad names...I also once read

that florescent lights were as bad as sunlight as far as UV goes...don't

have any reference to back that up either.



I keep my plane in a blacked out box and use night vision goggles to

move around it (big 



Jeremy Casey

sonex321(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Hi Wingnut,



When I had my Kitfox in an old wooden T hangar, I made a "cheapy door" out 

of 1x2s and 3 mil plastic.  Later I used 6 mil plastic which is still 

working for the current hangar renter after at least 4 years.



For the first "half door", I stapled one plastic end to a 1x2, rolled the 

plastic around the 1x2 a few times, added a few more staples, then screwed 

another 1x2 to the first one.  I measured and cut off excess plastic so the 

rest would extend just past the middle of the hangar.  Next I stapled 

another 1x2 to that end, rolled a few turns, and stapled again.  I took 

another sheet of plastic and made another "half door" just like the first. 

Then the 2 ends of each half door with only one 1x2 were screwed together 

temporarily, with the plastic of each making a straight line from one half 

door to the other to eliminate twisting.  Test for length that encloses the 

hangar, and adjust center connection for best fit.  Then add nails on each 

side of the hangar (assumes wooden hangar!), drill holes in door ends and 

add rope which ties to the nails, securing the full door to the hangar.  I 

left one side tied all the time and untied the other end to access the Fox. 

I also had a rope tying the top of the door's center posts to the top of the 

hangar.



This may seem like lots of work, but it was a real cheap solution which is 

still working after 8-9 years!



Have fun,

bh

ex N194KF, 582ed IV-1200, 800+ hrs



 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm building a hangar on a tight budget and I'm stuck on a hangar door 

 solution. Bifolds start at $3k so that's out. Anyone have any experience 

 with 'do it yourself' hangar doors?



 I once built a pair of sliding doors for a horse barn using half inch 

 plywood and a 2x6 frame but a single 10x6 door weighed close to 100 lb. I 

 can get by with a pair of 16 ft doors and a really big shoehorn to get my 

 Model 4 in the hangar. Any ideas?

Ceashman(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:44 am Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

message from; Jeremy Casey

 	  Quote: 	
		  Food for thought...the translucent wavy panels let more light in...which

means more UV exposure for the fabric.  Heck it might decrease the life

of your fabric by .7 minutes.  


	


Hi Jeremy.

Who knows, the translucent panels may filter the UV radiation from entering 

the hangar interior. But if not, there still are three walls and a roof to 

protect from UV and that means there will be shadow/shade on the aircraft for most 

of the day. Most clear roofing material has UV blockers to allow longevity of 

the roof material. Otherwise the panel would degrade after a very short time.

If you consider building a hangar and you have the freedom to position it at 

the airport, I think it best to have the opening facing north, north/east, for 

us folks in the hot South. That way you will not get the full effect of the 

afternoon sun warming the hanger contents even higher with Infra Red and sun 

tanning you and the aircraft fabric with Ultra Violet



 	  Quote: 	
		  I'm just thinking out loud so don't call me bad names...I also once read

that florescent lights were as bad as sunlight as far as UV goes...don't

have any reference to back that up either.


	


There is no UV radiation emitted from normal florescent lamps. Of course, you 

can buy florescent lamps that do emit UV. These are used in tanning salons.



Cheers Eric, Atlanta

jeburke94je(at)direcway.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:44 am Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Grant, I am building hanger doors this summer and would be interested in 

your plans.

Thanks in advance,

Jim



jeburke94je(at)direcway.com



---

morid(at)northland.lib.mi
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Grant, I think it would be ideal if you could upload these plans to

Sportflight.com for the archives.  Everyone can benefit, even if it might be

years later.  Just send them to Don Pearsall <donpearsall(at)comcast.net>,

Kitfox List co-administrator, and he'll take care of the rest.  Might be

best to contact him first with instructions.

Deke Morisse

List administrator



---

bmwebb(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:12 am Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

LOL



Bradley



--

gjfpilot(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Deke,

  Posting the bi-fold door info on Sportflight sounds

like a good idea. After sending the message I realized

that the door was drawn in Autocad but that I hadn't

made the drawings for the door - just the building.

That really isn't a big deal because the drawings

wouldn't take long to do.

  What I could do is take what I have and make a

generic example that would work for most planes with a

36' wingspan or less. I could also include a little

writeup so that a person can calculate the amount of

counterweight needed and safety things such as not to

use cable clamps on plastic coated cable, etc...



Grant Fluent

Newcastle, NE

Classic IV 912ULS



--- Fox5flyer <morid(at)northland.lib.mi.us> wrote:



[quote] 

 <morid(at)northland.lib.mi.us>

 

 Grant, I think it would be ideal if you could upload

 these plans to

 Sportflight.com for the archives.  Everyone can

 benefit, even if it might be

 years later.  Just send them to Don Pearsall

 <donpearsall(at)comcast.net>,

 Kitfox List co-administrator, and he'll take care of

 the rest.  Might be

 best to contact him first with instructions.

 Deke Morisse

 List administrator

 

 ---

morid(at)northland.lib.mi
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

That would be great Grant.  I'm sure many of us would like to have a look at

it and by being in the archives future hangar builders can benefit.

Deke



[quote] 



 Deke,

   Posting the bi-fold door info on Sportflight sounds

 like a good idea. After sending the message I realized

 that the door was drawn in Autocad but that I hadn't

 made the drawings for the door - just the building.

 That really isn't a big deal because the drawings

 wouldn't take long to do.

   What I could do is take what I have and make a

 generic example that would work for most planes with a

 36' wingspan or less. I could also include a little

 writeup so that a person can calculate the amount of

 counterweight needed and safety things such as not to

 use cable clamps on plastic coated cable, etc...



 Grant Fluent

 Newcastle, NE

 Classic IV 912ULS



 --- Fox5flyer <morid(at)northland.lib.mi.us> wrote:



 > 

 > <morid(at)northland.lib.mi.us>

 >

 > Grant, I think it would be ideal if you could upload

 > these plans to

 > Sportflight.com for the archives.  Everyone can

 > benefit, even if it might be

 > years later.  Just send them to Don Pearsall

 > <donpearsall(at)comcast.net>,

 > Kitfox List co-administrator, and he'll take care of

 > the rest.  Might be

 > best to contact him first with instructions.

 > Deke Morisse

 > List administrator

 >

 > ---

rjdaugh(at)rapidnet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject: Budget hangar door ideas?

Rex may be talking about me.  I used the ultimate door on my hangar and am

real happy with it.  It don't know what could be better if I had spent

several thousand more dollars on a door.



It does take some time to build.  The materials that I used make it good for

a 90 mph wind.  I used translucent plastic to skin it.  It does let some

light in.  - Plenty of light.  I don't have electricity up on the field

where the hangar is so I have a hand crank.  It takes 10 seconds to raise it

or lower it. 



Directions are good.   Kit is complete as far as hardware except for winch

which can be had at local hardware store.  If you can build a fox, this is

child's play!



I could maybe post some pictures if desired.



Randy



.           



--

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum