Slide up doors

[WestKnollAmy]

How do you make the doors that slide up? Well, actually, how do you make the tracks for the doors that you can slide up?
I was going to use a piece of 1/2 " plywood for the door panel and want to have them track on the sides so I can lift them in the morning but secure them at night, I suppose with a large pin of some sort.

Please help with this new, very interesting project.
Remember, I am not a builder and everything is new to me!
Oh, and pix, lots of pix. I am visual learned.

 

[JasonR]

I just made tracks out of 1X2 pine
One on each side of the plywood to creat a track that the door slides in
Make them long enough so when you raise the door it is still in the track
Jason

 

[BeardedChick]

You can buy aluminum pieces in stores like HD or Lowes that are U shaped. Those work, too. Cut 'em with a hacksaw or you might sucker them into cutting them to length for you. Just make sure you get the right width.

 

[lilchick]

To hold the door up when it is open use a metal dowel rod.
Just cut a hole for it in each side of the track the door slides in.
The rod is great to use when door is closed to keep predators from opening it too...

 

[patandchickens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=99825

although unfortunately no pix


Pat

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Thanks everyone! It is starting to be more clear to me now.

Can you tell me, if I make them from wood, does it swell up during the wet months and make it difficult to slide up and down?
Or do you use any type of lube to help it slide up and down?

 

[lilchick]

Make it loose (in track) enough to allow for swelling.
If you paint and seal all really well you should have better results...

We also did a ramp that lifted up and became the door. Hinged at bottom...
Ramp is bigger than opening and closes flush over the opening...
A block of wood (same depth) above it for the latch.
Much easier than the drop doors.... good luck

 

[Weasleymum]

My husband just fit the door into 2x2s that had been routed out so that it slides up and down. Unfortunately it sticks quite badly, so I'd reccommend using some kind of actual track... wood-on-wood is not great for moving parts.

 

[Dustoff79]

the routed track needs to be a little wider than the sliding door, to help the sliding you can use candle wax rubbed on the track and the door edges. the candle wax will work on wood-on-wood or metal-on-wood.

 

[ametauss]

I had a similar issue with old wooden windows with the sticking and used a bar of soap... made them slide much better.....

Candle wax works but for me the ole' Ivory soap was cheaper....

If you've never routed, it's not a task lightly undertaken.... I thought routing would be easy and my first couple of attempts came out a bit crooked even with a guide....

I like the idea of the U shaped metal.... When I convince DH that we need to make windows, I will try to find the metal....