July 1, 2009
Dear Everyone:
Work on my “old” place, the
townhouse, is nearing
completion. The flooring has
all been replaced. The
flooring guys even put in the baseboards, which look very nice.
All the electrical work has been done.
There was a problem with the internal
doorknobs.
“Jeannie” had bought all new satin nickel knobs for
the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom doors.
However, these doors had very old style knobs on them.
It required some kind of “around-the-corner” screwdriver tool the
get them off. Even when
“Jeannie” accomplished this, the latch, the internal part that sits
inside the round hole that the doorknob goes over and retracts when you
turn the knob to open the door, was still in place.
These 38-year-old latches had been in the 38-year-old doors for,
well, 38 years. They weren’t
inclined to move.
We knew they could be moved because our friend, the
plumber, had removed one using brute force.
But he’s been working double shifts at his real job and hasn’t
had much time to help us out with the townhouse.
Last weekend, I went to a hardware store near my new place and
explained the problem to a guy in the hardware department.
Once he understood the situation, he suggested placing a piece of
wood or metal behind the latch, inside the round hole in the door, and
using a regular screwdriver to wedge the latch out through the end of
the door.
I decided it was worth a try.
At the townhouse, I found a wooden handle that had been purchased
to make the paint roller handle longer.
I wedged it inside the round hole and got a straight edge
screwdriver between it and the inner end of the latch.
At first all that happened was the latch retracted each time I
pushed at it. And I realized
that the wooden handle was too soft.
The screwdriver was just pushing into it.
So I went to the Really Big Warehouse Hardware
Store, which is closer to my old place than the other hardware store.
There I wandered around looking for something that I could use as
a “fulcrum”. Eventually, a
helpful man in an orange apron offered to help me.
Once he realized that what I really needed was a simple
“chunk-o-metal” he found some really large
hexes, one about 5/8” in
diameter and one about an inch in diameter.
Together, they cost $3.05.
Back at the townhouse, I wedged the smaller hex
inside the hole and fitted the screwdriver between it and the latch.
I decide to use my not inconsiderable weight and leaned against
the screwdriver handle.
Ultimately, the screwdriver slipped and I crashed into the door.
After that happened a couple of times, I decided to use my
less-than-considerable pulling strength to try and move the latch.
After a few more tries, when the screwdriver inevitably slipped I
discovered that it had slipped because the latch had moved a fraction of
an inch out of the door.
Much encouraged, I continued to worry away at it
until the hex no longer offered enough purchase against the inside of
the door. I got the larger
hex and wormed it into place, got the screwdriver in place and pulled.
The latch moved again!
And the hex jumped out of the door and landed on my foot.
Eventually, I got the latch out as far as the
larger hex would force it.
By now I was thinking I needed to go back to the Really Big Warehouse
Hardware Store and look for an even bigger hex, if they had one.
But then I decided to try using a pair of pliers to pull the rest
of the latch out.
Of course tugging on it with the pliers only tugged
at the hinges. I tried
holding the outer part of the latch with the pliers in a horizontal
position and tapped at the pliers with the hammer.
The latch moved a little.
More tapping until the latch came out!
Several hours, and many bruises, later all of the
latches were out. I have
many sore muscles. This is
not work I usually do. And
my back, to show solidarity to the other muscles and sore spots, decided
to go out on me again. Will
wonders never cease?
This weekend, “Jeannie” and I sort of plan to
replace all the doorknobs.
Since Saturday is
Independence Day, a national holiday, I will be off
work on Friday. We also
semi-plan to buy a new stove, since everyone will be having Fourth of
July Sales.
There’s still a lot of work to be done in the
upstairs bathroom. If our
friend, the plumber, can’t come by to help us, “Jeannie” is going to ask
for a referral. We’re too
close to stop now. The
interior decorator will be back from vacation the weekend after next.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Just so long as it’s not on oncoming train.
Everyone have a Happy and Safe Holiday.
Love, as always,
Pete
| Previous | Next |