Instruction. How to make a door closer with your own hands from various materials

Springs, rubber bands, counterweights and other devices traditionally used to ensure “automatic” closing of doors are already in the past. Now on sale there are inexpensive mechanisms that solve all these problems in a complex. If you know how to correctly install a door closer on the door, you will not have to pay for someone's services. Moreover, the method of its fastening and adjustment is simple.

general information

Door closers are available in different designs. The technology of their fastening and the method of regulation have some features. How do the products differ?

According to the specific installation

• Hidden devices. The body of the mechanism is placed in a box or door leaf. Installation of closers of this type requires a professional approach (practical experience, special tools). They are mounted only on doors, the leafs of which have a thickness of at least 40 mm.
• floor models. Their installation is carried out in the process of arranging the floors, since the “body” of the device is placed under the flooring. In the private sector, products of this group are used extremely rarely.
• Overhead. The most common options in everyday life. Installing such a door closer with your own hands is quite simple. Even in the absence of experience, it will take no more than half an hour.

By type of mechanism

• Rack and pinion + hydraulics. The "working" element in the closers of this group is a spring.
• Cam models. Such products are installed in dwellings much less frequently.

By pull force

This characteristic is called differently - closing force, door closer size, EN class. When choosing a mechanism, the parameters are decisive door leaf: its weight (kg) and width (mm). This is taken into account when determining the device installation option.

Mounting order

In residential buildings (apartments), rack-type closers with hydraulics are mainly mounted. Using the example of a device of this group, the recommended procedure for the wizard will be considered. Having understood the specifics of the work, it is easy to deal with the nuances of fastening products of other types.

Installing the door closer plastic door absolutely identical to the order of its installation on wooden and metal counterparts.

Scheme is selected

If the door swings outward, then a lever is fixed on the canvas; accordingly, the body is on the jamb. When opening inward, everything is exactly the opposite. But in any case, the closer is placed so that the adjustment screws are on the side of the door hinges. This will facilitate the process of “tuning” the position of the canvas and its further adjustment. And this will have to be dealt with, as its “subsidence” will gradually appear. It is not difficult to understand, especially since the product is always accompanied by an instruction in which there are typical diagrams for installing a door closer.

The door closer should be installed so that its “body” is always inside the building. Outdoor placement is impractical for a number of reasons - metal corrosion; low temperatures, as a result of which the oil thickens (and becomes more liquid at high temperatures), and the hydraulic part of the mechanism starts to work incorrectly; possible glaciation, which violates the free movement of the lever.

Markup in progress

And here the task of the master is greatly simplified. Products are completed with special installation templates. They are made on a 1:1 scale and are universal, as they take into account various ways opening doors and canopies. It remains only to attach the closer stencil in place and mark the points for drilling channels for installing fasteners.

Fixing the components of the device

After marking, fix the lever and the body of the mechanism on the basis of hardware (included with the product), and then everyone can connect the halves of the thrust.

• Installing the door closer metal door has one feature. It is necessary to use the so-called "bonks" in the process of drilling thin sheets. These devices are threaded bushings. The fact is that working with a conventional drill can cause deformation of the metal, and it will not be possible to correct this defect (straighten the dent) on your own.
• When determining the position of the lever, one should be guided by its base shoulder. It should be perpendicular to the door leaf. If the angle is less than 90º, then the "snap" of the sash is enhanced.

Do-it-yourself door closer installation requires utmost attention and accuracy. The slightest misses often turn into a loose fit of the canvas to the jamb and drafts in the room. Or vice versa, by slowly closing the sash and increasing heat loss. Hoping that everything will be eliminated only by adjusting the door closer is not worth it - this is not always possible.

It is for this reason that the installation stage of the device is the most important part of the work. Moreover, the life of the canopies also depends on it. If the mechanism is installed incorrectly, then in the short term, the skew of the canvas is inevitable, with all the consequences.

Determine if the installation is correct door closer, can be based on the following features:

• smooth opening / closing of the sash, without jerks and additional efforts on the part of the user;
• the absence of extraneous sounds (noise, creak, rattle, and so on).

The procedure for adjusting the closer mechanism

There are two "adjustment" screws for this. Each of them sets the speed of the canvas in a certain mode. To understand the principle of regulation, it is necessary to understand the following:

• the closer serves only to close the door;
• this is done in 2 steps. On the first canvas moves at an increased speed, on the second it is significantly reduced to eliminate a sharp knock at the moment the sash touches the jamb.

How to regulate:

Screw 1 - sets the speed in the range from an angle of 180º (the canvas is fully open) to 150.

Screw 2 - regulates the movement of the sash on the last leg of the path from 15 to 0 (its fine-tuning, that is, until the leaf is completely attached to the door block).

What to consider:

• If you completely unscrew any of the screws, then oil will begin to flow from the closer body. Therefore, in the process of setting up the device, it is not recommended to make more than one turn of the screw around the axis. The mechanism is initially set to work according to average parameters, and during the adjustment it is only necessary to make a slight adjustment to the position of the screws. As a rule, they rotate no more than ¾ in any direction.
• Sometimes by adjusting the second screw it is not possible to achieve a soft fit of the sash. A lever with a threaded rod will help here. By twisting / unscrewing the “shoulder”, it is easy to determine its optimal position, at which it remains only to slightly tighten the adjusting screw.

Installing a closer on the door is not only the convenience of using it. Smooth, accurate closing significantly reduces the load on the hinges, thereby preventing their increased wear and skew of the web. It is desirable to mount such a device not only at the entrance to the dwelling, but also in the outbuildings on the site, as well as in the house, if the interior door is quite massive. Well, the reader already knows how to install and adjust the mechanism.

Door closers are devices that guarantee automatic closing of the door and the smoothness of its movement. When they are installed, the load on the hinges is significantly reduced and rapid wear of the fittings is prevented.

Due to the attraction of the closer, the door tightly adjoins the jamb, which is very important when installing street structures. Most often, such mechanisms are mounted on the front doors of apartments, garages, utility rooms, as well as in public places. If necessary, they can be installed on interior doors.

Closer types

Installation at the top of the door leaf

The main indicators for all types of these mechanisms are the spring compression force, the ability to hold in the open position, the opening-closing speed and the stroke delay.

Principle of operation

Opening-closing principle

door opening with camshaft and a sliding channel requires almost no effort, therefore, such closers are installed in high traffic areas and in specialized institutions (kindergartens, places where people with disabilities live). handicapped, hospitals, etc.). The smooth movement of the door in such designs is ensured by the cam pushing the piston, which, in turn, presses on the spring. When the door leaf is closed, the piston returns to its original position, and smooth movement is ensured by the second, brake piston.

Camshaft

Door closer selection

Advice. You should not buy designs "with a margin" of power, otherwise you will have to exert excessive effort when opening.

Types of top closers

For standard street and interior doors, it is recommended to use products of class 3-5. For entrance doors it is better to select closers designed for a wide range of temperatures. In this case, the oil inside the piston will not harden in the cold.

Installation order

Mounting types

2. For the normal operation of the mechanism, the main thing is to determine its location on the door as accurately as possible and ensure its firm fit to the canvas. To simplify installation, each door closer is supplied with wiring diagram(template) with a scale of 1:1. It is applied exactly to the door leaf, and then the locations of the mounting holes are marked.

Mounting Template

3. To install the mechanism in metallic steel or aluminum profiles use special threaded steel cylinders (bolts) that do not allow the metal to deform.

4. Closers on wooden The doors are fastened with sufficiently long self-tapping screws, which will ensure maximum reliability of the connection. On plastic structures, screws are used that pass through the canvas and are fixed with nuts or washers on the reverse side.

Advice. To protect the mechanism from dust and moisture, closers should be fixed on outdoor doors only indoors.

Any of these mechanisms will work correctly only if the door is installed correctly and does not rub against the floor, and the hinges allow it to move without much effort. It is better to entrust the installation of floor and hidden mechanisms to specialists: the installation of these devices is more complicated and requires special calculations.

Closer adjustment

The layout of the adjusting screws of the closer

The spring force cannot be changed. Only the speed of movement of the door when opening is regulated: in this case, it is necessary to ensure that the door and the lever form an angle of 90 ° between themselves. If the mechanism is additionally equipped door hold function, then the fixing point is also adjusted by tightening the nut on the lever.

Closing and closing speed adjustment

In the event of oil leaks or other unrecoverable defects, the closers are removed and replaced with new ones.

A high-quality and properly installed door closer allows not only to extend its service life, but also to keep the heat in the room by ensuring automatic smooth and silent closing. The installation process may differ depending on the type of the device itself or the door, but, as a rule, does not cause much difficulty. That is why it can be done by hand.

Appointment of closers

Door closer installed

Closers are mechanical-hydraulic devices based on a mechanism with a spring in metal frame filled with oil. Most often they are installed in rooms with high traffic, as they have a number of indisputable advantages and provide:

• safety in daily use of the door;
• protection of the premises from noise and negative weather phenomena;
• energy savings due to reliable thermal insulation and the absence of drafts.

Meanwhile, the success of the door closer's performance of all these functions depends on the correctness of its installation.

Due to the presence of individual structural features of a particular door closer, it must be installed strictly following the standard instructions, as well as the recommendations of the manufacturer itself.

Kinds

Depending on the type of door structure and its functions, a certain type of door closer is selected.

Modern door closers are distinguished by design, type of construction and power. In addition, they are conditionally divided into:

• Upper, which are designed for fastening at the top of the door leaf. They, in turn, can be divided into gear-driven closers, which are driven by a special gear pin and are characterized by reliability and ease of operation. As well as closers with a sliding rod, the principle of operation of which is based on the operation of a cam heart-shaped shaft. Often they are called overhead, based on the method of attachment.

To date, the devices with a sliding rod are considered the most reliable and less cumbersome among the top closers, however, those based on a gear-driven mechanism are still the most common.

• Floor-mounted are indispensable door closers in those rooms in which the issue of door design is especially acute. Their uniqueness lies in the absence of levers that drive the axis, since the door itself is installed directly on it. Meanwhile, the main disadvantage of such structures is the impossibility of their operation with doors weighing 300 kg. and higher.
• Hidden, the mechanism of which is also hidden in the hinge body, in the array of the door leaf or door frame. This closers are divided according to the type of mechanism. They come with a sliding rod, like overhead door closers, and also with a hinge closer. In this case, we are talking about a miniature device that is hidden directly in the loop itself. Its advantage is that there is no need to once again drill the door leaf for installation, and the disadvantages are the impossibility of installation on a massive door and the complexity of the installation itself, as well as a relatively short service life due to its diminutiveness.

Floor closers are considered the most difficult to install, as they require an absolutely flat floor and an accurate calculation of the door opening path. And the simplest are the top ones. They can be installed on almost any door except glass. For her, floor devices were provided.

In case of incomplete fit of the door or low speed of operation of the mechanism, it is possible to install two door closers at the same time. Installation of door closers on doors with a leaf width of more than 1600 mm. undesirable.

What to look for when choosing

Classification table for door closers

• Classiness. One of the main properties of a door closer is the force that it is able to develop when closing the door. It allows you to conditionally divide closers into 7 classes. The choice of the optimal one should be based on indicators such as the weight of the door and the width of the door leaf. At the same time, a class 1 door closer should be installed on the lightest and narrowest doors (for example, cabinet doors), and class 7 on the heaviest and widest doors. If the dimensions and weight of the door correspond to different classes, it is better to give preference to the highest, thereby providing a margin of safety and durability. It is undesirable to install an incredibly powerful door closer on light door. It will create an extra load on the hinges, provoking their premature wear and failure.
• Availability additional features. In simple and budget models, they are usually absent. And more expensive ones can be equipped with the function of a brake for opening and closing, fixing the door in the open position, the possibility of adjusting the catch, etc.
• Ability to operate at extreme temperatures without additional adjustments, for example, below -45 and above +70.
• Door type. Only special devices with electro-hydraulic or electromagnetic elements can be mounted on fire doors.
• Working resource and the presence of protection against misuse. The first is determined by the minimum number of door opening and closing cycles that the device must complete without degrading its performance. A modern high-quality door closer can work out 500 thousand cycles or more. Often it can be equipped with a special valve that protects the door closer from misuse.

Installation options

2 door closer installation options

Ease of installation and reliability make overhead door closers the most popular. Regardless of the type of their model, they consist of a lever, fasteners and a scheme that is performed in full size. The latter, as a rule, displays the manufacturer's recommendations for installing a particular type of device.

Overhead closers can be installed outdoors and indoors on metal, plastic and interior door made of solid wood or MDF.

The process of marking and installing the door closer

With the standard technology for installing an overhead door closer, it is necessary:

• Choose a place and decide on the method of its installation - outside or inside. The second option is always preferable, as it allows you to protect the device from adverse weather conditions. In addition, the direction of opening the door matters. If it opens "toward itself", the door closer body is installed in the upper part of the door leaf from the hinge side, and if "away from you" - on the door frame. In turn, a lever is attached to the door leaf.
• Attach the 1:1 scale wiring diagram that comes with the selected door closer to the jamb and door leaf at the same time and mark the locations for future holes directly through the paper.
• Drill holes of the required diameter in the frame and door leaf.

For a door made of aluminum profile or thin-walled metal, you need to use special fasteners - bongs, designed to protect the material from deformation at the points of attachment of the elements.

• Fix the door closer body and lever shoe or lath to the door leaf or frame using self-tapping screws. To the body of the device, by using a special screw that comes with the kit, attach the second part of the lever and connect the lever in the knee.

Scheme non-standard options door closer installation

If it is impossible to install the door closer using standard technology, for example, if it must be carried out on a gate or an unusual door, you can resort to using special mounting strips or corners, the design of which is developed individually in each case.

• The mounting bracket can be used if it is not possible to fix the lever to the box. In this case, the lever itself is attached to the corner from the inside.
• The body of the closer can be mounted on a corner installed behind the upper slope of the box, and the lever can be mounted on the door leaf.
• A mounting plate can be installed on the door, which in this case should extend beyond its upper edge. Subsequently, the closer body will be fixed to it. The lever can be attached to the door frame.
• The body of the closer can be attached to the door leaf using standard technology, and the lever can be attached to the mounting plate, thereby increasing the area of ​​​​the door slope.

The process of adjusting the lever with and without backlash

The process of adjusting the installed door closer is extremely important and usually includes adjusting the force and speed of closing the door. It is carried out in several stages:

• Adjustment of the knee lever so that it is fixed at an angle of 90 degrees to the surface of the door leaf in 2 modes of operation - with and without a catch.
• Door closing force adjustment. It is carried out through the use of special adjusting screws, which are twisted to such an extent that the speed of closing the door becomes optimal.
• The process of adjusting the door closer in the “with a pop-up” mode, which is installed on a door with a combination lock or latch, provides for a clear control of the force and speed of closing the door in 2 zones. The first is the initial one, the range of which ranges from 180–15 degrees. The second is the final one, which falls on the remaining 15-0 degrees. At the same time, the speed and forces in the second zone must be slightly greater in order for the door to slam shut.

When adjusting the closer, it is extremely important to correctly unscrew the screws. Excessive zeal in this case can cause depressurization of the closer housing, resulting in oil leakage, which will lead to device failure.

• Adjustment of door braking if necessary.

Closer installation video

Installing a door closer with your own hands is quite realistic. To do this, it is enough to listen to the advice of professionals and show a little patience and diligence. In the end, they will be rewarded not only with excellent thermal insulation and an extension of the life of the door itself, but also with maximum convenience in its use.

- a great invention that helps in the operation of the door. Thanks to this device, the door does not slam when closing, does not accelerate, it is much easier to open it, no matter how heavy the canvas is. In addition, it allows you to fix the door in the open position, which is convenient if you need to ventilate the room.

However, a high-quality reliable mechanism costs relatively big money, and therefore many are interested, . In this article, we will try to understand its structure and understand whether it is possible to create such a structure on our own.

What does the conductor consist of?

The main component of any inexpensive, ordinary is a spring that is compressed and unclenched when closing and opening the door leaf. When the door is closed, a special shock absorber comes into play, which helps to slow down the movement of the door leaf, so that it does not slam against the door frame, but leans against it tightly, but smoothly. In most models, a special piston acts as a shock absorber, squeezing oil from one chamber to another. Oil and slow down. So if you're wondering how to make your own door closer, immediately try to imagine its internal structure in order to understand whether you will be able to make such a design.

What happens inside the device when the door is opened? In this case, a special bypass valve is included in the work, which ensures the reverse movement of oil. As a result, in order to open the door, you only need to overcome the force of the spring.

Of course, if you are really looking for a way, how to make your own door closer, then instead of an oil shock absorber, you can use a conventional pump - it was on this principle that the first ones were created. However, tailoring his work to specific requirements will be incredibly difficult.

But this is not all that needs to be considered when trying to create a door closer with your own hands. For example, each mechanism must have a special gear-rack system, through which the load on the spring is supplied. It is this system that is rightfully recognized as the most effective for creating door closers and subsequent control of the door leaf when closing and opening it.

There are other models of closers, which provide for the presence of a cam mechanism. Making them yourself is almost impossible.

Is there an alternative to the closer?

Let's say you decide to install a door in the entrance or improve an already installed one. The neighbors do not want to buy in a clubbing, but at the same time they stubbornly forget to cover the door leaf. You also do not want to spend your money on the purchase of a mechanism, since it is likely that lovers of easy money will simply dismantle the device. Therefore, you are interested in how to make a door closer yourself.

As it was already possible to understand from the above description of the device of the mechanism, it is almost impossible to create such a device on your own, at home. But you can think of various options devices alternative to the door closer.

In this part of the material, we will talk about how to make your own door closer or its likeness, using improvised devices.

1. Counterweight system - a roller mechanism is mounted in the ceiling next to the door, and a long cable is installed in the door leaf, which should be pulled through the rollers. A load is attached to the end of the cable, the weight of which will be so large as to reliably attract the door leaf to the box. At the same time, it should not be too large so that the door opens without undue effort and the elderly and children can freely use it.
2. The simplest method is to install a conventional spring, one end of which is attached to the door leaf, and the other to the wall. Again, the spring should not be too stiff, as the door will be extremely difficult to open. And when closing, move very quickly and push the incoming person in the back.
3. Instead of a spring, use a piece of old rubber or part of an old car tube. This method creating a "closer" is unreliable and unaesthetic.

That's all the ways how to make your own door closer or a distant likeness of it. Perhaps there are others.

In order for the door leaf to close automatically, in the old days, various springs and elastic bands were attached to it. Often this led to embarrassment when the sash managed to hit the hesitant person on the back due to the high slamming speed. These primitive devices were replaced by a modern soft-closing mechanism - a door closer, which, if necessary, can be installed with your own hands. The purpose of our publication is to explain how to make the right choice and installation of this device.

Types of closers and the principle of operation

Now on sale there are such types of closing mechanisms:

• hydraulic;
• pneumatic;
• spring.

Reference. There are also door devices for cabinets - roller-type compartments, which do not allow the sliding sash to hit the wall with a sharp slam.

Mechanism with 2-rod hinge (left) and with guide chute (right)

The hydraulic closers shown in the photo are most often used on different designs of entrance doors. The product consists of two parts - a closed body and folding rods in the form of a knee (or a single lever with a roller placed inside the channel). In the housing filled with engine oil, a toothed rack with a spring connected to the piston is installed. Moving along the axis of the mechanism, the rack rotates the gear associated with the external thrust, as shown in the diagram.

The principle of operation of the product is similar to the hydraulic cylinder of a car. When the sash opens, the gear turns and moves the rack, which compresses the spring. At the same time, the piston draws oil into the cylinder. After releasing the door, the spring tends to open up, but it is “slowed down” by the piston, which is held back by the liquid lubricant in the cylinder. As a result of the gradual flow of oil into another compartment, the door leaf slams slowly.

An important point. The automatic process is divided into 2 stages: the first 75° of rotation the leaf moves slowly, and the last 15° - quickly. This ensures the tightness of the porches and the operation of the lock. Closing speed can be adjusted with special screws.

Pneumatic closers work on the same principle, but instead of oil, they suck in and release air. The spring mechanisms shown in the photo and resembling large door hinges, and are completely simple: a spring is placed in the iron case, which presses on the door leaf through a rod with a constant force.

Pneumatic design

Before choosing and installing a door closer, you need to understand the conditions under which it should be used. There are some recommendations in this regard:

1. For street doors and gates, a pneumatic mechanism that is not afraid of negative temperatures is best suited. The fact is that the oil in the hydraulic closer thickens from the cold, which makes the closing speed slow down. Therefore, the product needs seasonal adjustment.
2. Due to the aesthetics and reliability in operation, it is customary to put hydraulic mechanisms on the front doors to offices, residential buildings and other buildings.
3. The spring closer is designed for interior and light wooden doors.

The simplest version with an unregulated spring

Each variety has its pros and cons. The spring mechanism is cheap, but not adjustable. The pneumatic device is not afraid of the cold and does not need to be adjusted, but it does not look very attractive and is inferior to hydraulics in reliability. Hence the popularity of oil closers - they are bought for most doors, despite the high price.

Automatic closing devices should be selected not only by type, but also by load. It is one thing to turn a lightweight plastic sash, and quite another to close a metal or glass door. The size of the canvas also plays a role - width with height. Therefore, products are divided into classes according to European standards EN 1154, each of which is designed for operation with doors of certain sizes and weights, which is indicated in the table.

Advice. When choosing, focus on a larger indicator of your door - width or weight. Also consider additional factors that increase the load on the closer hydraulics. For example, when the canvas is exposed to gusts of wind or drafts, it has a non-standard height or shape. Then you need to take the product 1 size larger.

It is possible to choose a door closer with the following additional features:

• synchronization of closing double doors;
• fixation in the open state or a delay in slamming for a set period of time;
• protection against sharp jerks and shocks (a hydraulic compensator is installed in the body);
• ability to function normally in cold weather.

Naturally, products with the listed functions will cost more than usual ones, but they will also last longer in non-standard conditions. More information about right choice you will learn the closer by watching the video:

Installation instructions

The closure kit includes:

• hydraulic block;
• a hinge consisting of two rods - one-piece and adjustable;
• instructions for installation and operation;
• fastener details - screws on a metal sash and self-tapping screws on a plastic or wooden one.

Note. For mounting on glass or on a door frame that is too narrow, you will have to buy additional metal fasteners. In the case of steel doors, you can use homemade corners and plates.

The closer is installed on the door in two positions - outside or inside the opening sash. The second option is preferable, since the product is protected by the canvas from the cold and vandals. If the doors open into the room, then the block is placed on the leaf itself, and the rod is attached to the box. Conversely, when plowing outward, the body is fixed on the upper part of the loot, and the lever is screwed to the canvas.

When installing the door closer with your own hands, follow the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Take a paper template from the product kit and attach it to the corner of the door leaf so that the red line matches its outline. For convenience, fix the paper with tape.
2. At the points marked on the drawing for the screws, mark the surface for drilling holes. Usually there are six of these points - 4 pcs. for fastening the block and 2 pcs. - traction.
3. Choose the diameter of the drill for the screws and make holes. Screw the closer body and the adjustable rod separately to the leaf and the door frame. If the product was supplied assembled, disconnect the lever from the gear on the block before installation.
4. The last step is to assemble the hinge. If the door is not equipped with a latch and does not require force to rebate, place a second adjustable rod at an angle of 90 ° to the door leaf. If there is a lock, the clamping force must be increased by setting the first rod at a right angle to the sash, as shown in the photo.

On the left, the rod is installed on the door without a lock, and on the right - with a latch

Note. Proper installation of the door closer is carried out with the door completely closed.

Before operation, the mechanism must be adjusted with two screws, usually located at the end of the case. Adjust the speed of closing and finishing by turning them no more than half a turn in one direction or another. For installation details, see the next video:

After reading our recommendations and watching the video, you could be sure that you can install the door closer on your own. front door is quite real. But there is one more important point– careful everyday use in compliance with the rules set out in the documentation. It depends on how long your product will last. It is worth recalling them and giving some clarifications:

1. If the design does not provide for the delay of the leaf in the open state, it is forbidden to open the door and fix it with a heavy object or rope. During this time, the oil will flow out of the hydraulic cylinder and, when closing, the spring can strongly push the piston dry.
2. It is unacceptable to "help" the sash close by applying force to it. So you can squeeze out the seals under the pressure of liquid lubricant.
3. Before mounting the closer, tighten the door hinges so that the canvas does not hang out. Otherwise, the rods will move in a vertical plane, which reduces the resource of the device.
4. Make sure that the lever hinge does not act as a leaf stop in the extreme open position. For this, there are special stops.

The maintenance of the door closer consists in the annual lubrication of the levers and the seasonal adjustment of the mechanism - in spring and autumn, when it gets warm or frosts come.

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