Bay double hung double fronted sash windows HELP

[Teresa]

Hi, was hoping someone could help me. i am in the process of un jamming and re cording and weighting my victorian sash windows but i have a problem and i cant find the information any where.

The problem is with the bay sash window, its a three sided one but it has two double hung windows on the front side and a single double hun window to each other side. The weights arent a problem on the side ones or for one of the front ones. But if i try to get the other front one working all the weights get caught up in the middle colum as the colum isnt big enought for all the wieghts to run smoothly together. Is there anything i can do or is it just a case of only having the one window working at the front.

I would really appreciate the help.

 

[Mark]

why cant they run smoothly - is there actually space for them to pass ?

Could you fit a sheet of ply or something down the middle to keep them seperate? or some lengths of plastic pipe ?

Thinner weights ?

 

[Teresa]

there isnt enough room for all four of them. I have tried stagering them and also tried putting bigger weights on the outside to counter balance me putting smaller weights in the inner column but to no avail. Is there anywhere i can get a pic of how the four should sit togther?

 

[Mark]

Not sure what sort of a diagrm you are looking for

I would expect

+---+
|O O|
|O O|
+---+

something like that. Each weight needs to go up and down so should have its own column in the frame. You do see partitions between weights in some windows.

but they shouldnt interfer with each other? Is it possible that the weights in use are thicker than they should be ?


you could always use a spring mechanism - but the purists will burn your windows down!

 

[Teresa]

I've been getting the weights from the local recycling centre. Have been picking the thinnest ones possible. Is there anywhere you know of that i can buy thin weights from?

The central column is only narrow but i'm pretty sure that all four weights are meant to go in it.

 

[Mark]

you can make them.

Are the ones you have lead, steel or iron ?

Do they hang vertically or are they offset ?

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, you can buy thinner weights - I posted an address recently on another thread about a similar problem.

 

[Teresa]

They hang vertically. Not sure what they are made of they're just long solid tubes.

 

[Nemesis]

Usually they are cast iron, but you can have lead ones cast. It may be that you will need to get thinner weights, in order that they can pass each other, but they do need to be of the correct weight to balance the sashes.

 

[thiambal]

Having sorted through weights recently at a reclamation yard I can vouch for the large variation in diametres even for the same weight weights.

I am guessing from what you said that you are replacing weights and not suing the originals - you will I assume have weighed the sash to work out the weight needed. If any of the sashes have been reglazed with moder glass they will have increased in weight - you may be trying to put in larger weights that would have originally been there.

Also check to see if there is anything in the box to prevent smooth movement of the weight - we had some damn fool screw long screws into the box, cut off and fill over the entry point. This was only discovered using a complicated and rather heath robinson compbination of lights and mirrors.

Hope this helps

 

[biffvernon]

Not sure what they are made of they're just long solid tubes.

Because lead is heavier they can be thinner. Lead is grey and if you scratch it with a knife it is soft and you see fresh metal that is shiny silver. Iron is too hard to scratch and probably a rusty reddish grey. And not so heavy.

 

[Nemesis]

Quite a useful article:

http://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk/diyelem/windows/winsashremv.htm

Loads of links if you google, here's a pic of weights:

http://www.ratman.co.uk/Sash+weights_product.html

 

[gsport george]

Also cast iron or steel will attract magnets while lead wont...