Sash Windows Weight - Help Needed

[mattr76]

Hi,

This is my first posting here (or on any forum for that matter!). I've recently purchased a 150yr old Victorian semi. All of the old sash windows are sealed up (painted over, cords painted/ripped etc) and I am in the process of having them renovated.

The renovators that are working on the windows are unable to fix a few of the windows as there is insufficient room for the weights. Apparently the smallest weight you can get is 1 1/4 inch, which is precisely the amount of space we have in the side of our windows. The renovators don't think that weights have ever been put in these windows and it is a design flaw which means the windows have always been sealed.

My question is - has anyone come across a similar problem before? If so, do you know if I can get custom-made weights anywhere? OUr only other alternative seems to be to reduce the size of the window (and increase the size of the frame).

Apologies if this is a duplicate of any previous post - I have searched but couldn't find anyone with a similar problem. You can probably also guess that I'm pretty new to this whole thing and am distinctly lacking in technical knowledge.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Lime]

In situations like this I have made my own weights using lead.

 

[chuckey]

A lime said , make your own. The big thing is what weight you need, there is a possibility that as your window installer said, they were never installed. To get the maximum weight in a sash box requires a rectangular weight!!! sash weights are round(ish) because they were a cheap mass produced item, like nails. If you dont fancy casting your own lead weights, another way to go would be to go to a metal supplier and get some pieces of 1/2"or 5/8" X 2" wide black iron(its the cheapest) X what ever length you can get in. drill a couple of holes through them and wire then together then tie the sash cord to the top wire. Roughly file any burrs of the top and bottom so they don't snag.
So measure up your recesses, work out how much length you can have on the weight before they bottom. So now you can work out the max volume of steel you can use. Density = 7.8 gm/cc. if you cant get enough weight in this volume then its got to be lead (or depleted uranium). Lead = 11.3 gm /cc.
You could make a lead weight by making say 50 square washers and threading them on to a piece of rod (striaghtened out stainless steel wall tie), the problem would be to keep them aligned and not jamming, but I am sure it could be done!
Frank

 

[biffvernon]

Sometimes, smallish windows never had weights. They were just propped up with a stick or wedge. But if there is a box and a pulley at the top that does rather imply that there used to be weights.

 

[Jon Maine]

If you weigh the complete sash and allow just a tad more on the weights for a lower sash and a tad less for the upper sash you will be right. That means glazed and puttied. When you have the weights of the sashes say add a pound or subtract a pound as described above and divide by two which will give you the required weight for each sash.

Given the density of material available i.e. lead, cast iron or steel you can work out from the density the length of a square or round weight to suit your needs.

As Biff says perhaps these were only ever propped. You could follow the same route, if so perhaps you need to assess the risk for people operating them i.e. are they going to be able to do it safely? without it becoming a guilotine? or falling out whilst operating.

good luck

 

[Nemesis]

Some windows may have been fixed - a sash with two side lights may have had the side lights fixed.

We have a window without weights, never had them, it's not uncommon. Seem to work OK with friction.

 

[Jon Maine]

Oh cant beat a little bit of friction :twisted:

 

[Nemesis]

I have had a blissful day looking at sash windows in Edinburgh New Town.

Not a uPVC monstrosity to be seen. Hooray.

 

[biffvernon]

just a tad more on the weights for a lower sash and a tad less for the upper sash you will be right.

That's the wrong weigh round. The lower sash needs weights that are slightly too light so it stays firmly closed down and the upper sash needs weights that are slightly too heavy so it stays firmly cosed up. Friction keeps them in the right place when you want to leave them open.

 

[Penners]

just a tad more on the weights for a lower sash and a tad less for the upper sash you will be right.

That's the wrong weigh round.

:lol:
Just thought someone should acknowledge Biff's bijou jokette.

I made a sash weight once using flashing lead. Just cut it to a suitable width, and fold it over several times at a suitable length until you achieve the weight you need, and bash the multiple strips nice and tightly together. If you fold it over the cord, you can just bind the loose end of the cord back on itself (if you see what I mean) to secure it.

 

[Nemesis]

I was trying not to encourage him - we have enough with you really...

I also should point out that in some cases investigation will reveal (reveal.... geddit? Doh...) that the sash boxes are actually let into the the wall, and there is more space than first appears.

Careful removal of the sash pockets (for those with long site memories. I apologise for raising those dirty words) if there are any should reveal (hmmmm) the depth of how far back the boxes may go.

 

[Jon Maine]

Sorry about the long weight for my reply It turned out my long weight should have been a short weight and the short weight a long weight. My head was pounding.

 

[piper]

Sorry about the long weight for my reply It turned out my long weight should have been a short weight and the short weight a long weight. My head was pounding.

So it must have been the sash window fitters' apprentices who were sent along to stores for the long weight.

(along with the other trades going for the long stand, the tartan paint, the elbow grease etc. etc.)

 

[Penners]

... the bucket of compressed air, the glass hammer, the quick screw, the right-angle cock... In my first week as an engineering apprentice I was sent to the central stores (staffed by women) for all of those things.

I was such an innocent. Still am, of course.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

... the bucket of compressed air, the glass hammer, the quick screw, the right-angle cock... In my first week as an engineering apprentice I was sent to the central stores (staffed by women) for all of those things.

I was such an innocent. Still am, of course.

Box of grid squares; metric adjustable spanner; can of tartan paint; long stand; bubble for a spirit level; spots for the spot welder; winter air for tyres; length of shore line; K9-P solution (think about it); bottle of prop wash; 20 feet of fallopian tube;

 

[Penners]

metric adjustable spanner

Left-handed, I presume?

A bottle of prop wash? Sorry - you've lost me with that one.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

metric adjustable spanner

Left-handed, I presume?

A bottle of prop wash? Sorry - you've lost me with that one.

The slipstream of an aircraft or boat propellor, rather than a special cleaning fluid for said items. Popular RAF fool's errand.

 

[Jon Maine]

Skirting board ladder anyone?

 

[Penners]

Skirting board ladder anyone?

You can borrow mine, Jon.

You must be shorter than you sound.

 

[Jon Maine]

Nah we just have large skirting boards