Door Frames

[Longfellow]

Hi:

I recently started rebuilding a 1946 BC12D that I bought a couple of years ago as a totally dissambled airplane. It was taken apart in 1979 with the intent of rebuilding it but it went to a garage instead. The original airplane had wooden door frames but the owner at the time bought metal frames to replace the wooden ones since they were rotted. The metal frames don't fit the airplane so I want to put wooden frames back on it. I don't have the wooden originals. Can anyone tell me the type of wood used and the thickness? Thanks.

[tim]

Re: Door Frames

ya im going out to my hangar tomarrow i can get the my door frames and check

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Door Frames

The drawings for the wood doors are out there. I am pretty sure I had a set when I rebuilt mine. Seems like most of the wood was spruce and thin plywood. They are VERY light and strong. One thing I did change is I laminated some graphite tape between the spruce and plywood along the front and back of the window frame. If something is in the door and a passenger slams it a couple of times the verticle legs will break. Watch the aluminum wing to fuselage fairing. If it drops down you will need a new door top and a new fairing.
(AMAZING how many times someone can slam a door before you can cold-cock them in a tight cockpit!)
Hank

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Door Frames

You need to check and see which doors you have. The doors that fit the wood frames are different than the doors for the metal ones. The difference is in the top jamb. On the wood frame doors, the top is curved where the metal frame doors are straight

Mike

[Longfellow]

Re: Door Frames

The doors are the original to the airplane. The previous owner bought a set of metal frames that don't fit so I want to recreate the wood frames. The existing doors have the curved tops and I can pattern the curve to the door.

Ralph

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Door Frames

Share the N number, ser# or date of manufacture with me direct , [email protected] . Might save you a lot of time.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Door Frames

I beleive they are 1/2" thick and usually made of a soft wood such as Poplar. If I were making new ones, it would be from aircraft grade birch plywood. They have a tendency to bow over time with the fabric pulling on them. I may/should have patterns

Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: Door Frames

You need to check and see which doors you have. The doors that fit the wood frames are different than the doors for the metal ones. The difference is in the top jamb. On the wood frame doors, the top is curved where the metal frame doors are straight

Mike

On my 46 BC12D, with spot-welded aluminium doors and a wooden door frame, the top jamb is curved. I have seen 46 aircraft with metal frames and these also have curved jambs.

[dedrekon]

Re: Door Frames

I think I have a set of wooden door frames up in the rafters. How can I help?

Vincent

[Wayne Bradney]

Re: Door Frames

I can't help you with the door frames but I might be interested in buying the metal frames. One of mine is in real bad shape. I can't remember if it is the right or left frame that is badly eaten away.
Wayne