Is this phenolic or HDPE? Just questioning myself, as I didn’t know phenolic was used for such applications, bathrooms. I have been looking at using HDPE. But seeing your post makes me second guess that. I believe painting phenolic would be easier than HDPE. I think workability would be the same. Thanks for sharing this, your doors look great,
I have used HDPE for toilet partitions also and concidered using it for the doors. There are several online sources for HDPE also and you could even provide a drawing of the size with the radius corners. Of course the price goes up when you do this..
BTW, not to get too teqnical, but the small radius on the doors is a 1 gal paint can and the large radius is a wide brimmed hardhat.
Thanks for the education on this. I found a source here locally for hdpe. I think I’m going that route as it is cheaper than phenolic and has a couple other pluses. Tell me, what has your experience been with HDPE workability? I.E., cutting , sanding?
To me the phenolic sands out better but I see the advantage of using the HDPE. The HDPE can get stringy and melt if you get it too hot when sanding.. if you are just trying to smooth out the saw marks on the edge, a handheld planer may be a better option. HDPE is a lot more flexible than phenolic. If I would have had to purchase something, ida bought HDPE since it is cheaper but the phenolic was free so that was an easy choice.
I appreciate the insight. It always helps to have first hand info when you are working with something new to you. I do have a small hand planer and will keep the heat issue in mind when I get to blending out the edges, slow and easy. I could go steel but the cost is about the same, then there is the paint issue. With white HDPE I can forget the paint as my rig is white.
That is definitely an advantage of the HDPE. Color is all the way through. I will say that if you use the planer to smooth out the edges, set it on “0” or as low of a setting that removes very little material. Also, don’t use planer on the radius corners. A router with a roundover bit works nicely on the edges and gives it a very finished look.
They do look great! What did you make them out of?
1/8” sheet metal with a thick 3/4” weather strip
Good idea. Hadn’t thought about that. You could use diamond plate aluminum.
My hinges show up today!
I used a 5/16” tap that I had that matched the thread on the screws sent with the hinges. Worked pretty good. I don’t know the thread though. The tap I had has been used so much that the lettering was worn off. Good luck on your doors!
Just checked out my door hinges today myself. The existing holes are threaded for 8mm x 1.25 metric thread. Theres only a .0004 difference in size between an 8 mm x1.25 bolt and a 5/16”x 24thread bolt, so you should be close chasing the existing threads with a 5/16x24 tap and using the 5/16 bolts/ screws. I’m just going to pick up some 8mm screws as I don’t have that size tap!
10-4. I knew they were close. Good to know.
