Adding resistance to household door hinges

[dmjlambert]

I would like to ask you guys who know about household or possibly RV or trailer home stuff. I'm thinking of the door checks on our trucks that hold the doors in a certain position, but for home use.

Some of the doors in my house swing themselves to half closed position unless I use a door stop. I find it annoying but don't really want to re-hang or shim the doors, because I think the house will shift again and I will have to repeat. A temporary fix is to remove a hinge pin and whack it with a hammer to bend it, and re-install it. For one of the doors I use a magnet on the door stop to keep it open, but that only works if I open the door fully every time. I would like something better than bending a hinge pin and better than magnet if possible.

I am imagining there is a device that can add a small amount of resistance to a door hinge, or a separate device mounted at the top of the door like a pneumatic door closer. A very simple bar on a pivoting bracket that passes through a spring-tensioned hole on another pivoting bracket. Mount it between the top of the door and top door frame. Is there such a thing, and if so, what is it called and where can I get it?

An even better device I'm imagining for this purpose would be a spring operated thing that would close the door completely and gently, or open the door completely and gently, and it would switch from open or close function when the door passes through the mid-point of the swing. It would be best if the amount of tension or friction was barely noticeable when opening or closing the door.

I'll invent something if I have to, but I would prefer to just be a buyer.

[Ironhorse]

Was going to suggest removing one pivot pin at a time and dimple each pin with a pointed punch. Similar action adding resistance for rotation like you did with the bending of the pin.

Next option I would look for a set of hinges like the old cafe door or saloon door hinges where they self center closed and spring tension keeps it open. Think if you go to an actual hardware store you may find something similar to your liking. Not sure one of the big box stores like Lowes, Menards, Home Depot or such will have anyone knowledgeable enough to help find and fill your needs. Maybe but in todays world most attendants barely know which aisle to look for a particular item. Hope that gives you a starting point to find something.

[low'n slow]

how about a small threaded hole and a brass screw that you can adjust the tension with?

[Richard]

Adjustable self closing door hinges are available. Do a search, options will pop up.

[special-K]

I think you should go ahead and re-set, adjust, and shim the doors. I doubt your house will be doing any more significant settling

[Getter-Done]

Is this along the lines of what you are looking for?

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Produc...5763078&sr=8-6

[kwmech]

Go low tech with bungee cords

[weq92f]

.

My last house had hinges on the interior garage entry door that had tension in them but only toward closing. It had to be a simple spring arrangement inside the hinge that kept made the door tend toward closing all the time.

Hth,

-klb

[dmjlambert]

Thanks for all your ideas. I'm going to think on it. I need to go to the hardware store and browse. If I don't solve it with many hours of fabrication and $$$$ in parts, I may re-set the doors as Tim suggests. :-)

[72 tigger]

I do remodeling and handyman work. This may sound crude, but when a customer has a door that won’t stay in place, l remove one pin and take it to a concrete surface and lay it down and then smack it with a hammer. This bows the pin which creates friction. If one bowed pin doesn’t hold it, l do a second

[dmjlambert]

Thanks, I will start with that simple fix and if for some reason it doesn't last, I will move on to the next idea.

[Killer Bee]

I have one of these magnetic door stops on a bathroom door that swings open into the laundry room

one of the only doors in the house I didn't hang btw

working great for over ten years, got it at home cheapo but several different types and sizes available

$10 quick solution - good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/Door-Stoppers...dp/B0CHDVHTFD/

[jweb]

I just fixed this on our doors. Put a slight bend on one of the hinge pins.

You can watch this video ( not mine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAZ...d%27sTutorials