Super Simple, Super Easy Wooden Door Latch for Barn Doors

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

Well, hello Jim. I just finished binge watching your playlist on building this barn. WOW! You did it! I will tell you, it about brought tears to my eyes when you finished those temporary stairs and were able to step on the second floor for the first time since your accident! You have inspired me to continue working on my place. Oh, it's not nearly as grand a project as your barn, by any stretch of the imagination! But if you can manage to complete this grand project, surely I can manage the piddly projects I have to accomplish. Not to mention your encouraging words to those of us with smaller channels. I think I needed to hear those words. Thank you, stay safe, and I look forward to your future projects.

[@MrTheomighty1]

I love the title simple, it is simple when you’ve got the table saw snd all other tools when your doing it with a hand saw and oscillating tool it’s rather difficult but never the less it looks a good idea

[@mukymik6414]

It's "just a barn", no sir you have put blood, sweat and injury into it and it is part of your soul. Love the latch a good, substantial and in time easily adjustable, superb.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you and you are right. The more I get done on it the more it feels right. Still cleaning up though, probably be doing that all winter.

[@grahamallen3941]

Merry Christmas Jim to you and the family. Hope you all have a wonderful time and wishing you a wonderful new year. Love the door and latch, very nice. A merry Christmas as well to all your followers on the channel. Graham🌲🇬🇧🇬🇧☃️

[@dottiebebris9706]

I have one of those latches on my cellar door. If you want to be remembered long after you're gone, you use a peg cut from the end of the new replacement handle for the pitchfork that your other half just bought. I remember that every time I open that door!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That is too funny. Merry Christmas.

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Dear Jim, Your door latch although simple in design is very good too at doing what is was meant for. It's a strange feeling seeing you inside something that was once just a structure of sorts over you with the wind howling. Well you finally done it & with time to spare before the year is over in spite of your personal set back; I'd say you've won my old fruit. Now don't forget whilst we all love to see you forge, do some woodwork, feed the cows amongst many things; perhaps a barbecue extravaganza as a cheap excuse to celebrate the completion of the barn might be in order so that we can all see you relax a little ( nothing stops you from throwing the odd wise crack now & then!!!). Kind regards.

[@timberdoodles4647]

I just finished a tossed together door and a wooden latch, the latch was a simple tree and branch that slid like your latch into a hole drilled into the door opening post. While watching I was wondering why the peg slot, it didn't occur to me until you went out and slid the bolt that it clicked, I was having a moment. Doors really brings things together. Have a great Christmas.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas buddy. Sometimes those throw together doors are the best.

[@twagner6155]

I made a complicated steel and wood latch for my shed but that will be replaced. I like the design you have. I have seen latches on westerns that used a long piece of raw hide. There are lots of workable ideas.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Lots of ideas out there T, hope you had a good Christmas.

[@twagner6155]

Thanks Jim.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hello T.

[@clydedecker765]

Merry Christmas Jim and family. Glad you're closed in a bit. Taking a Holiday break is in order for you and the family.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas Clyde.

[@mickestahl6178]

Merry Christmas to you and the family. Take care and have a wonderful Christmas.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you sir, it was a good one.

[@brandonslater3489]

Merry Christmas TradesmanChannel family and followers. The doors look great, stay safe and keep the vids coming.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas cousin. Tell your mom I said hi.

[@troys8366]

MerryChristmas and many Blessings into the NewYear.

[@Debtfreehomesteaders]

Simple and easy. Very nice. -Will

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hello Will

[@billbooth4147]

Hardware store use to have some screws but Jim bought all them to build his door latch,lol looks good Merry Christmas Jim

[@thomasbrunosr.283]

Another good video. The place is looking better each week. Wishing you and your family a most Merry Christmas. God bless all.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Thomas.

[@jaylittleton1]

Just,,,,,,,,,,, excellent. Merry Christmas.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Jay.

[@markgoode4109]

simple, but does everything a lock should do. Excellent. Best wishes

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you sir.

[@milt7348]

Merry Christmas to you abd the family.

[@lornelepage390]

Merry Christmas Jim, Mrs. Jim and the kiddies.....hope the fat man was good to all.....Love the door latch Jim, I built one similar to that when I was out in BC...worked great for pigs until they figured if they pushed it sideways they could open it, then I had to put a short baler twine around it so they couldn't let themselves out....then I ended up just cutting the inside part of the handle off.....too smart so they ended up in the freezer.....lol

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hey Lorne, we had a good one. Hope you did too.

[@_beach0801]

Thanks for the video.,.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you for watching.

[@canninrm]

at '73 i know about shrinkage and dry...speaking about dry, i need a ice cold Jameson. Merry Christmas and a blessed and safe new year.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Jameson leads to VD...nobody wants VD.

[@starfireevony8796]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, may you have a blessed day with them🎄

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you and Merry Christmas to you.

[@tubularguynine]

Quite elegant, in a rustic sort of way! Functionality is the word, right, Jim? Merry Christmas!🎄

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas buddy.

[@johncollado1151]

Morning Jim.... Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas John and Mrs. John!

[@alancoon7059]

Merry Çhristmas Jim &fam.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you, I hope you had a good one.

[@charliesmall3189]

Merry Christmas Jim To you and yours from me and mine

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Same to you Charlie. Merry Christmas.

[@timkirkpatrick9155]

Merry Christmas, Jim and family! Tim

[@selador11]

On a shed... Where you used a 2x4, I used 3/4" by 2" aluminum bar stock. I used steel bar stock to cover it. Used carriage bolts to hold everything together. (Round head on the outside of the door.) Made the 'receptacle' the same way. Used a welded eye bolt to go through the bar and the door. A piece of angle, (1/2" thick by 1-1/2" wide. With a 1/2" hole in each face.), meant for use on unistrut, bolted through the door with another carriage bolt, to lock that eyebolt to. A local tweaker broke his foot and calf bone, trying to kick it in. =0)

[@Quaker-sn5fr]

Merry Christmas Jim, to you and your family and a happy new year. Pete

[@midom9143]

Merrry Christmas to all....

[@TheVze23sqf]

Very nice latch Jim. 👍👍👍

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas Guy.

[@timrauscher3965]

Merry Christmas Jim, to you and your family.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Tim

[@danryan3146]

That bird house door latch looks good. For my shop insulation - I went with 1" foam board after pricing spray foam (CDN$3500). Plastic-Fab makes Isolant DuroFoam (Home Depot) that has vapour barrier on one side and reflective foil on the other. Total cost with acoustic caulking was CDN$800.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That's not bad at all. I'm going to have to start it soon or it'll be freezing my ass off all winter again!

[@danryan3146]

@@TheTradesmanChannel...Even insulating just the ceiling would be good enough until next year, but I know how it goes...lots of elephant to eat...one bite at a time.

[@jmh8743]

justa another watcher, merry Christmas.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas James.

[@steveking4966]

happy hols, i am very pleased too see you getting it close to weather tight, with what you are having to deal with a great achievement , add to that what happened this year, monumental!! ;0) well done

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Steve. Hope you have a great Christmas today.

[@andrewsarles3520]

Merry Christmas!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas to you as well.

[@jeffkrug5541]

Simple and effective, a little wax will help the glide. Merry Christmas to your family and to you Jim and a Happy New Year's as well. See you on the other side ❤

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Jeff. Have a good New Year.

[@waynecarlson3736]

Merry Christmas Jim from my Clan to yours.. Be well

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Wayne, I hope yours was a good one.

[@keithparady2594]

Happy holidays

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Ron.

[@robertalexander9931]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Always enjoy your videos.

[@ManJO601]

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you, same to you.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Merry Christmas to your whole Fam Damily! Nice simple latch design, has worked for hundreds of years. You might consider a beveled bolt with the keeper having the reverse bevel. Would tighten the door closed when fully engaged, and when things start to shrink, the bevels facing each other will still allow the door latch to tighten the closure. That's how I built one with my grandpa 30+ years ago, and it is still working for the folks living on my grandparents property. (Just went down on Saturday and checked in with them, to wish them a merry Christmas, and to visit my grandparents' graves (along with the graves of my great-grandparents and great uncle.). I know they're gone, but it just isn't Christmas without a drive to grandma's. And yes, we do drive over a few rivers and through some woods.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It is funny how the feelings of Christmas change as we get older. I love Christmas but it has turned into such a mad dash of commercialism that it just doesn't feel like it used to.

[@donnellsmith9056]

Nice job!! More progress all the time!

[@GeorgeJirout]

Ah, the Jedi at work! Hehehe! Looked good from this side ;)

[@pamelaarescurrinaga3295]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jim, from Norco, California.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you, Merry Christmas.

[@techronmattic5876]

Nice work Jim, I think a good improvement on this design would be to mount the timber dowel handle in the middle of the sliding timber, looks like it will operate better once it's had a little use though

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It's already working smoother.

[@IronClad292]

Nice!! I like the latch. Oh, from a personal perspective, I hate spray foam. It sucks when repairs are needed, especially when the foam gets old. Been there, done that, LOL.......

[@chatbrewster6630]

Merry Christmas Jim and all the family. And Merry Christmas all here on TTC.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Chat

[@paultanner2007]

That is too cool brother! Screw the piss out of it... lol that’s what shirley told me.. lmao. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family.

[@jimreynolds5967]

Merry Christmas to your family from ours.

[@ssx2channel977]

Merry Christmas 🎄 Jim and family💚

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Don, sorry about the slow response time, it's been busy.

[@joefranklin9380]

Merry Christmas.Great door.

[@richardhaughey532]

Merry Christmas

[@nyjohn12]

Story to tell. Went to Laguardia Airport in NYC to pick up my daughter. My wife and I were standing at the gate exit watching passengers leaving. Here comes a gentleman - Santa Claus - not a look alike, a full dressed, red hatted, red suited, black boots, white fur trimmed Santa Claus. I turned to my wife and said that it looks like Rudolph and the other reindeer are on strike this year - Santa had to fly coach. Santa went up to every kid he saw and spoke with them. Only in New York. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That must've been fun to watch. Hope your Christmas was a good one.

[@davidbromyard674]

Merry Christmas from the UK

[@ThCrunch]

If you cut a taper into the slider & catch it would snug up nicely and take some of the play out

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

You are right

[@cjkz71]

Merry Christmas Jim. wishing you and your family a happy new year.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Chris, same to you buddy.

[@johncourtneidge]

Peace and blessings all!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you John.

[@ajtaylor560]

Another good info video James. All the best of the season to you and yours, you know the new year will bring you good things.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you AJ.

[@danielw.hanninen1176]

Nice door latch, very easy operation. Merry Christmas Jim, to you and your family and have a great New Year.!! Dan.

[@fasteddy4929]

Merry Christmas God Bless you and yours! !

[@WillowRunMills]

Merry christmas

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Dane.

[@cobberpete1]

Simple but effective. Well done. Have a Great Christmas

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas Peter.

[@stephenmartin8587]

Merry Xmas to you and your family

[@adirondackharold8574]

I learned something new today. Thanks buddy. You and your family have a very Merry Christmas. 🎄🎅

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas Harold.

[@elliotazus6258]

Jim it's a mighty fine door latch for a barn. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!! I'm looking forward to more videos in the new year. God bless you and your family!!

[@dnmtorp]

Same design I use for temp door on a construction site except instead of a wooden pin I use threaded rod and a few nuts. Merry X-mas and Happy New Year.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas.

[@kphonda94]

Great video thanks

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you for watching. Merry Christmas.

[@fmesser100]

I can watch someone else work for hours! So much fun to see your progress, it’s wonderful. Merry Christmas and enjoy your time with your family Christmas Day. Fred

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I like your style. Late Merry Christmas Fred.

[@totherarf]

A merry Christmas to you and yours! Insulation is a whole new area ... in the UK we tend to use fibreglass wool in the roof joists ... or insulation board cut to size dependant on the situation! Foam can cause problems when applied on wood with regards molds and once it is on it is on. If you use boards at least you can unscrew them and check above (handy for leaks too)!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hello Dave, I'm going with board insulation with fiberglass or rockwool underneath. I want this shop warm!

[@totherarf]

@@TheTradesmanChannel ...... Well it is pretty cool as it stands ;0)

[@totherarf]

What are you going to use as a heat source? Also you may have problems with rockwool as your outer boards shrink and leave gaps that the wind you love so much can drive rain through! This could cause damp cold spots (not what you want in a timber building)! As always it is compromise ;0)

[@jjhauntsmadness9021]

Jim talk to Tim in maintenance at Samaritan. He had a buddy that was selling insulation panels i believe 3in thick for 5 bucks a piece. i believe they were salvaged off a roof job or something like that. Im here today ill give him a call for you if your interested.

[@bruce1816]

Jim, merry Christmas to you and the family. Great door latch !!!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Bruce, I hope your Christmas was good.

[@davidtemke9394]

Merry Christmas to you and yours ; nice simple latch but I see a flat iron project or a reuse project ,like horseshoes and flat iron , railroad spikes , etc.

[@jeffskewes9456]

oh yea Im getting ready do a small work shed here in back yard when it pick up next week send u some pics, as it goes

[@shannonfugate1756]

Merry Christmas jim from Tennessee

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you

[@theshadow1559]

Happy Holidays To All : Might I suggest that you coat both the upper and lower sides of the sliding board with Bees Wax, paste wax or something similar, which will help the slide to move quietly without dragging or binding.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That is a good suggestion and I have a good supply of beeswax here.

[@grebdnulyrag]

Merry Christmas Jim

[@clifffinch9052]

Merry Christmas jim....love the door!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas Cliff.

[@alexwilson9311]

Thank you for all the entertainment this year and I’m looking forward to seeing your channel in 2019 have a merry Xmas and a happy new year one and all 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Alex

[@aaronstroud5278]

I'm looking forward to the video where the boy and the master of disaster team up to rig a remote controlled lock for the door.

[@JMyers9518]

Merry Christmas Jeffery A. Myers Opelousas, Louisiana

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Jeffery.

[@michaelkroeger2047]

Afternoon James, Merry Christmas! Michael

[@scotty362100]

Just a thought, If you want to make your post and beams look like you just cut and installed them, look into Dry Ice Blasting Companies. It is very reasonably priced (dry ice is dirt cheap), and in 4 hours labor they will be in and out, and the timbers will look brand new, and will give you a chance to oil them to retain the look. They are used a lot in mold remediation, as it causes no damage to the wood.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That is a great idea, thanks for sharing.

[@wymershandymanservice9965]

Very true , I had a house just a couple years back I bought for a remodel project. It had a leaky roof had a lot of it dry ice blasted and the outcome was amazing. Merry Christmas 🎅👍

[@grebdnulyrag]

I have to put one of those on my horses door on the barn been trying to figure out what to do I think I’ll steal your design if you don’t mind.

[@James.......]

Merry Christmas, Jim!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Merry Christmas James.

[@newdogatplay]

Nice setup jim,merry christmas

[@lastingbuild1373]

Merry Christmas Jim! I hope Santa 🎅🏼 is good to you!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hey buddy.

[@frodehau]

As someone else said, candle wax works great on moving parts made of wood.

[@Tomhohenadel]

Merry Christmas jimmy

[@johnkoopman1433]

Santa shouldn't have any trouble getting in through that man door with your new latch, you know how to make it easy for him to get in with all those presents, right? LOL It will serve the purpose for now, as you say, when things dry out you put the final tweaks on it. Merry Christmas to you and yours. - John

[@454pakr]

Works well! Merry Christmas!

[@waynebrown1609]

love it, that's a super nice just a barn , not.

[@dannywilsher4165]

I'm just curious, why do you use the drill to drive your screws? The impact is a far superior driver in my humble opinion. I'm really enjoying the barn build!!! Awesome job sir!!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I am using an impact to drive the screws. In green, soft pine it doesn't always have to use the impact action to drive short screws in. I agree with you 100% on impact vs. drill.

[@dannywilsher4165]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Thanks for the reply Sir!!! I want to build me a shop along the lines and style of your barn someday. Keep on keeping on!!!

[@rickayers3150]

Nice lookin bird house jim, merry xmas

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thanks Rick.

[@farm_in_themiddleofthewood3339]

Looking great!!! We have been doing some Winter milling but our mill shed is still very open.... but it is still a roof! LOL!!! Merry Christmas to you and we hope that 2019 is a safe and productive year!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you. I'm sorry I'm taking so long to reply, tis the season of crazy.

[@newandoldtech5634]

Simpler_ put a piece of board (ca 1 feet long, 1 inch x 2 inch)) on the inside of the door. Let the board extend 1 inch in to the side of the wall. Put a bolt (joint) on the door end of the board 1 inch from the end of the board. Drill a hole a couple of inches over the latch Close to the side of the door and put a string through the hole from the outside. Attach it to the latch. Voila. Can be improved in many ways. If you have double doors, put a lever that is jointed a couple of inches from the top and grab the upper door beam. The first latch is for the most commonly used side of the double doors.

[@newandoldtech5634]

www.snugcottagehardware.com/Snug%20Product%20Pages/Latches%20for%20wood%20Traditional/Wooden%20Latches.html Cant find a Picture for the other one but it is bigger and have the joint Close to the top of the door, and pivot around that bolt. Board a couple of inches over the bolt (just enough to secure the door) and 2-3 feet under for a lever.

[@joegraves1595]

You chamfered the end of every tenon you cut but not the end of that 2X4. I’d think that would be a good place for a chamferedend. Kinda looking forward to some furniture making videos,too.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good morning and Merry Christmas. I made it just loose enough where the 2x didn't need it but once everything shrinks I'll take a chisel it.

[@jeffskewes9456]

hey merry xmas jim.. well it works I was expectin a little more after all the jointry work you did on the whole barn its simple and it works

[@jaredwait5471]

Merry Christmas Jim!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Yessir! Merry Christmas Jared.

[@jaredwait5471]

Damn, I hate auto correct! No idea how it got Dry when I typed Merry?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Damn auto correct, I do it all the time.

[@KoalityofLife]

Is the door shorter than normal or are you standing on a block in the first part of the video. Nothing against a short door if thats what you want, I was just wondering. :)

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I made it 6' tall. Just a tad shorter than me. Wanted the opening as small as possible to take as little as I could out of the main door.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Gotcha. Very cool latch. :)