Pop on over to the locksmith and have him make you a spare key you can leave
in the door while you are working on the car.

Another option would be to purchase a latch that you can install that does
not require a key to operate, or has a function where it can be locked or
unlocked as you see fit. These are very common in the US and Canada, and
while custom doesn't have them in use in the UK, I would bet that something
of this sort is available from your local locksmith.


--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.




"john hamilton" wrote in message
...
When working on my car, I bring it right up close to the house and lay my
tools out on the floor behind the front door. Since you never know when
it
will rain, it works out very handy since then all I have to do is close
the
door; and don't have to be picking up all the tools.

Now if its not warm the family doesn't like the cold air coming into the
house and they want the front door shut, which is fair enough. Since the
door just swings open I have to keep getting the keys out of my pocket to
open the door.

I would like the door to stay shut on its own accord, yet just open with a
push without having to use the keys. There is no room on the door jamb to
screw one of those helical spring self closers. And anyway in general use
we
dont want the door to close by itself. Which also rules out one of those
hydraulic self closers which could fit on at the top of the door.

Have tried using the strongest cuboard magnet I can find (In north London
u.k.), but if the wind picks up surprisingly it will just not hold. Also
tried cutting a thin wedge of cork glued to an upright jamb which makes
the
door a tight fit when closed. However the door shrinks in the summer and
expands in the winter so that only works for about half the year.

Grateful for any suggestions, especially something similar to the cork
arrangement which works just fine prividing the weather suits it.
Thanks.