I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?
They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?

On 23/03/14 21:12, Dave Rove wrote:
I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?


They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?

Will they get wet? Dry joints don't corrode - or at least not at any
appreciable rate.

On Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:25:35 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

On 23/03/14 21:12, Dave Rove wrote:
They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?

Will they get wet? Dry joints don't corrode - or at least not at any
appreciable rate.

Not direct rain but possibly condensation in the early morning because
it's a cold metal? I don't know. The vertical part of the aluminium
door frame is a hollow section that appears to be open top and bottom,
and thus exposed to the outside environment, but shielded from direct
rain by the exterior door frame.

I'd be cutting a hole into that aluminium hollow section to insert the
rivnut. (An alternative to a rivnut would be bolting right through the
frame from inside to outside but I don't know how to secure the nut on
the outside from being undone.)

On 23/03/2014 21:12, Dave Rove wrote:
I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?
They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?


If you are trying to stop them lifting the door out of its track and/or
sliding then you can fit locks that the bolt goes into a hole in the
door and the lock is screwed down through the aluminium into the sub frame.

On Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:26:36 +0000, dennis@home wrote:

If you are trying to stop them lifting the door out of its track and/or
sliding then you can fit locks that the bolt goes into a hole in the
door and the lock is screwed down through the aluminium into the sub
frame.

If I understand you correctly, you're suggesting putting the lock
sideways on the external frame so that the lock's bolt pokes horizontally
into the door? Unfortunately, the shape of the external frame doesn't
really lend itself to that in my case:

http://i.imgur.com/6daIdSo.jpg

On 23/03/2014 22:56, Dave Rove wrote:
On Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:26:36 +0000, dennis@home wrote:

If you are trying to stop them lifting the door out of its track and/or
sliding then you can fit locks that the bolt goes into a hole in the
door and the lock is screwed down through the aluminium into the sub
frame.

If I understand you correctly, you're suggesting putting the lock
sideways on the external frame so that the lock's bolt pokes horizontally
into the door? Unfortunately, the shape of the external frame doesn't
really lend itself to that in my case:

http://i.imgur.com/6daIdSo.jpg

I suspect he means this sort:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/patio-door-lock/13541

It bolts to the side of the frame and the pin at the back goes into a
hole in the door.

Colin Bignell

On Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:35:05 +0000, Nightjar wrote:

On 23/03/2014 22:56, Dave Rove wrote:
If I understand you correctly, you're suggesting putting the lock
sideways on the external frame so that the lock's bolt pokes
horizontally into the door? Unfortunately, the shape of the external
frame doesn't really lend itself to that in my case:

http://i.imgur.com/6daIdSo.jpg

I suspect he means this sort:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/patio-door-lock/13541

It bolts to the side of the frame and the pin at the back goes into a
hole in the door.

I see. I'll get a couple of those then. Drat. I'd already opened the
packets containing the other locks.

In article ,
Dave Rove wrote:
I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?
They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?

If the ally frame is only 1.5mm thick I'm not sure it's worth bothering
with a lock. ;-)

You can buy a Silverline tool for rivnuts for not a lot (I've got one).
It's quite hard work to use, but gives satisfactory results for the odd
one or two, especially on the smaller sizes. If you were doing lots you'd
want one with more leverage.

--
*What boots up must come down *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:16:34 +0000, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If the ally frame is only 1.5mm thick I'm not sure it's worth bothering
with a lock. ;-)

That appears to be the thickness of the walls of the hollow section of
the frame, which seems robust enough to form a rigid door, but does make
it unsuitable for tapping a thread.

You can buy a Silverline tool for rivnuts for not a lot (I've got one).
It's quite hard work to use, but gives satisfactory results for the odd
one or two, especially on the smaller sizes. If you were doing lots
you'd want one with more leverage.

OK, I've decided to get a different type of lock now, but I'll bear that
in mind. I did notice somebody mention cheap tools in the Amazon reviews
for rivnuts, but said that they got better results by screwing a bolt
through, then holding the bolt in place with one spanner while using
another to tighten a nut down onto a couple of washers on the rivnut.

Dave Rove wrote:

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

You can buy a Silverline tool for rivnuts for not a lot

I did notice somebody mention cheap tools in the Amazon reviews
for rivnuts, but said that they got better results by screwing a bolt
through, then holding the bolt in place with one spanner while using
another to tighten a nut down onto a couple of washers on the rivnut.

The silverline tool is OK but no better than that, I could feel/hear the
tool destroying itself as I set a handful of rivnuts, I might just be a
ham-fisted gorilla but it's not the first time one of their tools has
been worse for wear before its first job is completed - I tend to regard
their products as cheap and almost disposable.

In article ,
Andy Burns wrote:
The silverline tool is OK but no better than that, I could feel/hear the
tool destroying itself as I set a handful of rivnuts, I might just be a
ham-fisted gorilla but it's not the first time one of their tools has
been worse for wear before its first job is completed - I tend to regard
their products as cheap and almost disposable.

I've used mine quite a bit and found it ok. You must be very strong if
you've managed to destroy it - as you can easily 'feel' the rivnut
compressing.

--
*A person who smiles in the face of adversity probably has a scapegoat *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

The silverline tool is OK but no better than that

I've used mine quite a bit and found it ok. You must be very strong if
you've managed to destroy it - as you can easily 'feel' the rivnut
compressing.

Mine were stainless steel rivnuts, given it was holding a banister rail
and that I'd never used them before, I might be guilty of
over-tightening them "to be sure".

In article ,
Dave Rove wrote:
OK, I've decided to get a different type of lock now, but I'll bear that
in mind. I did notice somebody mention cheap tools in the Amazon
reviews for rivnuts, but said that they got better results by screwing
a bolt through, then holding the bolt in place with one spanner while
using another to tighten a nut down onto a couple of washers on the
rivnut.

The snag is you have to prevent the rivnut from turning - at least until
it gets a grip. Really with the Silverline tool costing about 20 quid and
with all the adaptors needed for the common sizes it's hardly worth the
bother.

--
*Never miss a good chance to shut up *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 24/03/2014 11:26, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Dave Rove wrote:
OK, I've decided to get a different type of lock now, but I'll bear that
in mind. I did notice somebody mention cheap tools in the Amazon
reviews for rivnuts, but said that they got better results by screwing
a bolt through, then holding the bolt in place with one spanner while
using another to tighten a nut down onto a couple of washers on the
rivnut.

The snag is you have to prevent the rivnut from turning - at least until
it gets a grip. Really with the Silverline tool costing about 20 quid and
with all the adaptors needed for the common sizes it's hardly worth the
bother.


These are very good (and can be used in tight spaces)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rivnut-Riv...em5 d4940dbe8

I've also had problems with the £10-£15 "gripper" ones, but not yet felt
the justification to spend £50 or more.

In article ,
newshound wrote:
These are very good (and can be used in tight spaces)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rivnut-Riv...em5 d4940dbe8

That looks like it could be useful - again for infrequent use.

--
*Bigamy is having one wife too many - monogamy is the same

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , Dave Rove wrote:
I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?

i) Any weaker than the frame? If someone can pull the nut out of the frame,
it doesn't matter how strong its threads are.
ii) You notice the bit in that video where he says you'll want the
proper tool for a steel insert rivnet? (0:58)
(But you can do modest sized steel ones the bodgy way if you have to.)

On 23/03/2014 21:12, Dave Rove wrote:
I want to fit Yale door bolts to an aluminium patio door.
( This bolt: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004J3416S )

The aluminium of the patio door frame is only 1.5mm thick, so I guess
that I'll have to insert "rivnuts" into the frame. Or something.
( This sorta thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A2KY3KG )

Apparently, rivnuts can be fitted without a special tool.
( Like so: http://youtu.be/KeaMsvai0FA#t=2m42s )

However, I've been trying to decide which metal the rivnuts should be
made from. I've really no idea what I'm doing here. Rivnuts can be made
from aluminium, but surely that's too weak for fixing a security lock?
They can be zinc-plated steel like the one above but will that cause
galvanic corrosion of aluminium? I don't know. They can also be
stainless steel but isn't that even worse for galvanic corrosion of
aluminium?

I fitted one about half-an-hour ago. There's a thingy in the pack you
put in the hole before you screw down the plate with three holes.

Andy