Beautiful door-really a nice piece of work- Were it for my house there would be some questions-- Does it work? Will it last? How much maintenance will it require?
"The door’s custom locking mechanism is complex: Turning the inside knob counterclockwise engages three dead bolts and disengages the outside knob; turning the inside knob clockwise re-engages the outside knob, disengages the dead bolts, and engages two latches."
Hobbits don't lock their doors from the outside, silly.
But you do get the idea that the people who write these stories failed to ask the critical questions, don't you? Have you tried getting any useful information out of news reports on the Malaysia Airlines flight?
I'm pretty sure they go in and out through a side door or the garage instead. No need to lock it from the outside.
He's an engineer, so I'll guess that the hardware is sound- the hinges look like they'll outlast any standard hinge. And if there's a problem with the hardware, he'll know how to deal with it, as he made it.
I'm more puzzled by the 5 1/2 foot diameter of the door- even with a two inch threshold, the 'header' is only at 5'-8", and only in the very center- Watch your head!
Eric- We tell our students that there is a difference between complexity and complicatedness- complexity has at it's heart a simplicity and a logic. Complicatedness loses that and becomes about the complications themselves. I think they've succeeded in making it complex- not just complicated.
Raven- I'd say in many ways it would work better and last longer than a standard door. First- it has no threshold, which tends to be a problematic point in sealing air leaks (thus the draft stoppers you see many people using). The jambs are much easier to seal well. I'd also imagine that a door that special and so different than any other door you've ever encountered (for most people) is less likely to be slammed, or otherwise carelessly handled, and therefore gains in longevity. It's also pretty clear from the size of the hinges that they'll easily hold that door for a long time without sagging (assuming good anchorage). I'm not so wild about the aesthetics of the hinges though, and if you're going to make them that heavy-duty anyway, why not swingarms that would swing the whole door in rather than the pivot hinges that swing most of the door in and the small portion past the hinges out? That would also serve to make the door not need three deadbolts to hold it if someone took the hinges off from the outside- then you'd only need one deadbolt. Fewer moving parts.
So, I like his intent to not settle for simple and effecient- but I'm not sure one can't strive for complex and wonderful and also simple and effecient.
That's a beautiful door. However, there may be an exception to the principle in houses with children. :)
ReplyDeleteThat would Be Obamacare: wondrously complex and full of wonder in its foolishness and complexity.
ReplyDeleteAnd so it applies to government projects generally. Truly, our government meets this criterion fully. How fortunate we are.
Eric Hines
If the children are hobbits, there should be no problem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful door-really a nice piece of work-
ReplyDeleteWere it for my house there would be some questions--
Does it work? Will it last? How much maintenance will it require?
My question is much more basic.
ReplyDelete"The door’s custom locking mechanism is complex: Turning the inside knob counterclockwise engages three dead bolts and disengages the outside knob; turning the inside knob clockwise re-engages the outside knob, disengages the dead bolts, and engages two latches."
How does one lock it from the outside?
Hobbits don't lock their doors from the outside, silly.
ReplyDeleteBut you do get the idea that the people who write these stories failed to ask the critical questions, don't you? Have you tried getting any useful information out of news reports on the Malaysia Airlines flight?
I'm pretty sure they go in and out through a side door or the garage instead. No need to lock it from the outside.
ReplyDeleteHe's an engineer, so I'll guess that the hardware is sound- the hinges look like they'll outlast any standard hinge. And if there's a problem with the hardware, he'll know how to deal with it, as he made it.
I'm more puzzled by the 5 1/2 foot diameter of the door- even with a two inch threshold, the 'header' is only at 5'-8", and only in the very center- Watch your head!
Eric- We tell our students that there is a difference between complexity and complicatedness- complexity has at it's heart a simplicity and a logic. Complicatedness loses that and becomes about the complications themselves. I think they've succeeded in making it complex- not just complicated.
Raven- I'd say in many ways it would work better and last longer than a standard door. First- it has no threshold, which tends to be a problematic point in sealing air leaks (thus the draft stoppers you see many people using). The jambs are much easier to seal well. I'd also imagine that a door that special and so different than any other door you've ever encountered (for most people) is less likely to be slammed, or otherwise carelessly handled, and therefore gains in longevity. It's also pretty clear from the size of the hinges that they'll easily hold that door for a long time without sagging (assuming good anchorage). I'm not so wild about the aesthetics of the hinges though, and if you're going to make them that heavy-duty anyway, why not swingarms that would swing the whole door in rather than the pivot hinges that swing most of the door in and the small portion past the hinges out? That would also serve to make the door not need three deadbolts to hold it if someone took the hinges off from the outside- then you'd only need one deadbolt. Fewer moving parts.
So, I like his intent to not settle for simple and effecient- but I'm not sure one can't strive for complex and wonderful and also simple and effecient.
"Watch your head!"
ReplyDeleteHobbits have but small stature.