Sliding or Bypass Closet Door Hardware--Review

[scmhogg]

In several of the bedrooms in my house, the closets have sliding/bypass doors that hang on a track by plastic rollers. These are a real PIA. If you roll the door over something they pop off the track. Then they are really difficult to put back.

My son had so much trouble with them that I took the doors off and stored them in the garage. Now that he has a place of his own, we decided to re-install the doors.

A little research on-line led me to the Johnson Hardware Company [L.E. Johnson Products, Inc.] They have a three wheel set-up, with ball bearing nylon wheels. They can't pop out!



I bought the medium duty 8' set. $86.00 include two tracks and all the hardware needed.

I installed them yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. The heavy wood doors glide with just a touch. I sure wish I had found this hardware years ago.

Steve

[Tequila]

Good for bifold closet doors too

They also have a bifold door kit that handles large doors. I installed one of their tracks on an 8' closet opening using (4) 24" door slabs a couple years ago, and it still rolls smoothly.

[twistsol]

I have a pocket door setup from them for the girls bathroom. We've had a 36"solid wood door working for over a year with not issues at all. It's one of the best products we used in the remodel.

The pocket doors on my wife's closet (some other brand) come off about twice a month and are nearly impossible to put back on because you can grab only one side of the door while trying to wiggle it into place.

[parnelli]

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I've been looking at those EXACT pieces for about 3 weeks trying to decide.

Do you have an opinion on how they'd work without the bottom track part of the kit? It's being strongly suggested by the decision maker that part doesn't pass the test.

[scmhogg]

Parnelli,

I didn't buy a bottom track and I just don't think it is necessary. The kit includes three small guides that you screw to the floor to keep the doors aligned.

Steve

[cabinetman]

A little research on-line led me to the Johnson Hardware Company [L.E. Johnson Products, Inc.] They have a three wheel set-up, with ball bearing nylon wheels. They can't pop out!



Steve

I just installed some closet doors made up from 3/4" Maple plywood, and used a trolley 2 wheel Stanley by pass hardware kit. The track has a small capture to help keep the rollers seated, but the design can be defeated by angling the door and lifting.

In looking at your roller system and the design of the track, do the rollers get inserted and then track installed. IOW, are the rollers totally captured. If you have to remove a door...what's the procedure?
.

[Tequila]

In looking at your roller system and the design of the track, do the rollers get inserted and then track installed. IOW, are the rollers totally captured. If you have to remove a door...what's the procedure?
.

The roller assembly comes in two pieces. The captive roller piece has a bolt with a flanged head, like a t-track bolt. The second piece is a keyhole assembly that gets attached to the door. You lift the door so that the bolt head fits in the keyhole, slide it so that the bolt is holding the weight of the door, then move a plastic capture lever to keep anything from shifting. The bolt assembly also allows for adjustment up and down to help level out the doors.

It sounds complicated to describe it, but the design is pretty clever and very easy to use. Removing or installing a door takes about 30 seconds.

[cabinetman]

The roller assembly comes in two pieces. The captive roller piece has a bolt with a flanged head, like a t-track bolt. The second piece is a keyhole assembly that gets attached to the door. You lift the door so that the bolt head fits in the keyhole, slide it so that the bolt is holding the weight of the door, then move a plastic capture lever to keep anything from shifting. The bolt assembly also allows for adjustment up and down to help level out the doors.

It sounds complicated to describe it, but the design is pretty clever and very easy to use. Removing or installing a door takes about 30 seconds.

Now that you mentioned that, my memory (CRAFT) got joggled. I do remember fiddling with those on the jobsite. They were only 2 wheel, not three. Hey, if 2 is good, 3 must be better.
.

[final_t]

FYI, the web site for these is at:
http://www.johnsonhardware.com/sdindex.htm
Maybe saves a little stumbling around google.

[scmhogg]

Cab,

Tequila described the way they attach. This picture shows it a little better.



It is really easy to take the doors off if you want to. In fact, I intend to take them off when we re-paint the room. The adjustment is a bonus. You can level each door, or, as I had to, lift the doors off the carpet.

Steve

[scmhogg]

Just to add an exclamation point to my review...

My puppy chewed up one of the nylon guides that mount on the floor.

I sent a "my dog ate my..." email to the Johnson Company. The next day I got an email from Mr. Johnson. The part is in the mail at no charge!!

Steve