The invention of a dry-jointed sliding door frame is paying dividends for Keith Chalklen, the proprietor of the Malthouse Joinery in Wouldham, Kent.
He says the innovation now accounts for more than 80% of his work and the design is increasingly popular with builders merchants, the new build sector and OEM bedroom manufacturers.
The success of the design centres on a Hoffmann dovetail key jointing system which allows the company to create accurate and secure dry mitre joints without glue for the rails and styles of the sliding door frames.
This means that if a glass or mirrored door is broken during delivery or installation it can be easily repaired – the frame is simply disassembled, the new glass or mirror inserted and the frame re-secured.
The mitre of the frames is cut on the profile and two corresponding dowel holes are drilled. A keyway is routed between the dowel holes on the manual Hoffmann MU2 machine and the entire door frame is boxed as a kit.
After assembly, the frame can be taken apart by removing the Hoffmann dovetail key.
