Closing front door after painting

[endecotp]

Do any of you have any tricks for how to not have to keep a freshly-painted front door wide open for hours and hours after painting?

 

[emilybronte]

No, in a word. Some people put a layer of Fairy Liquid or vaseline over the edge of the door (the bit which touches the frame). This stops it sticking but if the paint is at all tacky, it may smudge or come off onto the frame.

With oil based paint you need to allow 24 hours at average humidity for it to dry properly, sometimes longer if it's very humid (or heatwave temperatures) outside.

If security is an issue, fit a chain to the inside so nobody can get in even if the door is left ajar, plus a chair full of pans just behind it so if anyone does manage it, they will knock it over and the noise will be heard upstairs.

 

[JohnD]

if you take the staple ("keep") of your mortice lock out of the frame, which you should do when painting the frame, then the lock will no longer hold the door tightly against the jamb, so you can put a few matchsticks at the very top and the bottom of the door, to prevent it touching elsewhere. This will prevent it sticking, and allow air to circulate, encouraging drying.

Yes, when you put the staple back, run a smear of Vaseline down the touching surfaces, it really will prevent sticking. Just a slight smear off your finger, not great greasy gobbetts.

 

[endecotp]

if you take the staple ("keep") of your mortice lock out of the frame, which you should do when painting the frame, then the lock will no longer hold the door tightly against the jamb

Yes, I've taken it off but haven't yet checked how much of a gap that will leave, if any. It is tempting to remove a bit of wood to make it looser.

 

[JohnD]

Yes, I've taken it off but haven't yet checked how much of a gap that will leave .

Enough.

 

[emilybronte]

not great greasy gobbetts.

What a wonderful description, even if it does remind me of McDungballs food.