Sash window repairs.

[Agile]

Whilst doing a little painting I noticed one of the sash cords had broken and I tried to feed new cord down the pulley.

I am sure I had managed that before but this time it did not work so I will probably have to make up a small weight and use fishing line or something similar. Any better suggestions?

The parting beads need replacing. Whats the best way to buy these? Are they available in pretty standard sizes made for the purpose? Or is it just a matter of trying to find some ready made general purpose beading in the sheds?

Tony

 

[foxhole]

I have used a screw or nail in the past pushed in to end of cord, but you can easily take out the screws holding the pulley wheel in and feed cord in and replace, good opportunity to clean up the wheel and ensure its clear of paint.

 

[Symptoms]

Agile - when you're down at the tackle shop getting your fishing line buy either a split shot or a small barrel weight and then a fishing hook this becomes the equipment used to feed the new sash cord over the pulleys. Fix the weight or s/shot to one end of the line (length approx 2x window height) and the hook to the other end, now impale the end of the sash cord with the hook and then tread the weighted end of the line over the pulley, etc, etc. (take care not to allow the line to come off the pulley as sometimes they can jam at the side of the pulley and be very difficult to extracate.

The big problem however is access to the weights and catching the fishing line weight (by-the-way the correct/traditional name for the weight/line/hook combo is a sash mouse) - you'll need to gain access to these in the sash pockets. Usually this means first removing the staff beads and parting beads. If you've not done this before try this:
Remove the side staff bead (the inner most bead) with a chisel (do this on the inner edge so as not to bruise the visible side of the bead); this is likely the be held by 3 to 5 nails ... tip= run a Stanley knife around the paint at the joins so as to minimise paint damage to rest of frame. Then remove the vertical staff beads and then repeat for the parting beads. You will re-use these beads if possible; if you damage these then you'll have a problem in obtaining the correct size of new stuff 'cos everything is now metric and your old stuff would have been imperial (and so bigger). Take a bit of the old stuff to a timber yard (NOT A SHED) for best match - you will not get an exact match 'cos of the metric/imperial clash.

When you finish the job store the sash mouse in a tobacco tin for the next time you need it

Of course the sash mouse could be fashioned from foxy's small screw and a length of stout sewing cotton. You will introduce more damage to the existing paintwork if you remove the pulley sets.

Post again if you need more advise ... I've done hundreds of sash restorations.