# Ancient Garage Door - HELP!!!!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 22, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621 "2010-09-22T08:07:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621/21 "2010-09-25T13:31:09Z")

</div>

you will bend the screwdrivers. you will not get enough tension using the screwdrivers. the screwdrivers are not a safe tool for this job.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621/22 "2010-09-26T04:14:46Z")

</div>

re. rod as cable. Score another duh! for the boy - I really should have figured that one out, huh?

As to the screwdrivers - I got the HD version of 1/2" rod - I got it through 5 turns today (it is starting to flex under the load) - the reason I stopped after one turn with the screwdrivers:

1. they aren’t the best tools (as mentioned, only one would completely bottom)
2. I didn’t want to risk damaging them.

As it is, I’m guessing the (real, grown-up) screwdrivers are stronger then the HD rods - if I were going to make a habit of winding these things, I’d go to a real metals store for the rod stock. On the plus side, the HD rods were too long (interfered with the framing) and had to be cut down. The cheap-ass stuff did cut easily…

I’m guessing, given the loading achieved wih 5 turns, that another 3 or 4 will be required. Will spend tomorrow in bed, recuperating my shoulders before continuing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621/23 "2010-09-27T19:33:05Z")

</div>

In case you’re worried.  
Got it wound, it opened and closed much more eeasily than it did before I started messing with it.  
But, hey, there’s still a chance I can get it to kill myself.

Now for a hor shower and a long rest…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621/24 "2010-09-27T19:38:24Z")

</div>

That hor shower sounds kind of nice.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621/25 "2010-09-27T19:40:58Z")

</div>

Golden, even.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-garage-door-help/554621.md?page=1)