Just found out that older windows often have weights hidden inside the frames to help them open and close smoothly...wish I'd known before I tore mine apart. Um, anyone else discover unexpected surprises during their window projects?
Honestly, I've found those weights more trouble than they're worth sometimes. When I redid my old windows, the ropes were frayed, and half the weights were stuck or rusted anyway. Ended up ditching the whole pulley system and installing spring balances instead—way simpler to maintain. Not saying your discovery wasn't useful, just that sometimes older isn't necessarily better...
I hear you on the spring balances—definitely easier to deal with day-to-day. But I gotta admit, there's something oddly satisfying about getting those old pulley systems working smoothly again. When I tackled mine, I found a couple weights that looked like they'd been underwater for decades...rust city. Still, after some elbow grease and new ropes, they glide like butter now. Guess it depends how much patience (or stubbornness?) you've got left after fighting with old windows, haha.
"Guess it depends how much patience (or stubbornness?) you've got left after fighting with old windows, haha."
Haha, patience or stubbornness...sounds about right. I remember spending an entire weekend wrestling with those pulley weights—felt like an archeologist digging up ancient artifacts. But you're right, once they're smooth again, it's oddly rewarding.
Haha, patience or stubbornness...sounds about right. I remember spending an entire weekend wrestling with those pulley weights—felt like an archeologist digging up ancient artifacts.
Haha, those pulley weights are no joke. I tackled mine last summer, and it felt like a puzzle trying to figure out how everything fit back together. Ended up watching way too many YouTube tutorials before finally getting it right. But yeah, once they're working smoothly again, it's definitely satisfying—makes you appreciate the craftsmanship that went into older homes. Glad I'm not the only one who struggled through it.
Haha, totally relate to the YouTube rabbit hole—I swear I spent more time watching tutorials than actually fixing the window. But hey, at least we learned something new, right? Now I'm eyeing my old storm windows and wondering if they're worth restoring or better off replaced...anyone tackled those before? Curious if it's another weekend adventure waiting to happen or a straightforward swap.
I restored some old storm windows a couple years back—honestly, it was pretty satisfying. Took longer than I expected (doesn't everything?), but stripping the paint and reglazing them turned out to be oddly therapeutic. Plus, the originals were solid wood and way sturdier than the replacements I looked at. Guess it depends on how much patience you've got left after your last adventure... Have you checked if yours have any rot or damage yet?