Locking the Panels of a Fireplace Screen / Guard

[jeffporfirio]

Need some help from the CP knowledge base.

I have two fireplace screens (double sided fireplace) like the image below and would like to lock the panels in place, wouldn't care if it's permanent.
It's not flimsy, but if a toddler leans into, it would probably fold.

Spoiler!

Any ideas are welcome.
I would love to weld them in place, but I've never welded anything in my life.
Thank you.

[Locke]

Christmas is coming....are you worried?

[surferguy]

Welding would be possible, but will require a great deal of leg work. What about some metal braces epoxyied in place? Probably simple and cheap to pull off.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Welding would be possible, but will require a great deal of leg work. What about some metal braces epoxyied in place? Probably simple and cheap to pull off.

Thanks!
I can probably epoxy the hinges in place.
Any product you would recommend?

[lazy_programmer]

Might not be strong enough for your situation, but we put a 2 of these magnets at each end of our screen. It takes a good shove to shift the screen, and I imagine if you use more it'll keep it more rigid

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware...363,42348&ap=1

we use the size C ones.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by lazy_programmer

Might not be strong enough for your situation, but we put a 2 of these magnets at each end of our screen. It takes a good shove to shift the screen, and I imagine if you use more it'll keep it more rigid

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware...363,42348&ap=1

we use the size C ones.

Thank you, this is a great idea. I can epoxy one magnet to the wall and another to the screen.
Or would one on the wall be enough?
Thanks

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Thanks!
I can probably epoxy the hinges in place.
Any product you would recommend?

Try jb weld. I've always been happy with its holding power

[lazy_programmer]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Thank you, this is a great idea. I can epoxy one magnet to the wall and another to the screen.
Or would one on the wall be enough?
Thanks

According to the specs, one size c magnet has 9lbs of locking strength, so I'm guessing that means if toddler can't push something 9 lbs you're good with one.

Also in my case, the screen sits just inside the tile border of my fireplace, so the magnets are touching metal on both sides: similar to this:
http://www.unitedfireplaceandstove.c...-3-300x200.jpg

I mention that cause I'm not sure what kind of strength you get if you use epoxy on one side.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by lazy_programmer

According to the specs, one size c magnet has 9lbs of locking strength, so I'm guessing that means if toddler can't push something 9 lbs you're good with one.

Also in my case, the screen sits just inside the tile border of my fireplace, so the magnets are touching metal on both sides: similar to this:
http://www.unitedfireplaceandstove.c...-3-300x200.jpg

I mention that cause I'm not sure what kind of strength you get if you use epoxy on one side.

Thanks, my fireplace is exactly as pictured.
Just to be clear, I would not need to epoxy the magnets ? (ie the magnets would "stick' to the fireplace frame and the screen?)
Please excuse my ignorance.

[Northendzone]

I was thinking that if you went with some kind of glue/epoxy it would to stand up to the heat thrown by the fireplace.

[lazy_programmer]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Thanks, my fireplace is exactly as pictured.
Just to be clear, I would not need to epoxy the magnets ? (ie the magnets would "stick' to the fireplace frame and the screen?)
Please excuse my ignorance.

Yes, if the screen and the frame are metal then they will stick without epoxy.

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by lazy_programmer

Yes, if the screen and the frame are metal then they will stick without epoxy.

Thanks. I will go with this solution, sounds easy enough for klutz like me.
Many thanks to all!

[GoinAllTheWay]

May not be the best solution as magnets lose their strength the hotter they get:

http://www.education.com/science-fai...s-temperature/

[jeffporfirio]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

May not be the best solution as magnets lose their strength the hotter they get:

http://www.education.com/science-fai...s-temperature/

Wow. Thanks

[surferguy]

I use a small 1/4" Lee Valley magnet on my fireplace to keep my door closed. Its been on there for three years. Ive burned a wood fire in that fireplace well over 400 times now. Ive never lost any hold power. I think magnets are your fix for this issue. At minimum its your starting point. Also those C size are incredibly strong.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

May not be the best solution as magnets lose their strength the hotter they get:

http://www.education.com/science-fai...s-temperature/

Umm... I don't think it ever gets hot enough for a magnet to lose its magnetism. From the link you posted...

If magnets are heated to the Curie point, they lose their ability to be magnetic. The dipoles become so disordered that they can’t return to their original state. Curie points are very hot, and you would not be able to get your magnets to reach them without special lab equipment. For iron, the Curie Point is 1417°F.

A fire shouldn't hit this point. The article mentions a lab to hit the Curie point.

As your boiled magnet cools from the boiling temperature of 100°C back to room temperature, it will return to its normal magnetic strength. Cooling the magnet even further to 0°C in ice water or -78°C in dry ice will cause the magnet to become stronger. Cooling causes the molecules in the magnet to have less kinetic energy. This means that there is less vibration in the magnet’s molecules, allowing the magnetic field they create to be more consistently concentrated in a given direction.

This may mean that the screen is easier to remove if the magnets are still hot, but when they cool, they should work normally again as you are not hitting the Curie point.


As far as I can tell anyways.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Yes, that article takes it to the extreme stating that they lose all magnetic properties at that temp but others articles have stated the hotter it gets, the weaker the magnet becomes, even as low as 60 degrees. And it's when they are hot that OP needs them to be doing their job.

May be a non issue but felt it was worth mentioning.

[Fuzz]

Careful with those magnets when handling. They can snap together and pinch your skin, and this hurts plenty. If they come together from a distance they can shatter. Once installed it shouldn't be a problem, just don't have to much fun with them before hand.

[jeffporfirio]

Thanks to all, really. Belonging to CP makes me happy.