Making screen doors

[Miss Lily]

I have a spare wooden viv that i would like to make some screen doors for. Ideally I would like to make use of the runners to save having to affix some hinges and fastenings. However, I am no really sure where to start. I understand that balsa wood may be the best option but I would like to know how to join it at the corners when making the frame and also how to fix the screen to the balsa. I am thinking possibly a glue gun but not entirely sure on that either! Any other ideas? Has anyone used balsa wood to make door frames before? Is it easy to cut and work with?

Failing that, I may just get some wood and make one large wooden door frame and attach screen to that.

 

[PressurePro]

Two ideas come to mind for you:

1. You could make sliding screen doors out of window screen and the aluminum track with which the screen is pushed into with a pizza cutter type tool. There are a couple threads which display it, maybe search for diy screen cage. You could even google window screen repair and you should get some hits. You could then place the screened framer in a sliding door track. This link dislays the type of track, they are available in plastic and metal. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2275

2. I don't know what type of wood enclosure you currently have. But if you have ventilation near the bottom and top, which would create a convection current, you could also use sliding glass doors which run in the same track shown in the link above. A local glazier could assist you with providing the exact dimensions of glass you need so it fits in the track properly. The glazier might even carry the sliding track. The glass doors would provide a nice view into your enclosure.