loft hatch retainer

[ldoodle]

Hey,

Trying to think of a creative and slick way to keep a loft hatch stayed. I don't want anything surface mounted on the frame or door (except actual handle), since I just have a bad habit of catching skin and clothes on them. E.g. not these:

My material thickness is 18mm, but I have a perimeter rabbet that will close against the ceiling. That leaves about 12-14mm usable thickness. I am thinking of getting some recessed screw in magnets (in the door) and recessed steel plates (in the lining/frame) and then a normal pull type handle.

How sensible even is this? How many magnets would likely need?

Thanks

 

[ldoodle]

My default idea was a standard cam lock. But can't find a thumb turn one of the right length - either just to short or really too long (don't want it sticking out too much)

 

[mattylad]

There are loft hatch latches available that hold it securely, they generally come with loft ladders.

If you google "loft hatch latch" you get plenty of results that show them.

Although if you want absolutly nothing on the door that can catch you, look into lots of neodyninium magnets (with holes in them) sunk into the door and a metal frame for them to stick to (vis verse).

 

[foxhole]

Replace hinges with self closers no catch required.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My hinged hatch, uses a nylon cam lock type. You turn it to release it using a stick, whilst stood on the floor. The hatch, then can fly done at speed, unless you control it with the stick - I keep intending to add a damper of some sort, when I get a roundtuit. The tongue of the am, simply enters a slot in the surrounding wood, to lock it. It came as part of the loft ladder package, no doubt they can be had separately.