Sash balance windows - how to access weights

[RussellB]

I'm working on an old house and replacing broken sash cords in the double-hung windows. When you open the lower sash there is a door to access the weights in the sash channel. However, some of these doors are nailed into place from the facade strip facing the indoors. This is the architrave like trim that frames the window. The interior architrave trim is clear coated cedar so I don't want to chew into it to extract the nails, but is there another way to prize out the nails so I can remove the weights cover? The weight doors are pretty tight fitting and need a putty knife to prize out, even without the headache of nails. There is two nails, one at the top and one at the base.

[Fekit]

Some pics would be good. Are we talking big nails or small panel pins?

[RussellB]

I’ve left the job so won’t be back for a few days. These are flat head nails at least an inch long. They may be just in loosely but you can’t access the underside of the head without gouging the timber. I’m not sure if there’s a trick to them or whether this was standard assembly or added later, it seems unnecessary anyway. Otherwise I’ll try lifting the facade trim go see if I can nudge them that way.

[Fekit]

Otherwise I’ll try lifting the facade trim go see if I can nudge them that way

Best of luck with that one. I've done things like that many many times, hopefully it'll lift enough to get a solid blade or chisel in front of the nail, if you can get that you should be good.

[Beardy]

You basically need to do whatever is required to remove the pocket covers,
Can you prise the covering trim off enough to get a hacksaw blade or multi tool in to cut the nails holding it in? or use a pin punch and drive the nail right through ?

[Handyjack]

I have just had a similar experience replacing sash cords.
In your case I would do as Beardy suggest, use a multi tool to cut the nails.
In my case I had no fasteners, but the covers were a good fit and as I was only working on the inner pain I just kept working with either a couple of screwdrivers or chisels until I was able to pop the cover out. All my gouge marks were covered once the trim bits were replaced.

[justonething]

Just double check it's not a screw but a nail.

[rwbuild]

Exactly as beardy said :2tsup:

[Fekit]

Just double check it's not a screw but a nail.

Yep, been caught with that old chestnut, slotted screws bunged up with paint.

[Handyjack]

Yep, been caught with that old chestnut, slotted screws bunged up with paint.

In my case I went looking for a screw. Used a dremel with sand drum and all I found was the old red primer and then bare wood. Just a good fit.

[droog]

To remove the weight box covers you need to remove first the staff bead then the parting bead, the weight box cover can then be prised out, it may have a nail in it but often it is simply held in with the two beads.

The cover is not designed to be removed without removing the beads.

Guide to the construction.
https://www.sashwindow.com/images/pdfs/technical_guides/Technical_Guide_-_Sash_Windows-final.pdf

If there are nails from the architraves surrounding the windows holding the cover in these can be cut with a hacksaw blade once the staff bead is removed.