Vintage windows with metal screen spline

by Jill J

Rope was used as spline to hold in vintage screens

Rope was used as spline to hold in vintage screens

I'm wanting to replace the screens for vintage metal casement windows. I have the screen frames. Originally they had metal splines. I'm told I need 3/8" (.325) spline to fit the channel. Do you have that? Or, can you use an ordinary metal rod of the correct diameter? Or do you have any other ideas for how to deal with this? I want to keep the look of the old windows plus the screen frames are metal and perfectly good. Thanks for your help! Jill

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Jul 13, 2022
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by: Adrian

Hi Jill;

I dont have 3/8" metal spline, I have seen 1/4" steel rod used in very old screen frames. 3/8" steel rod would be very difficult to work with and you have to be sure the diameter is 100% correct when working with metal

Try using 3/8" O ring cord in Buna N rubber. Its easier to work with and you can play with different diameters to some extent, heres some on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3cbtdGU

Another possibility is rigid 3/8" black PVC spline which is available from a company in New Jersey but again being a rigid material the width has to be exactly right. Soft flexible splines are a bit more forgiving

3/8" twisted sisal rope was also used to hold counterweights in old double hung windows and in the very first screens and that will work too if you find a rope of suitable diameter.

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