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> New 20 white plastic slide spring latches latch, window
New 20 white plastic slide spring latches latch, window
I'm not sure what these were originally designed to be; latches for storm windows or some kind of window, perhaps? But if you have a few bags stashed in your shop, you'll find a zillion uses for them. The material is some kind of tough, relatively rigid (but not hard) plastic. They appear very resistant to breakage, and not the least bit fragile or prone to cracking. They are all alike, rather than being LH and RH for different sides.
According to my scales, it takes about three (3) pounds of pressure to completely retract the latch/bolt into the housing. They would be plenty strong for "critter" cage latches, as long as the critter wasn't really big and mean. Assuming you mount the open "works" side against a flat surface, the bearing surfaces would be nicely shielded from dirt and grit. The all-plastic construction should be especially resistant to seizing, since there is nothing that can possibly rust except the little spring. Even that is zinc plated, and if you added some white grease before mounting, it should also function perpetually.
Overall length (extended): 3.105"
Overall length (retracted): 2.710"
Thickness (including thumb tab): .350"
Thickness of latch/bolt: .175"
Mounting holes: 11/64" (.172")
Hole spacing: 1.800" OC (on centers)
