[TheForge] Gate Sag Problem

[mike wolfe]

While theforge was shut down this weekend I asked this question to the
artmetal people and got some good information.
Now that theforge is back on I would love to have your input!!


I have a stone, cement, and steel support column that is 24 in. x 24 in.
square and 12 ft. tall. It is supporting one side of a heavy gate, my
guess between 450 to 550 lbs.

This is a free standing column and the base underground is 36 in. square
and 48 in. deep.
In the center of the stone column is a 6 in square tube x 1/4 in. thick
wall. There are three 6 x6 x 1/4 by
9 inch long horizontal arms, welded to the vertical, there is a 8 in. x
8 in. x 3/4 inch. plate welded to these three arms. The three barrel
hinges that support the gate are welded to the plates.

The whole thing was then filled with cement including the steel tube
inside the column.

I was out at the site last week and noticed that the spacing  was
getting closer at the top. This would indicate the dreaded gate sag
problem.

Using a smart digital level  and a smart digital  protractor and  I have
determined that I an not getting the dreaded gate sage problem, "but"  I
am getting the dreaded column lean problem.

The column is leaning towards the gate about 1/2 degree.
I wonder what will happen after all the frost heave this spring?

I think I have figured out how to fix the problem by drilling through
the left column and adding plates and bolts and then drilling through
the very far left column. I would then put a turn buckle system in
between the the two columns, hidden behind the horizontal  bar with the
gold spikes on the "man" gate section. I then would connect a turn
buckle system to a steel post sunk into the ground behind the brick
retaining wall at very far left in the picture.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I am placing a photo in photo access for theforge in the "work category"
named "Wolfe gate"

Thank you
Mike Wolfe