[TheForge] gate question

[Ries Niemi]

I tend to overbuild everything, but I just cant see how inch and half by eigth inch wall square tube wont sag a lot more than a little, over that distance. I can practically bend that stuff over my knee- it will sag inches over thirteen feet just from its own weight.

If it was me, i would want some kind of diagonal brace, worked into the design.
Or some kind of beam across the bottom- 8" or 10" tall, box structure that was 13' long, stiff enough to resist sag, and the rest of the gate would just sit on it. 13' is  a LONG gate. I just did a 10' or so gate, from much much heavier material, and it still sagged enough that there was no question that a wheel was essential. 

as for the angled square holes- a die grinder is probably your best bet. 

a recent angled railing I built was, luckily, round pickets, and I drilled the picket holes at an angle, on the bridgeport, tilting the head and using an annular carbide drill. But square- thats tough. 

ries


On May 12, 2014, at 11:09 AM, <wmullett at bright.net> <wmullett at bright.net> wrote:

> The biggest problem will be the post support, that is where most of the sag originates.
> 
> ---- Original message ----
>> Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 07:12:27 -0500
>> From: "TheForge" <theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net> (on behalf of C&J Allcorn <jallcorn at suddenlink.net>)
>> Subject: [TheForge] gate question  
>> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
>> Cc: jallcorn at suddenlink.net
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Ok guys, I've got a couple of questions.  I don't do much gate building, 
>> some of you do and I'd appreciate the help.  2 basic questions.
>> 
>> I'm building a decorative gate to a client's property, about 13' long.
>> Question 1:  How much out of square should it be built so when hung the 
>> "sag" or drop will make it hang square or level?  I'd really NOT prefer 
>> to put a wheel on the swing end.
>> 
>> FYI, the frame is 11 ga 1.5" sq tube, pickets from 11 ga 3/4 tube, 4 
>> each 2" channels.  It'll be hung on one side and attached to a gate 
>> operator.
>> 
>> The top will curve, initial design is for the curve to go up 20" or so 
>> from horizontal in an arc.
>> 
>> I'll punch the channel or the pickets to slide thru on my ironworker.  
>> However, when I punch the channels that are to be curved, and then bend 
>> (roll) the curve in the channel, I realize the channel holes will be at 
>> an increasing angle.
>> Question 2:  What is the best way to open the holes so that the pickets 
>> can slide thru?  Plasma cut? Chisel? File?
>> 
>> I tried putting a small snip showing the overall design but the robot 
>> didn't like it.  Just envision a gate w/ a curved top.
>> 
>> James
>> 
>> No virus found in this message.
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>> 
>> 
>> 
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Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist
WWW.RiesNiemi.com