Gates for split rail fences

[MarkLeininger]

I'm putting in cedar split rail fence and have two questions on making a gate.
1. The posts are not long enough to go below frost line around here, so Im thinking of using treated 4x4 for the gate posts. Any other ideas that would allow me to use the cedar posts so it would look better? I'm thinking of splitting a post lengthwise and attaching it to the front of the 4x4.

2. Not sure how to make a gate out of cedar split rail material. I've thought about attaching split rail to a metal frame so it looks good from the outside, but is still strong enough to work as a gate.

Any ideas, and especially pictures, appreciated.

 

[DrRod]

I will try to get a picture of this but in the meantime, I'll struggle with a description.

We have rail fences and a big gate made of rails -- all about 4-5 inches across. Built the basic gate with three vertical slabs nailed to four horizontal rails. The top rail is about a foot longer on the "latch" end and rests in a step-like cut-out on the first post.

On the "hinge" end, the tail is about three feet longer. We have big spikes (made from pipes) driven in to make two "V's" with boards resting in the V. Then a few rocks are piled in the cradle of the boards. This makes a counter weight to balance the gate so it turns easily.

On the hinge post, we drilled a vertical hole and inserted a pipe about 2" in diameter. Then drilled a hole in the top rail and inserted a 1" pipe through the rail and into the pipe below. I spins easily and won't split out the post.

Ours is pretty rustic looking but it has lasted over 40 years -- used locust for the whole fence.

Hope this helps.

 

[1bush2hog]

Ours is pretty rustic looking but it has lasted over 40 years -- used locust for the whole fence.


Hey Dr - I would love to see a pic of that gate! Sounds like a great job! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[DrRod]

I will definitely get one but it might take a while to find one or get up there and snap a picture. Its actually the second generation of this gate, the first being built in 1939. Must give my grandfather and his friends the design credit.

Once saw a similar counter weight concept at work on a heavy steel rail much like those blocking roads at state parks. They just slipped an oil drum over the end and put rocks in it. Didn't have much country charm to it but it worked well.

 

[Maxfli]

We hired out the fence, but here is what they did.

Gate1

 

[Maxfli]

Here is a shot of the Hinge.

 

[Maxfli]

This double gate is 10' wide. Only issue is when my wife has puppies from her dog breeding hobby the little one can slip through.

 

[Maxfli]

Here is the last pic. This is how they did the latch. All in all these gates have held up well, but it has only been a few years. The cross members are just screwed with some long decking screws.

 

[MarkLeininger]

Maxfli,
Thanks for the great pics, very useful. I set a couple of gate posts last weekend, plan to try to finish the rest this weekend. A couple of questions. Is there something to support the weight of the latch ends of the double gates when they're closed, or do they hang completely off the gate posts? I would think that even if set in concrete, cedar gate posts are relatively short and that heavy gate would end up slowly tipping it in the hole. Although maybe that wire backing adds a lot of strength to keep the gate post upright. We also plan to put up wire although it's to keep the coyotes out, not keep the dog in.

 

[Maxfli]

Mark,

No additional Supports on the latch end of the gates. They have been in there a few years, and they still seem as solid as the day they were installed. For the most part the installers were pretty informal. They dropped the posts in the holes, filled around with dry cement, and said it would set on its own. The Cedar is pretty light. I was thinking there must be glue in some of the joints, but I don't see any.

Bruce