Straighten a Gate

[SHORTORDER]

I built a gate not using my head and it end up with a small twist.. I built the outer frame out of 3/4 inch rod and the inside cross pices with 5/8 inch rod. Does anyone have a ideal how to get the twist out without redoing the entire gate. Thanks for any info on the problem. I hope I gave enough info on the problem.

short

 

[ninefinger]

Depending on the length, amount of twist, and use of said gate. As a 12' pasture gate with a small twist just plumb the closing end with the post and let the hinge side be out of plumb. Will swing high/low. Or put gate on road and keep running over it until it straightens out enough or you break enough offending welds. Really need length, what it is for and how much twist is small.

 

[texasjohn]

yep, concurr with prior poster..

live with the twist if you can

I have had luck using my FEL and chains to provide power to apply as needed. Once I clamped 4x4x8 feet timbers over and under a twisted set of metal... on each end. Then, chained one end down while straightening out the twist by using the FEL to pressure the other end in an opposite twist.

It didn't completely resolve the problem, you could tell the metal had been bent, but it came out good enough for my needs.

 

[Mace Canute]

Try blocking the bottom end and give the top a good pull either by hand or with something like a set of rope blocks or come-a-long. You should be able to get the twist out of it that way, just don't go too far of course, pull a little bit and check for straightness, repeat as necessary.

 

[RiZak]

I have made many ramp using tubing and expanded metal and I found out that I better weld the expanded metal everywhere it touch the tubing to keep it in better shape on the long run. The problem created is that too much welding (even if only spots) will bend the tubing. I tried Wood block under it and tractor on top... oups... I tried Chain on both end and a 20 ton jack but the result is not a good one... can see the marks. So I fought fire with fire and I still do as it is the best thing I found yet. A simple pass of welding on the other side and a buffer... perfect result. I make sure the welding machine is adjusted down before starting.

Zak

 

[tommu56]

Leave it the way it is and call it character.

or tell the next salesmen that comes to the door it got bent hitting the last salesmen.

tom

 

[alltoys]

The problem created is that too much welding (even if only spots) will bend the tubing. So I fought fire with fire and I still do as it is the best thing I found yet. A simple pass of welding on the other side and a buffer... perfect result. I make sure the welding machine is adjusted down before starting.

Zak

Something else you can do instead the weld is heat on the opposite side of the welded area with a torch. When it gets red hot cool it down fast with a water hose. Trick here is to do a spot on the end then the other end and work closer to the center do not work from the center out.