The gate

[wroughtn_harv]

Note the shims and the strap while we "adjusted".

 

[wroughtn_harv]

from a different angle

 

[wroughtn_harv]

A view from the rear after it was bolted in place.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It is a big rock. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

In perspective

 

[wroughtn_harv]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Something tells me that's adding up to be a pretty heavy gate. What are you using for hinges? Hate to see the longhorn state sagging over the years )</font>

The hinges are sealed roller bearing rated for two thousand pound gates. This one is probably twelve hundred or so.

The reason the gate is blocked up on the latch side is three days ago I cut a hole in the back of the hinge post about six feet off the ground. I filled the post up to that point with five thousand psi concrete. I vibrated it down and I'm not taking any chances of fracturing the concrete inside the post.

That's a little insurance in case six inch pipe decides to give a little over time.

If you've ever opened a large walk in freezer door or had reason to operate the door to a walk in safe you have an idea of the action and feel of these hinges and gate.

It's smooth. A half horse operator motor will handle it with ease.

 

[GerardC]

Boy, do I ever wish you were local to me!! That is just beautiful /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. G

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We got lucky.
)</font>

NO HARVE: being lucky is winning the lottery, that gate is a pure work of an artist AND one hell of an ENGINEER. VERY NICE WORK /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We got lucky. )</font>

Harve, you don't know how glad I was to see you start off this chapter with a positive end result. I've been thinking about you and transporting that rock all day, and if you had left me hanging until the end to see if it worked or not, I'd have been a mite put out with you.

I can just visualize the guests rolling up to that gate... "George, that's a stone in that gate in the shape of Texas." "Yes, you're right, Mary -- that gate is just -- well, it's incredible!!"

 

[BIGUN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( NO HARVE: being lucky is winning the lottery, that gate is a pure work of an artist AND one hell of an ENGINEER. VERY NICE WORK /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>

DITTO!

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Ya'll are too kind. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

The project isn't done. And there are some other nice things going in. This is and has been a fun one.

The star rock has become a bugger bear. My first instinct is to change rocks and go with something softer. But the part of me that is most dominant has taken the take no prisoners position as far as this particular rock is concerned. It's either it or me. I hope it's it, not me. I hate it when that happens. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DAP]

Harv, do you have any idea on the hours spent coercing that rock?

I ask because ... well ... 49 more (+1 if you include PR) and you could retire a wealthy man. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Perhaps not healthy, but I'm sure you'd find a buyer for each and everyone one of em.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It's like this Doug. Think along the lines of your investment in the love of your life. You don't look at time spent as time invested. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Here's a shot of the blue granite rock after our break up, it's separation. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Heart brake (pun intended)

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Here's the star stone almost done.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It will be hanging above the gate in the overhead.

I'm setting posts now. We finally got the property line defined. The surveyor that put in the new pins has come up with the theory that his survey is correct but there does seem to be this no man's land between his survey and the one for the neighbor. And my customer might as well fence it in and claim it as his own. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We might call that diaper stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And I found the water main again! But this time these real nice young men /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif came out and did a good locate. I power dug the hole down two feet and then went down the rest of the way with hand diggers. I knew the bottom of the hole by the nice piece of pvc there. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The star rock is ready to be put in.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I know it isn't perfect in a mechanical looking star kind of way.

A character flaw of mine is I look at something like this from where it's going to be placed and how it's going to be viewed.

This will be seen from fifty to seventy feet away and about twelve feet below. From that perspective I think it will provide the affect I want.

I'm seriously considering placing the camera in the space between the star and the bottom of the rock.

My reservations are how it will look to have an obviously hand made carving interupted by modern technology.

The camera is a work of art in itself. I just don't know if it's place is in the rock.

It needs to be in the overhead. I just haven't settled on just where.

 

[MossRoad]

Neat start!

One quesiton: What camera? Something for the homeowner to look at who's coming to visit? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

For those so interested, a view of the southend when northbound...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif