Gate

[mseries]

So far I have been a bit reluctant to post about my projects because compared to other people here my stuff is really not that good. To be honest my main interest is actually jig making which is woodworking for the sake of it but my wife wants things that she deems more useful making instead. So this weekend I started making a new side gate. Like Blue Peter I actually have one I made earlier which I completed a few months ago.

The new one is similar but adapted to fit the situation in which it will be installed.

Yesterday I cut some mortices. Normally I'd use my router but these ones are 60mm deep which is too deep for my small machines so I had to do them by hand. I used a power drill to remove most of the waste, OK not strictly by hand then, then squared them up with my chisels and mallet. I am so glad I spent a wet Sunday a few weeks ago sharpening my chisels.

then today I made the tenons. I used one of my routers to cut the cheek then finished them off with my tenon saw and chisel,

I always get excited when projects turn from pieces of wood into something that starts to resemble the finished article. Gates are easy, large pieces and not many of them. The first dry run was very encouraging. Tight fits with very little play. I just had time to cut the braces before I was summoned for afternoon tea.

The side members are overly long, they'll be cut down in due course.

 

[jadboog]

I think the gate looks good! What wood / dimensions did you use for the frame and the panels?

 

[mseries]

jadboog: Timber is pressure treated decking material, the vertical members of the frame are approx 90mm x 38mm in cross section and once trimmed will be 1500mm length (height of the gate). The ledges and braces are approx 90mm x 25mm in section and the total gate width is approximately 800mm. The vertical members will be rebated back to 25mm on their inside edges on the outside of the gate so that they are flush with the ledges and braces to accept the panelling which is featherboard.

In my final picture the braces are simple 'sat' on, these will be affixed properly with loose tenons which is the next thing to be made.

 

[monkeybiter]

Good to hear someone else can also be a bit daunted by the standard of workmanship generally on display on here, a couple of times I have said to SWMBO 'I'll photograph that and stick it on the forum' then decided it's not worth showing myself up.

Having said that your gates look good, sturdy and well made, well worth showing and an interesting WIP.

 

[lincs1963]

Looking good, small point but traditionally the diagonal braces don't go right into the angle of the stile and rail, they stop about 1" short. This is to stop them pushing the joints apart should they expand.
However I have seen a lot built the way you are doing and not seen too many problems.
Regards, Neil

 

[mseries]

Looking good, small point but traditionally the diagonal braces don't go right into the angle of the stile and rail, they stop about 1" short. This is to stop them pushing the joints apart should they expand.
However I have seen a lot built the way you are doing and not seen too many problems.
Regards, Neil

I've seen them like that too and thought the maker had done it wrong but I can see the reasoning, thanks. It's not too late for me to change that on this gate since it's not fastened together yet. I did read an old thread on here which linked to an old publication which showed the braces let into the ledges to stop then 'sliding away' from the ledges. I did consider this.

 

[lincs1963]

That is correct, just notched into the ledges. reasoning being that if the braces expand they can only try to 'rack' the gate out of square, and only so that it lifts the clapping edge away from the ground.

 

[mailee]

Nice job. No disgrace in posting your projects even if you think they are bad. If you post them and there is anything wrong with them the guys on here would give good advice on how to improve your wood working. After all this is how we learn of how to better ourselves. i have often been a bit embarrassed about some of my early work but have still posted in the hope that someone would give me hints and tips on how to improve....and they did.

 

[mseries]

thanks chaps, i am looking forward to getting outside tomorrow and making more sawdust

 

[mseries]

OK I set myself a goal of getting this gate ready for glue up on Sunday evening and have pre-arranged with Mrs MSeries that it will be brought indoors overnight for the glue to go off. I am making a sturdy frame and lightweight paneling so that if the panels break or rot I should be able to replace only them. Thus the braces need to be secured to the ledges and not simply nailed to the panels like on simpler designs. Even though I don't really like loose tenon joinery, it seems like a bit of a cop out to me, like on the first gate I decide to employ this technique. Why ? well I didn't want the addition hassle of cutting tenons on the ends of the braces since they are not square. - I wanted the cop out ! I know I could easily do proper tenons just didn't want the hassle here. The braces are in compression so strength isn't needed. In addition today i wanted to prepare a small block to attach 3/4 way up the left had side of the frame on which I will secure the bar of the suffok latch. The left hand post is on a wall which is not as tall as the right hand post so I can not put it on the top ledge.

So today I routed 9 mortices using my template, four in the ends of the braces and four on the ledges to match.

(I suppose I should have pictured the the completed mortices too). NB I am not recommending this template, the end stop is just wedged in and did slip so some of my mortices turned out longer than others, not too long and I was able to elongate the the shorter ones to match. The large block is the side of the jig to use to clamp to the workpiece, this is shown clamped to the end of one of the braces. I tend to make a new side piece or simple reposition the template on the same one for other applications, today though I didn't need to since the last time I used this was for gate number one.

Now the little piece for the latch. I'd been wondering all week, should i use a loose tenon here, should I do a proper tenon and if so can I be bothered to make a router jig. For a one off ? No. I decided to make a proper tenon. So I cut the mortice like the others with my router, same size too to save set up time but unlike the others I squared off the ends with a chisel - I really don't like rounding the ends of a tenon. Then I carefully cut the tenon with my handtools, no picture i am afraid, it would be a boring one anyway, just another tenon !!! It turned out well, I am pleased with it.

I finished the day preparing a piece from which I will make the loose tenons, got it sized up properly ready for rounding the edges and chopping. I knocked off early today to attend a talk at the Town Hall, I had hoped to have the loose tenons finished and glued into the braces today but sadly not.

 

[mseries]

I didn't manage to complete the woodworking ready for glue up today. I'm a bit disappointed with that. I took too long making the top cap that will rest on the top ledge and form an small overhang to cover the end grain of the featherboards on the front. I took ages routing and planing a piece and when I came to dry fit it I found it was a mess. What was I thinking, the wood was quite twisted. I guess I was just in a hurry.

I made the loose tenons first, that went OK, some of the mortices were not positioned correctly so some fettling was required no one will see it,

So back the top cap. The top ledge is slotted to accept a matching tenon in the top cap. I came in for tea at 1600 and had a rest. On going back out, Iooked at the first piece and realised it was badly twisted so second attempt would be required, thankfully I had an offcut long enough. This time it went smoothly, the only real difference was that the piece isn't twisted and I ripped it to width first. It just seemed more compliant on my router table than before. I wrapped up for the day and came in a bit happier than before, Mrs MSeries was finishing off a cake she'd been working on so we indulged in some of this:

So, just need to rout a rebate in the front for the panels, a slot for the suffolk latch and trim the ends.

 

[mseries]

I managed to get it glued up today. I could have drilled the posts, which I need to do before I apply the preserver but I forgot !!!

 

[MMUK]

Never mind that. Is there any cake left? :lol:

 

[mseries]

Never mind that. Is there any cake left? :lol:

Actually we had to bin some of that cake. Mrs MSeries isn't that keen on carrot cake and made it for the practice and for me. I couldn't eat all that on my own !!! No cakes this weekend, she was too busy with other things. Re: the gate and also need to shape and fit a stop on the posts - which I nearly forgot about !!! I got a little distracted yesterday afternoon, I started to make a saw horse but my mind wasn't on the job so shelved that and instead took my plane apart and started to clean it up, sharpen it and set it up properly. I had some success with this which encouarged me to spend some more time on it in the near future.

 

[mseries]

Right this evening I sneaked out and drilled the holes in the posts and fitted the stop on the latch side post. Nearly done !