Gate and Gate Latch

[glenn kangiser]

For those of you who may fabricate your own gates - fences etc. a design that worked for me - 8' high deer fence -  home made latch - the long horizontal pipes and latch are 16" of 1" pipe - carriage bolt inside spring - 3/8 x 5" anti-rotation slide rod 3/8 x 5"  latch - 1" pipe - welded sleeve at front of latch is 1 1/4"





Handle is 2 1/2" of 1/2  inch pipe w/ 1/2 x 3" bolt threaded into the latch pipe.

[Redoverfarm]

You can always tell a welder. He has metal pipe fence post.  The only other time I have seen them was at a Buffalo farm in Virgina.  Sturdy 4-5" dia for the fence and corral. 

[sparks]

Hey Glenn, quick question.

Is there some special technique for cutting stainless with a gas axe? I occasionally have to blow the bolts off of damaged equipment and have one heck of a time.

[glenn kangiser]

Stainless is hard and nasty with the torch, mostly melts more than anything, Sparks, but you may try cutting a piece of mild steel scrap in contact with it to get it to burn - burn through both at once with the mild in front of the stainless. 

Or -- crank up the arc welder and burn it off with a welding rod or air arc, or plasma torch, or get one of the super thin cutting wheels for the grinder and cut it off such as this one - http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200336504.htm - various brands. Very fast.  Works with a 4 1/2 inch grinder.

[glenn kangiser]

I didn't actually choose the posts here, John but can't argue with them being good for the job.  The big stuff is 3 1/2 inch oil field tubing - small is 2 inch pipe.  I placed - fit and welded all of the cross members and designed the latch and made the gate, patterned after a similar one.  Random length on all of the horizontals custom fit and welded at 6 feet elevation from the closest ground point - level from there.

I spent a lot of time welding in the oil field from 74 to 78 so it is relatively easy for me.

[sparks]

Stainless is hard and nasty with the torch, mostly melts more than anything, Sparks, but you may try cutting a piece of mild steel scrap in contact with it to get it to burn - burn through both at once with the mild in front of the stainless. 

Or -- crank up the arc welder and burn it off with a welding rod or air arc, or plasma torch, or get one of the super thin cutting wheels for the grinder and cut it off such as this one - http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200336504.htm - various brands. Very fast.  Works with a 4 1/2 inch grinder.

Thanks Glenn.

sparks

[Erin]

This is what we use--
A Sandhills gate latch:

It's just a single length of rod, bent a couple of times (there is a very small bend right next to the post, with the large hook going behind the post).  It's chained to the fence post, and has a small half chain link at the very end to hook on your gate's wire. 
This one is just on a small, three wire fence around horse pasture, but we also used them for 6' buffalo fence gates.

You can just use it as a cheater bar, and drop a wire loop over both posts to close the gate.  Or like we have in that pic, as the latch itself. 

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

We always just looped a length of baling wire around the top and bottom of both posts.  Didn't get so fancy schmancy with it.   

[Erin]

But in order to keep your fence from sagging, the gate has to be so tight that it's nearly impossible to close!  (Hence the use of a gate latch.  It acts like a lever to shut a tight gate and keep it tight)

[peternap]

Here's what us yuppies use:

[Redoverfarm]

Peter I am along those lines as well.  For the latch they usually come with a small piece of dog chain.  Staple the one end to the post on the opposite side. Draw the chain around the gate tube to where it will hook tight on the other side. Then drive in a staple at that location for the hooked end to fasten to.  Fences and gates are for timid animals ( Mine most of the time). Doesn't matter what you have if it is wild it going through it.  The only exception is using guardrail between post about 2-3 high.  They don't bust through and it makes a nice ping when they kick it.

[glenn kangiser]

Thanks Erin.  Kind of an upgrade from the Oregon stick on a wire.

I saw about 6 horses get into a running frenzy once-- 1 of them went over a 5 foot fence upside down as it was pushed by the others.  Some things just don't stop for fences.