On Jun 8, 4:11*am, Uno wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Jun 7, 9:45 pm, Uno wrote:

I just put the gate together...
q1) *I called the horizontal framing members "spars" like the framing
elements that jut out normally from a mast. *Is there a better word for
that?

In a panel door, the horizontals are 'rails' and the verticals are
'stiles'.

Ok.



q2) *The lumber I bought was cedar. *It was wet and it *punished* me by
bowing crazy. *How should I have treated these materials so that I
didn't get stung like that?

If you want something done right... you have to dry the cedar
yourself. *The extra expense of storing and drying fence boards that
will face the weather is not usually borne by the board supplier.
Framing lumber usually IS fully dry as bought.

Ok.



q3) *The bottom hinge squeaks for about 20 degrees of rotation. *Why,
and what do I do about it?

Metal fastened to wood is infamous for squeaking; there's probably a
hinge plate
that twists as the door opens, and you're hearing the metal/wood
interface
rubbing. * Something wasn't accurately aligned, and perhaps the hinges
aren't on the same exact vertical axis?

I took great pains to believe that everything was normal, but I've got a
squeak. *My method was as follows.

The cinder block to which I attached was plumb. *The wood encasing that
I attached to the cinder block was plumb, with respect to a plane 90 dg
transformed.

I prefabed the gate door on a planar surface, with the rails drawn
correctly below the wonky cedar.

I fought with the cedar for 2 weeks as I sealed it and needed to toss
lumber that did not want to plane.

As the rails were *close* to parallel, I attached the hinges to the
rails at their midsection.

The hinges that connect the rails to the encasing were lined up with the
edge of the encasing that is plumb in 2 directions.

So, tja, any ideas?
--
Uno

It's a gate. If it looks good from 10' away and all the hardware works
and attaches itself with a mild swing in without wrestling it, you're
good to go. Oil the hinge and walk away.

RP