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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to
swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary |
#2
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
"Ivan Vegvary" wrote in message news:U9lHj.110$gS1.11@trndny07... Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary Most of the ones I seen were made by these companies, and made out of 1" x 1/8" hot rolled flat bar (the least springiest cheapest one). The top piece looks like a wishbone, or a V with a flat bottom across where the point of the V is, has a loop on it for a lock, has the two top ends of the V wrapped round, and a tail that is about a foot long. Is that the one? I was googling, but can't come up with a picture. Is this the one that fits into a slotted piece of angle iron welded on the gate post? It has a notch, and two holes drilled in it for locking? I may have an extra in all my stuff, and they are available lots of places. You must be somewhere that they don't have a large selection. Steve |
#3
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
On Mar 29, 2:17*am, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:
Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. *... Ivan Vegvary How about a cheap stainless steel kitchen knife blade, ground square? Jim Wilkins |
#4
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary"
wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. |
#5
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
"Don Foreman" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. Don, I know of what you speak, BUT, mine, out of necessity, is a vertical application. I.e., it's has to be a vertical piece strip of spring metal that will swing with the gate (gate can be opened both ways) and catch on the stationary latch attached to the post. What you speak of typically works with a swing in only one direction unless I install it in the middle of the gate edge. In that case I would have to slot my vertical 'gate edge' member (1" square steel) and let your horizontal pivoted metal pass through and allow gravity to do it's thing. Too complicated. I thought a springy thing between the stationary post and the 'gate edge' would be a simpler solution. Thanks for your attention, Ivan Vegvary |
#6
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
Ivan Vegvary wrote:
"Don Foreman" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. Don, I know of what you speak, BUT, mine, out of necessity, is a vertical application. I.e., it's has to be a vertical piece strip of spring metal that will swing with the gate (gate can be opened both ways) and catch on the stationary latch attached to the post. What you speak of typically works with a swing in only one direction unless I install it in the middle of the gate edge. In that case I would have to slot my vertical 'gate edge' member (1" square steel) and let your horizontal pivoted metal pass through and allow gravity to do it's thing. Too complicated. I thought a springy thing between the stationary post and the 'gate edge' would be a simpler solution. Thanks for your attention, Ivan Vegvary How about a coiled spring like a rake tine or baler tine? Hit a farm supply place for them. -- Steve W. Near Cooperstown, New York Life is not like a box of chocolates it's more like a jar of jalapenos- what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow! |
#7
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:17:56 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary"
wrote: "Don Foreman" wrote in message .. . On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. Don, I know of what you speak, BUT, mine, out of necessity, is a vertical application. I.e., it's has to be a vertical piece strip of spring metal that will swing with the gate (gate can be opened both ways) and catch on the stationary latch attached to the post. What you speak of typically works with a swing in only one direction unless I install it in the middle of the gate edge. In that case I would have to slot my vertical 'gate edge' member (1" square steel) and let your horizontal pivoted metal pass through and allow gravity to do it's thing. Too complicated. I thought a springy thing between the stationary post and the 'gate edge' would be a simpler solution. Now that you mention it, I even had one like that on a wrought iron gate inside the house. That was a loooong time ago. I think the springy part was longer than you describe, at least a foot and perhaps 18". I think it might have been 1/8" thick and about an inch wide. Mild steel will spring a little without permanently bending. 1/2" in 6" is less than 5 degrees, might be OK. I tried some odd bits in the vise. For 6" length, I'd use .090 or so -- but I'd go longer if possible. |
#8
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:17:56 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary"
wrote: "Don Foreman" wrote in message .. . On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. Don, I know of what you speak, BUT, mine, out of necessity, is a vertical application. I.e., it's has to be a vertical piece strip of spring metal that will swing with the gate (gate can be opened both ways) and catch on the stationary latch attached to the post. What you speak of typically works with a swing in only one direction unless I install it in the middle of the gate edge. In that case I would have to slot my vertical 'gate edge' member (1" square steel) and let your horizontal pivoted metal pass through and allow gravity to do it's thing. Too complicated. I thought a springy thing between the stationary post and the 'gate edge' would be a simpler solution. Thanks for your attention, Ivan Vegvary My Granny's was ~3/4" wide by ~1/8 thick, riveted to the gate frame at the bottom (of the strip) with about a foot of spring with a loop on top to eliminate any form of sharp point on top (think crude ball shape) About an inch below the level of the strike, there was an angle bracket with a hole in the horizontal portion large enough to allow the spring to be moved about an inch. This bracket provided lateral reinforcement to the spring to resist "edgewise" forces. Clear as mud? These memories are from the early '50s. The "ball" was maybe an inch above the top of the gate and two inches above the strike. Gerry :-)} London, Canada |
#9
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Making a spring latch
"Gerald Miller" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:17:56 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: "Don Foreman" wrote in message . .. On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:17:24 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote: Trying to make a spring latch for a recently finished gate. Gate needs to swing both ways. I made a striker plate for the post. Striker has the typical "ramp" on each side so when you swing the gate the "spring" will slide along the ramp and come to a stop in the middle detent. The "strike" or "keeper" is available at King Architectural Metals and other ornamental metal sources. However the spring latch part is not. When I talked to "King", they said "make your own". Okay, spring will be a 3/4 inch strip with about 5-6 inches unsecured. The unsecured part needs to spring about 1/2 inches back and forth. What gauge metal should I use? ASCII drawing below. | | | Springy part of spring (about 5 inches) | | | Secured part of spring (about 2 inches) | All advice appreciated. Thanks, Ivan Vegvary The ones I've seen are not springs. They're just flat bits of metal pivoted on one end, relying on gravity to fall into the notch. Don, I know of what you speak, BUT, mine, out of necessity, is a vertical application. I.e., it's has to be a vertical piece strip of spring metal that will swing with the gate (gate can be opened both ways) and catch on the stationary latch attached to the post. What you speak of typically works with a swing in only one direction unless I install it in the middle of the gate edge. In that case I would have to slot my vertical 'gate edge' member (1" square steel) and let your horizontal pivoted metal pass through and allow gravity to do it's thing. Too complicated. I thought a springy thing between the stationary post and the 'gate edge' would be a simpler solution. Thanks for your attention, Ivan Vegvary My Granny's was ~3/4" wide by ~1/8 thick, riveted to the gate frame at the bottom (of the strip) with about a foot of spring with a loop on top to eliminate any form of sharp point on top (think crude ball shape) About an inch below the level of the strike, there was an angle bracket with a hole in the horizontal portion large enough to allow the spring to be moved about an inch. This bracket provided lateral reinforcement to the spring to resist "edgewise" forces. Clear as mud? These memories are from the early '50s. The "ball" was maybe an inch above the top of the gate and two inches above the strike. Gerry :-)} London, Canada Gerald, The above is very clear and gives me ideas. Thanks for the reply. Ivan Vegvary |
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