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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing
system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Thanks, Dan |
#2
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
In article ,
Dan wrote: I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. Absent anything else, a weight-driven closer _will_ slam the gate, just like a spring-loaded one. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Design is simple/trivial. Hang a bracket of some sort on the 'back' side (the side _away_ from the direction the gate opens towards), of the hinge- side support post that the gate is hung on, that extends out a few inches. Put a pulley on it. Tie the cable to the gate, 1/3 or so of the distance from the hinge to the latch side. Run it through the pulley, and hang a weight on the other end. Make sure the weight is off the ground, when the gate is fully closed. |
#3
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
IIRC the Norm version involved a separate post set out from the gate. A
rope runs from the gate to the post through a pulley and tied to a brick. The brick travels up and down the side of the post as the gate is opened and closed. You do have to contend with the post and the rope that runs out from the gate and fence a couple of feet. "Dan" wrote in message ... I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Thanks, Dan |
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
Dan wrote in message . ..
I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. Dan, I have a non-pulley version of a weight-closed gate. My gate is very 'Williamsburgy', about 48" high and 36" wide, made of 5/4 boards and with heavy iron strap hinges. The closer is an iron 'cannonball' about 3-1/2" diameter, hung by an attached eye to a chain. The chain is affixed to the gate 36" above grade, about 24" from the hinge side of the gate and the other end to a 4x4 post 16" high sunk vertically in the ground. Note that the post is offset to the opposite side of the hingepost from the gate and about 20" away from the fence. IMO a chain would be more flexible than a cable and have more visual appeal if you wish not to use a pulley. My gate closes either slowly with no sound or with a small thump depending on its state of lubrication. It can open easily a little past 90* to the fence line. There is no latch, only a stop block on the strike post. Plan View: hingepost O//////////////gate////////////////O strikepost [------16"-----][-----------24"----------+ 1 + 1 + 20" + 1 ** weight about 1/3 along the chain from the post 1 + O chainpost Have a look here for a chain and ball closer http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.c...e.asp?MGID=430 and here for a picture http://www.brassgallery.com/product.html?t_q=3579 Good luck, Dick |
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
"Dan" wrote in message ... I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Dick has your answer I think. Consider adding a loosely-set pneumatic screen door closer as a shock absorber to prevent slamming. -- Ernie |
#6
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
I can propose a "different" solution, not a spring or weight, that
works pretty slick. We call it a ramp hinge. It involves making your own hinges out of pipe sections. If the barrels of the hinges are cut in a bias where they meet, the gate rises slightly as it opens and rides back down to level, which closes it when released. If this is hard to envision, just imagime when you cut the pipe to make the two hinge barrels you cut it on your miter saw at say 20 degrees. Just an idea. I've used it on large metal gates for years without a hitch. Dan wrote in message . .. I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Thanks, Dan |
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
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#8
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
"Dan" wrote in message ... I'm having trouble doing some research on a weight-operated gate closing system. It's either because I don't know the right keywords or there just isn't much stuff out there. I just put up a short section of cedar fence, about 44 inches high, with a gate, so the dogs won't run into the neighbor's yard every time something moves. The gate is about 39 inches and I want to try using a weight on a cable to close it instead of a spring. Just to be different, I guess, but if it works it wouldn't slam the gate shut like a spring would. I saw something like it on Norm's show some time back. Does anyone know of any gates that use a weight on a chain or cable to pull it shut? I'm still going to give it a try but maybe I can save myself a little experimentation. Thanks, Dan Dan, Check out http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.c...=430&fromProdu ctLine=true If this fails for some reason go to the Colonial Williamsburg Web Site http://www.history.org/ then "Shop", "For the Garden" and look for the "Gate Ball And Chain." In use one end attaches to a post set about even with the hinge post and a foot and a half or so away from the hinge post, the other end attaches to the gate about two thirds of the way from the hinges to the latch. The ball should just about touch the ground when the gate is closed. With a light gate beware that a deeply set sturdy post (nominal 6x6 wouldn't be unreasonable) is warranted... the shock of the gate closing would quickly loosen an undersize and/or poorly set post. With a heavy gate it would close slower... less shock. I went in and out of these types of gates every work day and they are not a problem to deal with--except perhaps if you want it to stay open and don't have another person to hold it for you! John |
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
Thu, Jul 24, 2003, 2:19am (EDT+4) (Dan) says:
snip JOAT, thanks for the keywords. I kept using the word "weight" in all the things I tried snip No prob. Use google? Found this using "gate weight". http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...GATE+WEIGHT%22 JOAT Always put off until tomorrow something which, tomorrow, you could put off until, let's say, next year. - Lady Myria LeJean. Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 23 Jul 2003. Some tunes I like. http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofal...All/page4.html |
#10
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
Bill Wallace wrote:
own hinges out of pipe sections. If the barrels of the hinges are cut in a bias where they meet, the gate rises slightly as it opens and rides back down to level, which closes it when released. That's pretty clever. I have no idea how I might make use of that idea, but I'm filing it away. -- Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621 Confirmed post number: 16709 Approximate word count: 501270 http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/ |
#12
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
On 23 Jul 2003 08:45:31 -0700, (Bill Wallace) wrote:
I can propose a "different" solution, not a spring or weight, that works pretty slick. We call it a ramp hinge. It involves making your own hinges out of pipe sections. If the barrels of the hinges are cut in a bias where they meet, the gate rises slightly as it opens and rides back down to level, which closes it when released. If this is hard to envision, just imagime when you cut the pipe to make the two hinge barrels you cut it on your miter saw at say 20 degrees. Just an idea. I've used it on large metal gates for years without a hitch. I'm sure I am missing something here, but then again; isn't this just rising butts? Like these? http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...25 6&ts=59071 (Cut and paste into a text proggy if it wraps on you, or go to screwfix.com and type "rising butt" into the search box there.) I bet I missed something here, being a dumb gnube! Hope it helps. Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
#13
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
Yes, rising butts, although I never knew they wer comercially produced
and the sizes I apply are much larger "butt" that is exactly like what we build. I'll leave all the obvious puns about "rising butts" to your imagination. Gnube wrote in message . .. On 23 Jul 2003 08:45:31 -0700, (Bill Wallace) wrote: I can propose a "different" solution, not a spring or weight, that works pretty slick. We call it a ramp hinge. It involves making your own hinges out of pipe sections. If the barrels of the hinges are cut in a bias where they meet, the gate rises slightly as it opens and rides back down to level, which closes it when released. If this is hard to envision, just imagime when you cut the pipe to make the two hinge barrels you cut it on your miter saw at say 20 degrees. Just an idea. I've used it on large metal gates for years without a hitch. I'm sure I am missing something here, but then again; isn't this just rising butts? Like these? http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...25 6&ts=59071 (Cut and paste into a text proggy if it wraps on you, or go to screwfix.com and type "rising butt" into the search box there.) I bet I missed something here, being a dumb gnube! Hope it helps. Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
#14
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Questions on weight-closed fencegate
Thu, Jul 24, 2003, 12:12pm (EDT+4) (Dan) says:
Try these: weight-operated gate closing weight gate closing fence gate weight There are other too-long combinations that I can't remember right now but if you'd like, I can hunt them down in my browser history list. If I had shortened my word list it is now obvious that I would have gotten what I needed. snip My search phrases use quotes. Usually long phrasees. If no good results, drop a word. Repeat. Still no good, switch words around. Repeat. No good, try new words. No prob. JOAT Always put off until tomorrow something which, tomorrow, you could put off until, let's say, next year. - Lady Myria LeJean. Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 23 Jul 2003. Some tunes I like. http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofal...All/page4.html |
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