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Oak Gates

General description

The gates are for the same property as featured elsewhere on this web site with   the Oak Beams and Oak Porch. The property dates from the 1930's and has a number of delightful  "Arts & Crafts" features about it. The design of the gates has drawn upon  what remains of a single gate and  some old pictures of the house .

Above; After a period of consultation and some preliminary sketches, e a single dummy gate made from MDF has been put in position. The dummy gate allows the customer to consider at leisure the proposed design and how well (or not) it fits their driveway.  In the event,  the customer  was persuaded   that their initial choice of spindle width and number was  too many and too narrow. 

Above ; Having finalised the design, the work begins. The cutting of  both mortises and tennons is done using the router. For this a variety of jigs were made up. Once used the jigs are  then broken up;  as the workshop is heated with a wood burning stove they end their days heating the place!!

Above; To shape the top and bottom rails a template is made and the router  follows the template.

Above; With the M&T for   stiles and rails made, the gate is "dry cramped" in order to ensure that everything "pulls up" tightly. The adhesive to be used is Titebond III . It behaves like a regular PVA adhesive but is  not only waterproof but immensely strong, much more so than the polyurethane adhesives (according to Fine  Woodworking Magazine) .   Titebond is American and  you will not find it in  the usual DIY outlets such as : B&Q, Wickes or Homebase.  Your best bet is somewhere like : www.axminster.co.uk

Above; Left detail of the  gate and , right; the setting into the frame of the diagonal brace. Below left view of the brace at the top of (each) gate.

Below;  The single  gate to the front door viewed from both sides. A handle and latch are yet to be fitted.

Below Left.. The L/H (as seen from the road) gate hung in the open position. Note how the design of the gates makes allowance for the sloping drive.  You will also have spotted that  the gate has been mounted on the back of the pillar. Consequently, when the gates are  open the full width of the gateway is retained.

Below right..  The gates as seen from the road. You may also have noticed that  the fitting for holding the gates allows for adjustment  in terms of moving the gates towards or away from each other.  The top gate post fitting has been inverted in order to discourage  the "casual theft " of the gates.

Below:  Two more views of the gates.

Below: The gates as viewed from behind  and towards the road (+  passing Porsche) and a long shot of the gates.  In time of course the oak will "silver down".

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