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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 was too narrow. See pictures below.
Above ; The work begins. The cutting of both
mortises and tennons is done using the router. For this a
variety of jigs were made up.
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) .
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
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. Photo R/H the
gates as seen from the road.
Below: Two more views of the
gates.
Below: The gates as viewed from
behind and a long shot of the gates.
In time of course the oak will "silver down".
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