The Mountain Gateway Thread

[Watch Ryder]

Video Footage


http://youtu.be/xsz8gKPW5jU

I used all available materials nearby which was wood from the forest and bought some spike-nails and screw-hinge bolts from town.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090126.jpg

I used a bow saw to get the trees the right length along with wood chisels to get the hinge-recesses made etc.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090130.jpg

Gathering the wood by dragging it about with rope (already fallen and dead, not too rotted) :

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090366.jpg

Making a Gate Frame:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090426-1.jpg

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090459-2.jpg

[hunter63]

Cool project, thanks for posting.

[Watch Ryder]

Cool project, thanks for posting.

Not done yet hunterman! :)

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090445-1.jpg

While I was busy some deer came along to say hello:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090458.jpg

Need to dig a hole for a support pillar:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090364.jpg

Wood pillars in place with wedges holding it level and upright:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090370.jpg

Now it's concreted into position:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090478-1.jpg

I made up an A-Frame for additional support and so eventually a fence can go onto it.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090350.jpg

A-Frame is up along with the pillar post:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090433.jpg

[Rick]

That picture of the deer is great. The one in front looks like it's bringing you some wood if you just glance at it.

[hunter63]

LOL, that's kinda what I thought as well.
I look a deer as steak on the hoof, that you don't have to feed on purpose.....Just harvest when you are out of meat.

[Watch Ryder]

That picture of the deer is great. The one in front looks like it's bringing you some wood if you just glance at it.

LOL!

I like how you saw that, it makes me look at the picture in a new light! :)

[Watch Ryder]

This is a great tool from Mountain Mike for peeling logs.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090469.jpg

Use this to preserve the wood a while longer (especially where it's been freshly cut):

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090481.jpg

Installing hinge pieces, I trimmed the wood flat where it's being mounted then slapped on the woodstain, followed by of course the hinge-strap:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090480.jpg

First Frame ready to go!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090485.jpg

[Rick]

Great pictures!! I've used boiled linseed oil as well. I've used it to soak wood when making wooden threads. You can't cut the threads dry so that's what I used mostly as a lubricant. Just remember that stuff will spontaneously burn so be careful where you store any rags coated with it.

I suspect the way that's constructed you'll see some sag because of weight. You may have to install a diagonal member to support the outer end or affix a wire from the out end to the main post some feet above the gate.

Still a great job!!

[Watch Ryder]

Great pictures!!

I suspect the way that's constructed you'll see some sag because of weight. You may have to install a diagonal member to support the outer end or affix a wire from the out end to the main post some feet above the gate.

Still a great job!!

Yeah I hear you on that mate. When I get around to it diagonal bracing will be going on. Do you think I should use thinner wooden material for the bracing? That gate is carrying a lot of weight... :)

[Watch Ryder]

Screw Pins going in (note the use of a jack for added leverage, I later replaced this with a tire iron):
I had to use a mallet to get it started, then by hand and finally with the jack / tire iron.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090488.jpg

The First Gate is up!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090493.jpg

Aluminum Sheets nailed to the front along with some boards:

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090531.jpg

Close up of the hinge bolt.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090497.jpg

[gryffynklm]

Wood has a fairly high compressive strength. Thiner piece of wood would be OK. If you have the cash, a piece of rod or cable with a turn buckle might be the way to go. The major difference between the two is that the cable or rod holds the gate square in tension by pulling the sag up to the top hinge side. Just two options i have used previously.

The below pictures came from a discussion i found on line discussing this very subject. Here is the discussion link.
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=139&t=1231346
(a note on the photos in the discussion of the cable brace.. The method is good but the placement of the cable is opposite of what it should be. The photo shows a brace that will actually pull the gate down causing sag.)

Notice that the wooden brace below is inside the frame of the gate. This way the brace is in compression and takes advantage of the full thickness of the wood to support the weight from the bottom hinge corner to the top opposite side.
http://www.cornerhardware.com/howto/images/ht011_2.gif

[crashdive123]

What is this gate leading to? If it's MM's retreat, I thought that was pretty much hidden. Wouldn't a gate scream HEY - THERE'S SOMETHING BACK HERE!

[Watch Ryder]

The entranceway prior to the great gates was wide-open and inviting to all and sundry to waltz in. Cows, bow-hunters, some bothersome types that would ride right up without even any respect for residents etc intruders even!

Also most of the cabins also have gateways as well, meaning any could be intruded upon if given the notion. With a gateway and homesteaders / cabineers there's a firm deterrent against intruders etc.

The gates are set back a bit from the road anyway and are nice and fitting with the surroundings also :)

[randyt]

looks great, gotta love log construction. Those aluminum sheets will act as a brace of sorts. It's amazing how something that thin will stiffen things up.

[Watch Ryder]

Locking bar in place. This was very difficult to fashion as I used a solid lump of wood as a template and nailing to the upright gate was a nightmare!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090538.jpg

[Watch Ryder]

Locking Bar in place!

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/MountainHold/Mountain%20Hold%20Part%203/P1090542.jpg

[Watch Ryder]

That's it for now, need to add more 'tin' sheets to the gate on the other side and complete the other side as well. But that's another story... :)