Bi-fold gate build.

[addjunkie]

A week of work yeah. Thanks, it’ll be okay. I have a front garden to dig out and re develop as well.

Cables and pipes are also not always as deep as they are meant to be, dont ask how I learnt that, but it was very very wet!

Joking aside, I was digging drains and water pipe in for my barns, and managed to snap the wire armoured phone cable Id put in, and knew where it was.

 

[arther dailey]

Ha, think KimB knows how to handle plant , nothing better than using a digger you will never use a spade/shovel after using one thats for sure

 

[KimB]

Doesn’t look like a lot of progress but other than welding it all on and cutting the little infill to go between the mechanism, (it will make sense when you see it) it’s nearly there.
On the left are the two magnet mounts.
Next to that are the right hand and then the left hand gate mounting point and finally the mechanism itself. Two of each. Quite a lot of work and it’ll look much better once painted. The grinding marks aren’t as deep as they look.

 

[arther dailey]

the odds and ends always take longer than you want /expect

 

[KimB]

the odds and ends always take longer than you want /expect

Absolutely, at least it's mostly ready to weld on which is nice. Picking up some bolts tomorrow so I can space the pieces apart for welding. I'll see how I go with welding it together this weekend. If I have some free time I may even paint it. I also haven't needed to remove it. I have got the digger and dumper past it

 

[Yamhon]

Great work; must be very satisfying to begin such a large project and see it through from design to finishing.

 

[KimB]

Great work; must be very satisfying to begin such a large project and see it through from design to finishing.

It is, this has been one of the most stressful building tasks I’ve undertaken. It’s a lot of work for one person but the end is near

 

[KimB]

Not a massive update but I received the normally closed relay that I needed for the magnetic locks. Wired that in. Had a two mishaps with crimps which thankfully wasn’t a broken wire in the conduit (as I was concerned about)
Blew a little 2a fuse on the magnet control units so I ordered some more to replace.

Then this evening I had an hour to spare so I welded he spacers between all of the mechanism components. I Tig welded it (very badly) I need an arm rest or stool in my new garage when it’s done! I used bolts and three nuts on each to space it all correctly. I thought I took a pic but apparently not

Tacked the mechanism mount to the mechanism arm thing. This made it easy for drilling a 20mm hole.

Broke the joint and welded a 20mm pipe. Rough with a 16mm ID, I cut to the wrong line on the pipe, can you tell

Welded and cut it down with the hacksaws then I cut he middle piece out with a hacksaw and welded that into the mechanism.

You can’t see but here is the pipes welded through each piece. The reason I welded the little bush pieces to the mounting arm (top left) is because I don’t have any way to drill a nice 16mm hole so the next best thing was to do it the way I have (I think anyway) at least now all three holes are running true t each other.
All that’s left to do on the mechanism is drill the 6mm holes to 12mm and then cut a 16mm pin and weld a plate on top so I can bolt it to the mount. (Like a diggers bucket set up. Oh and fit a grease nipple to said pin area. It probably doesn’t make much sense right now but it’s will. There’s method to this madness

 

[KimB]

Well that I think is it for the fabricating of my gate. It’s come out so well.
Today I began by welding the left hand and right handed thread inserts into the tubes which gives me adjustment on the mechanism.

I then made my little pin for the actuator arm to the gate mount. As can be seen here

Here’s it all laid out

Pondered for a while and came up with a new design for the main post fixing points I think it looks good and functions well.

All the bits ready to weld on.

Main post fixing point bolted on

And finally the finished article.

I’m going to leave it all connected for the weekend to find any faults. I need to come up with a solution for the gates banging together. Not sure what material to stick between that won’t look rubbish.

Also the end of the motor mount on the gate side I think is flexing very slightly, overtime this might be an issue so I think I’m going to get another piece of box section and weld it to the end side of the bit that’s already there, then weld it to the bottom gate frame rail.

The mechanism needs a little bit of adjusting as well I think and one magnet seems to be working on half power so there’s a few small jobs to work out. Nothing major and I think it’ll be sorted but time will tell and hopefully it’s nice enough next week to paint outside

 

[Ashley Burton]

A rubber bump stop might be a good option to get rid of the banging clash of gates

Not sure if this has been covered before previously, But what is the intention of these gates? As those fence panels look a little low & flimsy in comparison

 

[mtt.tr]

Lovely fabrication!!

 

[Barking Mat]

Nice work Kim, I'd be proud of that...

 

[KimB]

A rubber bump stop might be a good option to get rid of the banging clash of gates

Not sure if this has been covered before previously, But what is the intention of these gates? As those fence panels look a little low & flimsy in comparison

The whole fence is being replaced and that’s being sorted. I was in the process of sorting it with the land lady next door but they’re hard work and covid is poo!

 

[Ashley Burton]

Neighbours & fences is another thing I don't miss!

 

[mtt.tr]

covid is poo!

Finally someone explains the toilet paper requirements !


Sorry couldn't not

 

[Parm]

Great job there Kim. Cracking work

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Simply

 

[galooph]

Got to be chuffed with that – excellent work, Kim

 

[addjunkie]

Got to be chuffed with that – excellent work, Kim

I concur, but moving metal outside in our weather, you might want a means of greasing hinges etc.

 

[KimB]

I concur, but moving metal outside in our weather, you might want a means of greasing hinges etc.

Ever joint has greasing points. The joint I made has a grease nipple.