Building a gate is very easy, especially if you buy all the lumber. The downside of buying is you get a look that doesn't really fit into nature. The downside of working with round wood is that it requires more time and skill.
Before I explain all the steps I show you how it looks. It looks pretty in my opinion!
Why roundwood and which wood type.
Round wood is much stronger because the fibres are not cut. A round shape is also much stronger than a flat. A simple example is a straw, it's much stronger than a flat piece of plastic. This makes round wood 50% stronger by weight than saw wood.
The type of wood is also important. It's a gate so you look for a more durable cheap wood. Black locust ,chestnut or oak are good examples. A small tree or even a branch will do. I took a piece of 20cm thick because I like the massive look.
| Tools | Materials |
|---|---|
| saw | durable round wood 2meter |
| vice | durable round wood 1 meter |
| angle grinder | straight sticks 1.2 meter |
| shovel | nails |
| (draw)knife | 2 long big bolts (30cm+) |
| drill | lacquer |
Making the hinges
If you don't have hinges already laying around from a old shed you need to buy them. The old type like the picture should be easy and cheap to find.
The hook where the hinges hang it are made by myself. You simply hammer a 90 degree angle on a old long bolt.
You can also use a long rod but than you need to be able to make a thread on it.
Preparing the wood
Take the bark of all the wood with a draw knife. The two horizontal bars are made by sawing the 1 meter log lengthwise. This requires some muscle. You can also just a band-saw or split the wood with a froe and than plane it.
Drill 2 holes to install the hinges into the big log, put the holes roughly 80 meter apart.
Attach the other hinge parts to the 2 horizontal bars. Now you carry both to the location an you dig a small hole 1 meter deep. Try to keep a small diameter so the earth stays compact around the pole that you want to install. Put the long big log in the hole and compact the earth around it with a hammer.
If the pole is stable you hang the 2 horizontal bars. Now you can finish with the horizontal sticks. I nailed them in place.
Natural finish
Preservatives are most of the time bad for your health and nature. The easiest is no finish we already chosen very durable wood. Black locust will easily stay good for 40+ years. If you really want a finish than natural shellac or boiled linseed. A good finish will be expensive. Around 20 euros per liter.
Gogreenbuddy
Gogreenbuddy is a personal project were I work with natural building materials, permaculture and animals. To support me is easy follow me on Steemit and Youtube!