Re: Garden gate closing hardware
- To: Mediterannean Plants List <m*@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject: Re: Garden gate closing hardware
- From: T* &* M* R* <t*@xtra.co.nz>
- Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 21:00:06 +1300
- References: <v04003a04b2795d856ec9@[24.0.182.199]>
Nan Sterman wrote:
>
> Hi friends!
>
> I was in a beautiful garden recently and there was this amazing > contraption that automatically closed the garden gate. I believe it > is a traditional piece of hardware, made of a length of chain and a > heavy weight in the middle.
Yes, I've seen this gadget occasionally, AFAIK it is a typical bit of
"farm DIY ingenuity". I very much doubt you could buy one! But the
materials (except perhaps for the piece of scrap iron for the weight)
would be available from any hardware store I imagine. All you need is a
length of galvanised steel chain and a few shackles (or staples?) of
appropriate size to join the links to the gate and to a suitable post at
"the other end" of the chain. Note that I think the gate has to be well
hung, so that it is free-swinging and does not have a strong bias to
swing one way or the other.
If you are doubtful of "how to" construct it, think of any good DIY
person you know and ask their advice.
As for the weight, try your local garage and see if they will give you
an old crankshaft or something reasonably heavy An engineering shop
might have some piece of scrap that had the weight and was more compact.
If it is for a fairly-light garden gate, perhaps a handy person you know
would fill an old can with lead for you, with a large staple (or wire
loop) cast into the top of the lead. This would make a neat-looking but
smallish weight.
Tony
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand
