Garden Gate Project

5/23 ~ by Griz (aka Steve Stovner) ~

In 1981 Trish and I went to visit her parents (my future in-laws), for a weekend on their 40 acres of woods in Yelm WA, "The Acres". Her Dad, Pat, asked me to "help" him take down a massive (44" dia.) Doug Fir tree that was next to the house and starting to die. I was 37, a little over weight, but considered myself in great shape, he had the tools and expertise but was 60+ with fading health, so all the "heavy work" fell on me. I had a hell of a time muscling the ancient 42" all-steel chainsaw into position (shoulder high) for making the front side notch and was absolutely beat by the time it was cut. But there was no stopping - I had the distinct impression I was being evaluated for fitness as future son-in-law. After getting the shoulder high back cut started, it was a bit easier, but 10 inches into it, he handed me three 5-pound wedges and a 15-pound sledge hammer. Have you ever swung a 15 lb. sledge at shoulder height 30 or 40 times? - Try swinging it just once. The tree was partially cut and threatening the house he built from lumber he logged and milled with his own hands, there was no option but to drive the wedges to ensure the tree fell away from the house. When that beast hit the ground it sent shock waves rippling underfoot and actually knocked me off my feet. I needed help to stand up. Every muscle in my body was screaming. Next day cousin Lenny showed up to help buck it into 12' & 16' lengths and drag them over to the sawmill with Dads Case 310 Crawler (which I later inherited and used for 25 years).

2 years later Trish and I spent a week with her folks. Dad & I fired up the ancient 6-cylinder truck engine that drove the sawmill and milled that tree and several Cedars. I brought home 15 6x6x12' timbers from the Fir and twice the volume in 2x10+x12' Cedar planks. I thought I had used up all that lumber over the years. But, 2 years ago I found 3 of the 6x6x12' Fir timbers under some other lumber in one of my storage buildings. They needed a very special use.

When Dad passed in 1999, I found 2 buggy wheels in his woods. They still had fairly solid wood spokes and rims when I leaned them against my gas house. Fairly quickly they were covered by ivy and forgotten. Last year I rediscovered them with almost all the wood rotted away. I welded 3 Spring Harrow teeth in as spokes for an interesting look.

I've done a fair amount of mortise and tenon joinery, but only small glued cabinetry type stuff. I'd never made an actual pegged Timber Frame joint and I always wanted to add that to my experiences. I cut the tenons first then used them to layout mortise position. Mortise was drilled 3/8" in each corner and several 1" holes around perimeter. Then it was hammer and chisel for snug fit. After all the joints were done, I disassembled and drenched all surfaces with clear Pena-Shield (dry wood sucked up 3 applications), assembled, squared & clamped complete structure, drilled for pegs, treated pegs and peg holes with Pena-Shield and drove pegs home. Note: Pena-Shield provides protection from termites, ants, powderpost beetles, mildew, fungi and rot. I applied Copper-Green wood preservative to bottom few inches of legs where ground contact may occur. Week later I applied 2 coats of clear, water based, waterproofer. The Pena-Shield will last forever as long as it is protected from water. The waterproofer will wear off and should be reapplied every 2 years.

I made the hinges from 1/4" steel plate and 1-1/4" schedule 80 pipe. They are lag bolted to the post. Gate weight is supported by 2 large washers with greased thin brass "thrust bearing" between them and lots of grease inside the hinges. Top hinge has short section of 1/2" pipe welded to it that spring slips over and other end of spring is bolted to custom piece I made. No latch required to keep gate closed.

The Bell is the top 1/3 of large gas cylinder. Paint was removed using my new Paint Removal Process. Stem was removed from valve. Value handle and body were thru drilled for 3/8" eye bolt. Short section of chain was welded to 3/8" all-thread which the clapper was bolted to. The 5" dia. clapper was cut from 1/2" steel plate. Bell pull is hemp rope I got in early 80s, off a floating timber, in the San Juan islands. Bell hangs from Spring Harrow tooth which is attached to old timber falling wedge (may be one of the wedges I used to fall the tree, since I got it from Dads tool shed after he passed). Bell sounds great.

The old saw blade was crying for a fitting home. Garden Gate is currently lagged to 2-1/2" pipe for support until actual deployment on proper brackets bedded in concrete.

After Thoughts: ~ by Griz (aka Steve Stovner) ~
The top hinge needs to be capped to keep rain water from washing out the grease. Both hinges need zerk fittings to keep them greased.