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welding barrel hinges on steel gate

metalmimi | Posted in General Discussion on May 1, 2005 07:15am

Hi There,

First time poster.  And from the looks of it one of the few girlie girls (or am I making assumptions – you know what they say!) 

I was a commercial industrial electrician for 10 years.  I always watched the ironworkers on the job and one day bought my own welder and started playing around with it.  I jumped ship a few years ago to start my own ornamental Iron business………Whew!  Should have worked for someone else first!  Oh well. 

So here is my problem: (right now I am missing a foreman!)

I just got done with REALLY frustrating day and am hoping that I can get someone out there can give me advice on welding / metalwork.  Here’s the deal.

I am welding up a gate……..just finished it an am happy with it.  Now comes the time to weld on the barrel hinges (looks like a teardrop in cross section).  I want my hinges to line up square on the round tubing frame of the gate….If they are off then the gate is just a big lever to torque the frame of the gate out of square.  For the life of me I cannot figure out an efficient way to jig up the (*&%!#$) hinges so that they stay put when I weld them on.  I don’t want to eyeball and just tac it on… I am concerned about a smooth easy opening gate.

The teardrop cross section of the hinge make it really hard to clamp.

Some one please help……I am about ready to sit down and have a good cry.  Well, actually I did get the hinges on square…….but sheeesh! it shouldn’t take that long.

I have attached a picture of the gate in the making.

Mimi Riley, website at mimiriley.com

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Replies

  1. mizshredder2 | May 01, 2005 07:50am | #1

    Hey girlie girl NEWBIE, you got some gender company around here...see:

    http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=56459.242

    Meanwhile, I've downloaded, and resized your gate photo and am going to nest it into this post for folks to more readily see.  (BTW, try and keep your jpg size to around 100kbytes, as some on this board still using dial up, cause sometimes that's all that's available in their location!)

    Your gate looks great.  HOPE that you get some help with your query.  Sorry I'm scanning all posts on gate hardware right now myself as I've got a warped hinge to try and deal with tomorrow...

    Clara

    View Image

     

    Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most! 

    1. metalmimi | May 01, 2005 05:09pm | #3

      Thanks for the resize! now I know.

      Mimi

      1. mizshredder2 | May 01, 2005 08:30pm | #5

        No problem - and...welcome to Breaktime!Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most! 

  2. User avater
    SamT | May 01, 2005 04:20pm | #2

    Mimi,

    Lay the gate on shims to lift it off the table. Align the shim under the hinge side to the edge of the gate with a square. Set a shim under the hinge to bring it to elevation.

    A couple of 'Top of Hinge' layout marks on the gate. Hold the hinge to the gate with one hand and tack.

    View Image

    Really easy if you have an electronic hood.

    SamT
    Be a part time steel fabricator

    1. metalmimi | May 03, 2005 07:12pm | #8

      Hey Sam,

      thanks SOO much.  The picture was very helpful.  I will copy and post this up in my studio.

      Mimi

  3. WorkshopJon | May 01, 2005 07:12pm | #4

    For the life of me I cannot figure out an efficient way to jig up the (*&%!#$) hinges so that they stay put when I weld them on.  I don't want to eyeball and just tac it on... I am concerned about a smooth easy opening gate. "

    Mimi,

    Just place a piece of [steel] drill rod of the appropriate diameter through all the hinges prior to welding.  Pull it out after you're done.

    WSJ

    1. metalmimi | May 03, 2005 07:09pm | #7

      Hey there Jon,

      good idea.............except the barrel hinges are capped at the end.  Oh well.

      Mimi

  4. DaneB | May 02, 2005 01:15pm | #6

    Welcome to BT.  I hope that you learn and laugh as much as I have here.  Don't be afraid to jump in were ever you think you might be able to help some body else learn and laugh.

    That is a beautiful gate, delegate looking but beautiful.  Love the way you have it drawn out to full scale underneath it.

    Hope you can get a picture of it when it is finished and hung in place so we all here at BT can see it.

    Dane

    I will always be a beginner as I am always learning.

    Mimi was my grandmothers name.



    Edited 5/2/2005 6:18 am ET by DaneB

    1. metalmimi | May 03, 2005 07:30pm | #9

      I will post a finished picture of it.  

      Ya know, it's funny how many people called their Grandma's Mimi.

      Mimi (not grandma - though I did just turn the ripe old age of 42)

      1. DaneB | May 04, 2005 12:59pm | #10

        That is the name that is on dads bith cert.  Not a nick name.  I was only 6 months old when she died and I am the third oldest of her grand kids.

        Your not old by any means and you never will be untill your in the ground for eternity.

        Hope you have a great day.

        DaneI will always be a beginner as I am always learning.

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