How to build a gate

[longhorngal]

I need a gate for the cattle pen really badly. Currently it has a REALLY heavy cattle panel type thing across it and it's not on hinges. It's just kind of wired to a post on one end and I have to drag it to get it open at all.Not easy to do with one hand on a bratty goat that doesn't want to enter.

So, I'm thinking maybe I can build one with some 2 x 4's and field fencing type material? I saw this gate here:
http://www.highhopesgardens.com/Blog.../2007/gate.jpg
I thought something like this but longer, is that possible?
My problem is my husband is in Iraq and I'm going to be building it myself. I'm not extremely handy but not that bad if I have directions.
Can someone tell me exactly what I need? I'm hoping Lowes will cut whatever I need cut on the wood but what hardware do I need? And what tools? How will I attach the field fence to the wood frame?
This is the fencing I was thinking of using.
http://images.lowes.com/product/086546/086546709478.jpg

I do have an electric drill and screwdriver.

Thanks
Cara

[farmergirl]

Don't use 2 x 4's if it's for cattle! They could break through a 2 x 4 with ease. I would go with pressure treated 2 x 6's. Building gates is really rather easy. Just take the measurements for the opening and draw out your gate on a piece of paper, before you make the cuts in the lumber. Measure twice, or three times LOL, cut once. Then lay out the shape of the gate with the cut boards on the ground. You can use small nails to tack it together as you lay it out, adding bigger nails or screw (would be stronger, but not absolutely necessary) after you have the shape.

[beorning]

If it's a tubular steel corral panel you're using now, it should have hinges. Or at least the tube part of a hinge. If it doesn't you can buy hinges for it at most farm supply stores that bolt on. They also make small wheels for mounting to the loose end of a cattle panel gate to make them easier to open and close. Looks kinda like a lawnmower wheel with a bracket for mounting it to the panel.

This will probably be cheaper than building a gate from scratch, and will definitely be more durable.

You should probably buy more tools.

[Batt]

Originally Posted by longhorngal

http://www.highhopesgardens.com/Blog.../2007/gate.jpg

This is the fencing I was thinking of using.
http://images.lowes.com/product/086546/086546709478.jpg

I do have an electric drill and screwdriver.

Thanks
Cara

The gate shown in your photo is only 2' wide, and you did not specify how wide you need it. How wide makes a lot of difference on the weight, and the bracing needed. Can you be a little more specific. Need to add a tape measure to your list of tools, as well as a carpenters pencil

Also the fencing material shown in the 2nd photo is kinda light for when the goaties decide they need to rub against the fence...ask me how I know. The fencing in the first photo is actually a piece cut out of a cattle panel....Now that will hold'em. We can handle the rest of the details after the problem is a little better defined.

[caberjim]

My favorite gate - a cattle panel cut down to size, hammered in with lots of long fence staples and secured with a couple of latches or chains. No extra bracing needed. Simple, efficient, cheap.

[bill not in oh]

I agree with beorning (if it is indeed a tubular steel gate) - get the hinges...

And buy more toys... er um tools

[wilderness1989]

I had a herd of Registered Texas Longhorn cattle for years. I used pipe gate (like they sell at Tractor Supply type stores) on the home place. On rented pasture I always made gates like this one http://travel.webshots.com/photo/244...51262496vaDVGs and never had a cow or bull get thru one of them. They are cheap and easy to build.

[Beeman]

Up to 4' that would be a fine gate, after that it would be too flimsy. A wood gate 8' or more wide could be made in 2 sections and hinged at the posts and joined in the middle.
If your current gate is useable I would try to hinge it.

[Hammer4]

You can use that type of fencing to make a gate.

But you have to staple it to the end (hinge) side and then run a t-post or something thru the side you open, and then have a loop of wire at the bottom that you put the foot of the t-post in, then pull the top of the t-post over and drop a loop from the top of the post over it to hold it closed...we have used one like this in the past made out of that woven wire or even out of barb wire as shown in a previous post, but I don't like them..to hard to wrestle around and open and close when I need to get thru in a hurry.

The gate you had a picture of was made from a cut down section of a welded wire fence panel.

What you could do is to replace the big heavy corral panel (it sounds like thats what you are using) with a welded wire panel, normally you can buy a 16 foot one for under 20 dollars. Take some staples and fencing wire and wire the hinge side up off the ground to support the weight on that end and then wire some chain with a latch on the end to loop around the end you open and close...

I use cattle panels for gates on leased land, they work fine. As a matter of fact I have one on the back of our acrage that lets me drive the tractor/mower/rake/baler directly on to the property behind me that I am lucky enough to get to bale and keep the hey on for our cattle.

If you securely wire the top and bottom of the hinge side and then chain the middle of the side that opens to the post on that side, the cattle won't bother it in my experience, and its much lighter and easier to move than a real cattle corral panel.

And its cheap and easy and quick to put up.

http://www.stockyardsupply.com/page3/index.htm

That link shows the kind of panel I mean, it's available at most any farm and home store or tractor supply.

I actually have a link to a road gate I made using some of those wedge lock aluminum pieces that let you use t-posts for angle bracing and a welded wire cattle panel for the gate...

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1...0/DSCI0002.jpg

[just_sawing]

I build gates for people here on my Sawmill.
I take it that you are probably needing a gate that yu can drive through. So I suggest that you build two gates equal width. What I am going to detail is OK for up to eight feet.
If you don't know your wood use treated.
I would prefer to use Decking and before people object here is why. You need to sandwich the gate by putting an upright then place the horizonial on each sides.
I will try to build a gate this weekend and photograph it.

[longhorngal]

Thanks for all the advice. I really can't do anything with that panel. I forgot to add that it's broken on the top. It's just REALLY heavy anyway and I'm doing this basically by myself. I did find a lightweight metal gate-a real livestock gate-on the place and the only thing it's missing is the end piece that runs vertically on the end of the gate.
Could I just somehow attach a board to that gate and put hinges on it?

Cows are not often in this pen, usually use it for 2 goats or 3 mini horses.

I do have more tools-well, hubbys tools-I just mentioned the 2 power ones that I actually know how to use <g>.
Cara

[Hammer4]

Do any of your neighbors or friends have a welder?

If the hinge end is gone off the end of that stock gate, it is pretty easy to weld a piece of flat metal with a piece of tubing welded on the end of it to that gate, then buy the bolts/screws that go in the post for those tubes to slide down on for the hinge, mark where the bolts/screws go carefully, drill holes and screw/bolt on the hinge bolts, set the gate on the hinge bolts...and your done.