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Basement Gate

17K views 22 replies 12 participants last post by  Polak 
#1 · (Edited)
I made this gate to match the railing for my daughter & son-in-law to keep their little ones safe.
 

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#5 ·
Very nice job. Does that latch have a lock on it?

It's amazing how the little ones figure things out. It is really beautiful though. I thought about things like this with my old house when the kids were younger. The split foyers around here with the stairs like that make the stock gates they sell really hard to safely use.
 
#11 ·
So how's the gate holding up? Any other tricks, tips, or lessons learned you'd care to share?

We just built a house and are moving in on 2/1. I'm literally getting ready to walk out in my temporary "shop" at our rental and start build a gate like this for our new abode!

Thanks for sharing! Looks awesome!
A.J.
 
#12 · (Edited)
A.J.,
I was a little nervous about potential sag and when I installed it, there was an immediate sag (see photo above of top hinge) that was so minute that it didn't effect latching or even visual sag. I was happy with the tiny sag, I think mainly from the Spring Hinges I used. I would of rather used a Strong non spring hinge on the top but they would have looked a lot different and I couldn't live with that unbalanced look. I'm not talking about much sag at all....just enough no notice If you are looking for it. To this day it still looks and works great and no additional sag has occurred. If I built another one, the only thing I would do is find a matching set of 1-Heavy Duty Hinge and 1-Spring Hinge (putting the Std Hinge on the top to reinforce the potential sag factor). If you have any questions on my gate Design/construction, let me know and I will try to help.

Thanks,
Steve
 
#13 ·
Thanks Steve! I have a plan to combat sag, if it occurs. Right now I'm just scared to death of mortising for the hinges (something I've never done). If I screw the gate up, no biggie. If I screw up the corner post on the banister, divorce. :eek:)

We tentatively close on the house on the 31st.

Thanks again! I'll post up some pics when it's done, or you might see my tools for sale by my wife!
 
#15 ·
Any sag in the gate has to be weighed against the babe tumbling down the stairs. The lock is essential.
Soon, they stand up and shake the bejeezlies out of the gate. Soon they can walk and need to be taught to negotiate the stairs (backwards, crawling down.) Soon, the day comes when the gate is no longer useful. . . . . but this is so elegant. Soon, you knock out the hinge pins and try to find a good place to store the gate.
My kids are 30-somethings now. The safety of that gate was priceless.
 
#16 ·
Love the concept and construction...as to a reason to keep the gate? Works beautifully to keep the dogs downstairs :)
The youngest of our 3 is now in college and our gate is still in place...after seeing your work I may have to make one myself, or at least give it a shot...
 
#21 ·
Looking Good! Can't wait to see it finished and mounted. The Mortise can be easily done with a router, straight bit and a Hinge Mortise Template. I wouldn't attempt carving the Mortise out with only a wood chisel, it will take a long time and chances are you won't end up with a consistent flat Mortise. Keeping your progress in this feed is fine.
 
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