Concealed Gate Slide Bolt
Introduction: Concealed Gate Slide Bolt
Those following along will know that in the Summer of 2021, I built a smallish section of fence with a concealed gate and pivoting slide bolt, but the remaining fence was dependent on a retaining wall replacement project.
The retaining wall was completed in December 2021.
I built the fence and gate throughout December 2021/January 2022.
Then winter shut me down, so the latch mechanism wasn't completed until April 2022.
This gate and slide bolt is also concealed, but the actuation is different. Instead of reaching over the gate for a handle, the knob/latch/opener is part of a decorative sign and hidden in plain sight.
Supplies
Fence Boards
2x4 Scrap
3/4" Copper Pipe
2" Poplar Dowel
1/4" Brass Round Stock
Glue
Pin Nails
Screws
Step 1: Fence Overview
I'll give a quick overview of the fence and anyone interested in more granular details can refer to the prior Instructable.
The construction uses Galvanized posts and brackets with pressure treated lumber. Posts along the retaining wall are 10ft in length with 4ft in ground with concrete - these were set by the contractors as they built the wall. Posts along the back are 9ft with 3ft in ground with concrete - these were set by me and the holes dug by hand. Spacing is between 5.5 and 6ft, so that I could use 12ft 2x4s and stagger the joints. I wanted strength and longevity. Wooden posts don't hold up due to ground moisture and high winds.
The fence layout/style is board on board. 6ft tall with stainless steel screws for fastening. After several years of peering neighbors and unsocialized dogs, I wanted full privacy.
The gate is a double swing, but more of a 1 3/4" just because of the available space. The 3/4" section will pin into the ground and rarely be used - probably never. The gate fabrication method is a bit unconventional, but the first one hasn't sagged/moved, so in my experience, it works.
Challenges:
1. I worked off a ladder for the side run as the retaining wall is just shy of 4ft.
2. The back corner has a "dog leg" and angles up.
3. 181
I had to work through an existing chain fence for the entire back run.
4. Low temps, rain, snow, mud.
Step 2: Slide Bolt
The bolt is a 23" long section of pressure treated 2x4, which was determined by the layout of the gate and fence boards. The bolt retainers are 5" x 1" sections of aluminum flat stock, which are secured to the framing with stainless steel screws. A 7/8" diameter hole is drilled in the bolt and aligns with the space between two of the inner fence boards [Fig.1-3].
Note: My method was to cut the bolt oversized and drill the hole. The hole on the right side of the gap is the locked position and on the left side is the unlocked position. The final length can be trimmed from each side based on that information.
Note 2: 7/8" works perfectly with 3/4" copper pipe. I didn't have an galvanized pipe that worked with any of my Forstner bits.
Step 3: Opener Mechanism
The bolt hole position was transferred to each side of the outer fence board, two holes drilled, and the middle material cut out with an oscillating tool to create a slot [Fig.1&2]. The pipe gets fixed to the bolt and sticks through the gate. At this point, you could add a cap (copper or wood) and be done, but I like to over complicate everything.
Note: Easiest way to transfer the position is to just insert the 3/4 copper pipe through the 2x4, press it against the fence board, and twist to leave an indentation.
I want the knob/opener to be hidden within what I'm calling a "letter tile," which will make sense 3 steps from now. The fence boards range from 5 1/2" - 5 3/4" wide, so my tiles are going to be 5" square. With the bolt in the locked position, I measured to the center of the pipe, determined the offset, and then drilled a 7/8" hole in the tile. Surprisingly, I nailed the placement on the first attempt.
The last hurdle was concealing/plugging the end of the pipe and by mere coincidence, the letter size I picked worked perfectly. Had it not, I would've just plugged the hole to keep out wasps/hornets.
Proof of concept being successful, it was time to make all the parts. 599