Making Gates

[tab]

Hi,

I'm totally new to welding but i want to make some gates, i've searched on here for a good couple of hours but still have some questions so if anyone can help it would be appreiciated

first question is what to make the gates out of, from what i've found on here most seem to say wrought iron but would mild steel be ok as i've got a good stack of it just lying around? secondly how would i go about making curve sections for the top of the gates as i dont want it to look like loads of straight edges and boxy!

apologies if there is a thread on this but i couldn't find it (oh, if there is can someone point it out please)

tab

 

[shenion]

Most gates are mild steel these days. Here, wrought iron is near impossible to find.

You can make a form out of heavy plywood to bend the steel around manually. OK for arches that are not a tight radius.

 

[wyn]

There tends to be a bit of confusion with "wrought iron". The majority of stuff nowadays is made from mild steel in a wrought iron style...scrolls etc. Proper wrought iron being a pretty specialised thing used in restoration type work.

To make the curved sections a ring roller could be used or if the material wasn't too thick maybe weld a few bolts to a plate in the shape needed and bend the steel around it.

 

[mart]

Hello TAB, and welcome to the forum. The guys on here are helpful & friendly.

If you are wanting to buy some of the many various shapes of scrolls, gate panels and railheads etc, then here are half a dozen websites that will keep you busy for a good while.

Mart



http://www.dciron.co.uk/

http://www.fhbrundle.com/index.htm

http://www.grey-rose-products.co.uk/Flash/index.htm

http://www.nvfwroughtiron.co.uk/index.php

http://www.brindley-steel-forging.co.uk/

http://www.ironwork-components.co.uk/index.php

 

[Spacecowboy]

Try here as well. Pretty cheap methinks.

http://www.forestmetals.co.uk/