Your thoughts on well-covers

[Bouledogue]

I'm starting to think that this old pallet that keeps people and animals from falling to their deaths has perhaps had its day.

Has anyone done any decent grates for wells? Do I just weld something up and be done with it? The easy solution. Or do I make more of an effort and have a go at making a rivetted or morticed affair? Or something else? Either way, I might need to make it in two parts because of the upstands. I won't need access so there is no need for a gate / door.

Separately, I will get a roof on it at some point and repair the winding mechanism, but they are not priorities.

Have you guys done anything similar that might provoke some thoughts?

PS I am quite traditional in my taste.

All input welcome.

C

 

[dobbslc]

@nickk might know what's possible but might be a bit far away from you...

 

[hotponyshoes]

That pallet does look beyond economic repair.

The modern version won't rot plus it's a nod to tradition by still being a pallet...

 

[hotponyshoes]

Or a flat round grate made from a few boxes of old horseshoes??

 

[MattF]

Or a flat round grate made from a few boxes of old horseshoes??

The pile building up again, I assume?

 

[Mick Annick]

I made this last year for a customer…

 

[hotponyshoes]

The pile building up again, I assume?

Was it you that wanted some smaller ones?

I made this last year for a customer…View attachment 534576View attachment 534577View attachment 534578

That looks good.
How did you form the outer ring? Rolled?

 

[Mick Annick]

Was it you that wanted some smaller ones?


That looks good.
How did you form the outer ring? Rolled?

Yes, with a little Metalcraft job, it needed a fair bit of fettling with the bender which is part of the same machine, not a bad result though. The hinged part is for access should he need it to the well. He wants to get the ‘pump’ working at some point - it’s a style common to the area, lots of little buckets on a chain which run inside a pipe.

 

[Bouledogue]

I made this last year for a customer…View attachment 534576View attachment 534577View attachment 534578

That is very nice indeed. I do feel somewhat drawn to having a go at rivetted construction.

 

[MattF]

Was it you that wanted some smaller ones?

It is indeed I.

 

[Onoff]

Years ago we had something like this made for one of the lads at work. Slipped it in on the back of a fabrication job.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Yes, with a little Metalcraft job, it needed a fair bit of fettling with the bender which is part of the same machine, not a bad result though. The hinged part is for access should he need it to the well. He wants to get the ‘pump’ working at some point - it’s a style common to the area, lots of little buckets on a chain which run inside a pipe.

Nice!
I'll see if I can find a photo of a similar one I made. Didn't have any sensible way of rolling the flat so I made the inside first and then pulled the bar round that manually (by running it narrow side up)
Wasn't perfectly circular but this one was dropped inside the well and sat on a ledge so never really seen...

That is very nice indeed. I do feel somewhat drawn to having a go at rivetted construction.

You can make things much easier by welding a frame like that on the underside (so welds are hidden) then drill all the holes and bashing the rivets in without actually riveting them..
Even if you do rivet it properly tacking it all up first makes it almost manageable with one person.

 

[Bouledogue]

You can make things much easier by welding a frame like that on the underside (so welds are hidden) then drill all the holes and bashing the rivets in without actually riveting them..
Even if you do rivet it properly tacking it all up first makes it almost manageable with one person.

That is a smart idea.

 

[Bouledogue]

Didn't have any sensible way of rolling the flat so I made the inside first and then pulled the bar round that manually (by running it narrow side up)

That was my first thought as a work-around on seeing @Mick Annick 's chef d'oeuvre.

 

[Mick Annick]

Nice!
I'll see if I can find a photo of a similar one I made. Didn't have any sensible way of rolling the flat so I made the inside first and then pulled the bar round that manually (by running it narrow side up)
Wasn't perfectly circular but this one was dropped inside the well and sat on a ledge so never really seen...



You can make things much easier by welding a frame like that on the underside (so welds are hidden) then drill all the holes and bashing the rivets in without actually riveting them..
Even if you do rivet it properly tacking it all up first makes it almost manageable with one person.

I did consider that, but as the client was a corporate lawyer in the Netherlands and wanted something authentic I hot riveted the lot!

 

[wyn]

I made a circular one from "open flooring". Bolted it down to the stone work and had a door in the centre with a lock on it.

 

[Onoff]

I made a circular one from "open flooring". Bolted it down to the stone work and had a door in the centre with a lock on it.

I made this last year for a customer…View attachment 534576View attachment 534577View attachment 534578

That looks grate!

 

[Bouledogue]

I made a circular one from "open flooring". Bolted it down to the stone work and had a door in the centre with a lock on it.

Is that the stuff they make raised walkways, etc. from, @wyn ?

 

[Bouledogue]

I did consider that, but as the client was a corporate lawyer in the Netherlands and wanted something authentic I hot riveted the lot!

Locally, I can get 6mm or 8mm diameter rivets, in either 20mm or 40mm lengths. What thickness flat bar did you use?

 

[cocker]

For some ideas involving some welding have a look at pond covers .https://creativepondcovers.co.uk/...