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How to make a pair of lumber driveway gates
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page:
three
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Constructing the bottom T&G (tongue and groove) panel
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Laying the members in place
Once cut and trenched, the gate members were laid out in place to ensure that all pieces fitted and the dimensions
were as shown in the plans
The members were laid out on top of a makeshift frame simply because there was not a large working table or platform available.
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Securing the middle rail
The three rails were removed.
Glue was applied to both ends of the middle rail and then the middle rail was re-placed back into position.
The two side stiles were firmly clamped against the middle rail.
The middle rail was then nailed to the side stiles by way of angling (toe-nailing) nails through the edges of the middle rail into the style, four altogether per gate: one at each corner.
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Inserting the tongue and grove boards
The T&G (tongue and groove) boards were applied with dabs of glue along the edges and then inserted into the trenches (grooves).
All the T&G boards except the first and last were cut over length.
A packer was placed under the ends of the boards to stop them from sagging.
The two stiles were constantly checked to ensure that they remained parallel.
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Marking the bottom cut line
The bottom rail was placed on top of the T&G boards in position so the curve line could be marked on the T&G boards.
Another line was marked 15mm (5/8") down from and parallel to the first line.
The portion between the two lines was the amount that was to go into the trench (grove) in the bottom rail.
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Cutting the T&G boards
The bottoms of the T&G boards were then cut along the bottom line.
Completing the lower panel
Glue was applied to the bottom ends of the T&G boards and to the ends of the bottom rail.
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The bottom rail was fitted in place in between the two stiles and with the channel over the bottom ends of the T&G boards.
The two side stiles were then firmly clamped against the bottom rail.
The bottom rail was then nailed to the side stiles by way of angling (toe-nailing) nails through the bottom edge
of the bottom rail into the style, two altogether per gate: one at each end.
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Page three: Constructing the bottom T&G panel