I want to incorporate a moon gate into one of my projects. I know how I’d go about making it out of wood (build a big bending template, use 1/4″ x 3″ WR cedar strips and glue it up) but I was wondering if anyone knew of a source (like Fypon?) where I could just buy a big (6′ radius approx.) ring made from some sort of exterior rated material, like PVC maybe?
I’d cut the bottom flat and raise it up to 6’8″ clearance, and attach/ secure it at a few points, so it would need to be at least a little structual anyway.
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It would be used something like this.
Bent lamination sounds good to me, nice and stiff. WRC I haven't used, but redwood bends moderately well. Walnut would be another good choice if you can get clear stock. I'd probably use black locust, unlikely available there.
Your install I don't understand. Are we talking about a gate? As in hinged? If so, where?
I'd cut the bottom flat and raise it up to 6'8" clearance,
??????? Top hinged?
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Yep, redwood is another option (redily available around here too), 'If' I were to actually laminate it up, but I'm trying (a long shot I know) to find a source for ready made rings (need to be maybe 3" x 3" at least in cross section).Nope, this won't be an actual hinged gate, just the round opening. With Moon gates, the circle doesn't always continue all around the opening, but is sometimes cut flat on the bottom at the pathway where you'd walk thru, like in that pic I posted.Edited 6/25/2006 1:35 pm by JoeWood
Edited 6/25/2006 1:36 pm by JoeWood
Got it. Gateway without the gate.
Steel is what I'd be looking at if you don't want to laminate. Easy to bend as sheet. 3x3 steel box beams would take a lot to bend, why that large? I'd be thinking 1/4" thick sheet. Splined into wood if you want a thicker appearance.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
You might want to check with Lawrence and see if he has done any and knows of a material.
http://www.gardenstructure.com/
Here's something I did out of redwood. To ensure longevity and good glueup I resawed dry, clear 2x4's and then planed them to 3/16" thick. There are 15 layers on each beam; since it's exterior I used marine epoxy for the glueup.
View Image
One of the reasons I went with 3/16" was that for this radius (about 5' IIRC) the 1/4" was tough to bend - espceially a stack of 15 goobered up with epoxy. As it was, still a bear to get it wrapped tightly to the form. And if you do it, make sure it's the really slow cure epoxy! Mine was, but I needed so much it got too hot in the bucket and I lost one batch mid-glueup (cures more slowly when it's a thin layer than a whole bucket...).
Edited 6/25/2006 2:47 pm by wrudiger
I think the moon gate is awesome - what is the fence made of in your picture?^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
OH, that isn't my work, but that's a bamboo fence to either side.