The level of security of the building largely depends on which bolt or latch for the gate is chosen. As you know, a gate without them is useless and impractical. To reliably protect your home from uninvited guests, you need to take care of the quality of the deadbolt. Basically, the gate latch comes with a factory lock, but you can try and make a durable mechanism with your own hands.
Forged bolt
Types of constipation
Before buying a deadbolt, you need to study its functionality and methods of attaching it to the gate. Locking mechanisms differ in appearance, fasteners and the device itself.
Homemade structures are fixed on the gate in different ways.
The following fastening methods are distinguished:
- Locks that are located in the center or bottom of the gate are called horizontal. They are most often used in garages. Usually this is a so-called latch with a locking loop, a shell and a movable metal rod. Locks in the form of steel rods, which serve as a moving part and are mainly located at the top or bottom of the gate. Sometimes they are installed centrally, as in horizontal locks. This type of fastening is called vertical and is used for swing gates and wickets.
- Some bolts are installed as additional fasteners to the main lock or deadbolt. Such modules have an average level of protection, so it is better to fix them in pairs with other, more durable ones.
All these locks can be modified and supplemented depending on the type and quality of the gate and the wishes of the owner of the private property. For example, it is better to install two horizontal fasteners at the top and bottom, rather than fixing one in the center. The first option will be much more reliable.
Regular gate valve
Peculiarities
The locking mechanism that secures the gate leaves in the closed state is commonly called a deadbolt. With a well-installed lock, the process of operating the gate is greatly simplified. At the same time, the entrance structure itself in the fence becomes much more reliable. Basically, gate deadbolt models are designed to open the doors only from the inside and do not require the use of keys. That is, it will not be possible to open the mechanism from the outside.
This means that you will not need to carry any additional keys with you. With a high-quality gate bolt, the risk of intruders entering private territory is minimized. This device is capable of keeping even very massive doors closed.
Mechanism selection
If this is your first homemade design, then it is better to start with the simplest elements. This experience will undoubtedly be useful for performing more complex deadbolts.
Simple deadbolt
This is the lightest device for mounting on gates. To secure it, you need to stock up on three metal staples, a latch and a base for it. Then the brackets must be welded to the inside of the gate and the latch must be secured to them. Next, for strength, a limiter is screwed to the brackets perpendicular to the floor. The main thing is that it is slightly higher than the staples.
Very easy to make
Locking lugs
This design will not take much time to assemble. Any amateur can easily cope with this task. You will need eyelets purchased in a store or made from metal plates.
Principle of operation
Design options based on operating principle can be divided into several types.
Latch on a wooden door
Screw latches
A simple screw latch is attached to the outside of the gate. This model consists of a threaded rod and a release lock that has a small pin and groove. The locking mechanism is activated by a key with the required slot and a pin at the end.
You can easily make such a latch for the gate yourself. It is recommended to galvanize the finished product to extend its service life.
In the country
The complexity of this homemade design lies in the fact that there must be enough free space in the doorway for a threaded recess into which the key in the form of a rod is screwed directly. Moreover, this overhead mechanism is very easy to hack by selecting a similar key.
Overhead sliding locks
This is a mechanism that is easily attached to a flat metal profile. Due to the flat rod, such a lock ensures the strength of closing the door leaf. The mechanism can be fixed either from the inside or from the outside of the fence. For greater efficiency, you can install a padlock on the outside.
Gate bolt drawing
Rotary slot mechanism
This is a simple lock with a high efficiency and degree of protection against burglary. You can assemble the device yourself, but certain knowledge and equipment will be required. The key, which is lowered when inserted into the slot, activates the gear mechanism by circular rotation, which unlocks the sash.
Rack and pinion bolt mechanism
This product can be purchased at the Leroy Merlin retail chain. Only a specialist can make such a locking device independently. The design consists of a key with recesses and a locking base. This mechanism is highly durable and has a long service life, but there is a possibility of the key being counterfeited. Therefore, some additional lock is often used to lock the door.
The photo below shows an overhead valve.
Metal door in the fence
Mortise design for gate
This is the most popular design of locking mechanisms, sold in every hardware store. To install this lock, you need to cut a groove in the base of the sash. The reliability of such a device is very high.
Spring latches
Such structures are most often installed from the inside. They are an additional locking mechanism with a snap-on base. Their spring device makes it possible to easily activate the latch.
Device
Code lock for gate
This is a convenient lock with a high degree of security. The mechanism is activated by simultaneously pressing the keys in accordance with a preset digital combination. For reliability, it is best to change the code regularly.
Diagram with dimensions
Electromagnetic lock
Thanks to the latest technology, electromagnets are practically impossible to hack. A magnetic type lock can be purchased in stores. To install the structure, the help of craftsmen will most likely be needed.
Thanks to a reinforced magnet, powered by electricity, the closed gate is firmly fixed. When the door is locked, it closes automatically. The device is opened using a magnetic card or button.
Outdoor electric strike
Electromechanical latch
An electromechanical lock is a device that combines mechanical and electronic design. Therefore, the lock comes with 2 types of keys - electronic and mechanical. The gate is locked automatically.
An electromechanical device for a yard gate made of corrugated sheets is practically no different in appearance and design from a simple mechanical lock. The only difference between the electric latch is the installation of a special electronic unit to control the mechanism.
Electromechanical lock
There are many different locking devices that are used to protect homestead areas. Taking into account the complexity of a certain mechanism, you can purchase a lock in a store or make it yourself.
To decide on the type of latch, you can also watch the video below.
Modern market of locking mechanisms
Progressive methods for developing reliable models of locks for gates and gates allow owners of suburban areas to purchase electromechanical and electromagnetic locks.
The reliability of the second type is explained by the supply of voltage force, which actuates the gate leaves. A magnet has the property of literally sticking to a metal surface, and it is in principle impossible to open it without using a set of special tools.
This kit is expensive, but, according to experts in this field, the costs are completely justified. The latest models are opened after confirming the fingerprint of the owner of the estate. It is impossible to make such a mechanism with your own hands without special skills.
Conventional gate latch design
Board spinner
A wooden pinwheel is a simple and original solution for gates in the country. To make it, you need a long board, and the second one needs to be cut into 4 pieces.
A board is bolted to the edge of the sash. It should rotate freely around its axis. It should be placed in a horizontal position and places for fastening the staples should be marked. The easiest way to make them is from the second board. At the fastening points, gaskets are installed according to the thickness of the main lock.
When rotating, the board should fit into the wooden half-loops. Therefore, one connector faces up, the second on the opposite side faces down. For gates made of corrugated sheets, you can use a strip of rolled sheet metal.
A reliable lock will be achieved if you weld hinges on one side and lock the turntable. By attaching a handle from the outside to the axial bolt, you can freely enter the yard from the street if the gate is located far away and you have enough strength to turn the beam. The longer the locking strip, the better the gate leaves are aligned and the more difficult it is to open from the outside.
How to make a deadbolt yourself
Yes, today you can buy a reliable lock that has several levels of protection. But some craftsmen continue to put their knowledge into practice and make simple mechanisms for the gate with their own hands.
So, to make the simplest lock using a rod and staples, you will need some materials and tools:
- welding machine;
- pipe with rod;
- electric drill;
- Bulgarian.
Diagram for making a bolt
Metal products (pipe and rod) must be selected so that the rod fits freely into the pipe. For example, for a thin pipe, regular fittings or a profile round tube are suitable.
Next, the pipe must be divided into two pieces, the length of which depends on the length of the valves. The cut pieces are welded at the same level and a movable rod is inserted into them, onto which the handle is attached. Also, one end can be bent in such a way that it is possible to easily turn the model in different directions.
Diagram of a valve made from pipe scraps
This design can be supplemented with various fasteners, springs and hinges, and you can carefully consider how to make the base of the lock more durable.
Installation of a gate valve
It is easy to build a gate valve of this type with your own hands. The main element of the design is a heavy latch with a set of accessories. Such a plate can be made either independently, or purchased ready-made with a set of consumables.
Making different varieties
The main task of hickeys is to ensure the safety of the territory. With their help, it is possible to reduce the risk of intruders entering the site.
When making a latch for sliding or swing gates, it is worth paying attention to the reliability of the mechanism. The appearance of the mechanism is not so important, since the installation of the bolt occurs from the inside of the yard.
It’s worth taking a closer look at how to make the most common types of shutters with your own hands.
"Turntables"
Often found on garage doors and other buildings. A spinner is a device with a simple operating mechanism, the moving part of which is a wooden block. Main parameters of the part:
- length from 1.5 meters;
- thickness from 5 to 10 cm.
Wooden beams are mounted on channels, which are secured with bolts. This approach allows you to achieve maximum immobility of the structure. The work may require a welding machine or a drill if the first is not available. The beams are mounted on two channels, one of which is installed a little higher, the other a little lower.
The spinner should rotate counterclockwise.
Features of assembly and installation of the bolt.
- If there are no channels at hand, then the mechanism is made of iron strips up to 5 mm thick or bars. If a profile strip is used, its length should not exceed 2/3 of the width of the gate.
- The turntable is rotated using a bolt installed in the fixing flap. The mounting height of the bolt should be 60-70 cm from the ground in order to easily lock the doors.
- A groove profile must be welded onto each door leaf, where the strip will subsequently fall when the gate is closed. The height of the profiles is 60-70 cm.
- The pinwheel strip in the closed position should protrude slightly beyond the edges of the profile. This cunning approach will help extend the service life of the mechanism and ensure reliable fixation of the valves.
To avoid any problems while rotating the bolt, you should put two washers on it. It is also recommended to grind off the outside of the bolt head and paint it so that it becomes invisible.
"Barrier"
This is a type of turntable with a similar design. The only difference is that the steel strip is fixed using a channel welded along the short side of the sash.
Eyelets are also sometimes welded on the end of the channel in order to use a padlock in the future.
You can make a barrier for a street gate yourself; the mechanism is quickly assembled.
- A wooden beam or steel plate is used as a base. The length of the product must be less than 60 cm.
- The structure is attached to the sash using bolts as fasteners. The distance at which you need to screw in the bolt is 1/3 from the edge.
- Next, take two channels up to 10 cm long and weld them. The width of the profile should not be greater than the width of the beam. If a steel plate was used, the profile can be replaced with a cut corner. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the part is tightly embedded between two elements - the corner and the sash.
Sometimes the barrier is reinforced with a lock. To do this, weld a loop to one of the sides of the plate, where the constipation will subsequently be attached. The second ring will need to be secured to the sash.
"Espagnolette"
There are two types of latches: vertical and horizontal. The latter are a simpler design, which is installed on one side of the fixed sash. Such bolts are made in the shape of the letter G. To assemble the mechanism, reinforcement with a diameter of 12-14 mm is used, the length of the rod is 70 cm. To assemble a vertical bolt, you will need the following.
- Weld pieces of pipe of the same size to the lower edges of the sashes. The diameter of the fixed pipe must be selected so that the reinforcement rod can fit into the hole.
- Cement two more pieces of pipe on both sides of the garage floor. They will act as clamps for shut-off valves.
The last stage involves cutting the reinforcing bars to the required length and then using the bolts. To make opening the gate more convenient, it is recommended to weld fixing grooves on both sides of the gates. Horizontal bolts are considered more functional.
To make such a constipation, you will need a metal pipe with a diameter of 10 mm or more. The material will subsequently need to be cut into three pieces.
The length of one should be 10 cm, the rest - 5 cm.
The latch is assembled as follows.
- First, the longest pipe is welded to the bottom of the door leaf. The piece is placed horizontally.
- Next, take short pieces. One is also welded to the edge, installed opposite to the first tube.
- The third stage involves threading a latch assembled from a T-shaped pin into both pieces. For assembly, a rod is used, the diameter of which is selected so that it can easily enter the pipe.
- Then the latch is moved until it stops. The remaining section of metal pipe is welded to the edge of the finished mechanism.
To make the bolts last a long time: advice
Without protection from external manifestations, any constipation is unlikely to last long. You will need a secret niche made of metal or other material to prevent moisture from entering the mechanism itself. The use of machine oil to lubricate working mechanisms will be useful.
To make a lock for a sliding gate with a wicket, you just need to accurately measure the future structure and draw the correct drawing. Only under such conditions will the latch be made by any craftsman who has a set of necessary tools for precise work.
Example of a wooden gate valve
If you couldn’t make the lock you like on your own, you can always contact a reliable company that will provide high-quality installation of the lock at an affordable price.
Pins and latches for sliding gates
How to make a bolt for a sliding gate. The opening force is directed horizontally. To fix the sash, it is enough to use a vertical pin.
- Take a calibrated rod with a diameter of 10–12 mm. Bend one end of it at a right angle - this will be a handle. Grind the second one onto a cone and round it.
- Weld 2 pieces of pipe up to 20 mm long onto the metal plate along the edges. The internal diameter is selected based on the tight fit of the rod.
- In the extreme position of the gate, mark the point of contact of the end of the pin and drive the tube into the ground. The rod should fit into it to a depth of 50–70 mm.
- On the pin, mark a point in the closed position above the lower ring of the pipe and weld the pin to it parallel to the direction of the handle. Make limiters on the plate. In the closed position, they should not allow the rod to rise up. When the gate is open, just turn the handle parallel to the door leaf, and the latch will hold the bolt in the open position.
What else to pay attention to
A fence in the form of a wicket or gate cannot exist on its own, since it is initially designed for some type of lock.
Usually, at the request of the gate users, the lock is installed as a separate element that is in no way dependent on the gate.
Typical deadbolt model
The requirements for locking a gate must correspond to simple and practical solutions. In a word, it should open easily and without much effort. Also, all bolts, latches and latches on it must be combined with the general appearance of the fences, without violating the integrity of the architectural forms.
Presence of a secret lock
Quite often you can find this option when there is no gate on the door leaf, and there is a hole for the key and some other mechanism with which it could be opened, but at the same time the door is locked from the inside. If you look closely, you can see that a valve was simply installed on the reverse side. But if it is installed inside, and there are no external elements to open, then how can you work with it from the outside? If you don’t understand this in detail, then the question is unclear. And the whole point is that on the canvas itself there is a kind of hexagonal cap. It needs to be turned using an individual key. And on the courtyard side there is a rail, which rotates the main device when closing or opening. Making such a design is quite simple.
The tail of the prepared bolt is made flat and a valve is attached to its base, in which a slot is made for this sharpening.
The assembly diagram of this structure itself looks like this:
- a hole is drilled for a bolt that has a thread;
- using a drill with a large diameter, a recess is made for the bolt head itself so that it fits perfectly into the recess;
- on the reverse side, two washers should be secured to the bolt and pressed so that the bolt head becomes “invisible”;
- You need to place a valve on the workpiece and press it to the blade using nuts.
