Securing a Driveway (Logging Road)
..
well, since money is a consideration in my life, I'm going to settle for a
chain between two trees. I have to secure the chain end around each tree,
and I want to make the set-up as easy to operate as possible. My thinking
is that I will make a chain loop around one tree. The long end of the chain
will be secured to the other tree. I will then padlock the free end of the
long chain to the loop on the other tree. This way, I won't have to wrap
the chain around a tree each time.
To secure the loop, and to secure the long chain to the other tree, I could
use a padlock at each end (and another for opening and closing the "gate"),
or I could use a bolt with a nut, which should probably be welded (but I
don't have a welder). Is there some easy but secure method that I may be
able to use to make my chain reasonable secure? TIA -Rich
Joe Yule
Not to discourage you... but if you are only using a chain,
I'm assuming that you want "passive resistance" to entry.
After all... any decent $12.00 pair of bolt cutters will
open up that "gate" even if it was welded on the ends.
I'm not sure what level of security you are looking for.
Or is this just an emphasis to a "Posted" sign?
If that is the case... just screw some big eye bolts into
the tree. Maybe in three different heights. Secure the
chain to the eye bolts on one side and "Lock" in place on
the other side by sliding a bolt (rebar) through the three
pieces of chain and through three more eye bolts. It would
look "secure" and it would still be inexpensive. But you
still could get past it with bolt cutters.
Good Luck,
Joe Yule
Plano, TX
dav...@removethismindspring.com
tubular gate(s). (use 2 - 8's to span 16') Use hardened steel chain
to wrap around the two gates where they meet and get a decent tubular
cylinder padlock.
Cost will be less than $150. I just did it myself.
When you mount the gate aim one "L" bolt up and one down so the gate
can't be pulled off the hinge. Position the strap hinge brakets next
to a rail so they can't be pounded off the "L" bolts. Where the
strap hinge get's clamped to the gate use an extra nut and weld it on
or round off the edges after you tighten it so a wrench will slip.
This isn't Ft. Knox security but it will be a pain in the ass to break
in which is about all you can really do without spending big bucks.
(a chainsaw could cut the posts and a hacksaw could cut thru the "L"
bolts. You are betting the average thief will be too scared to start
up a chain saw and too lazy to use a hacksaw.)
On Tue, 04 Aug 1998 16:22:32 GMT, ".." <no...@nospam.gocougs.wsu.edu>
..
it, I don't want to be putting bolts into the owners trees. Also, the idea
of a gate is somewhat precluded because the "soil" is best described as
"solid rock" - making post placement very difficult.
I realize that bolt cutters may get through the chain, and a chainsaw could
also provide entry by falling a tree. I basically want to deter the
opportunistic would be thief, and stop the "lookee-lou" from driving all the
way up to my house. Signs don't seem to work on today's modern citizen.
I appreciate the ideas and comments given.
Today I saw that a used car lot used chains secured to posts with nuts and
bolts, but something was on the bolt thread to make unbolting difficult.
What do you suppose that might be???
Michel Gagnon
> I have a "driveway" which I would like to secure with an automatic gate...
> well, since money is a consideration in my life, I'm going to settle for a
> chain between two trees. I have to secure the chain end around each tree,
> and I want to make the set-up as easy to operate as possible. My thinking
> is that I will make a chain loop around one tree. The long end of the chain
> will be secured to the other tree. I will then padlock the free end of the
> long chain to the loop on the other tree. This way, I won't have to wrap
> the chain around a tree each time.
>
> To secure the loop, and to secure the long chain to the other tree, I could
> use a padlock at each end (and another for opening and closing the "gate"),
> or I could use a bolt with a nut, which should probably be welded (but I
> don't have a welder). Is there some easy but secure method that I may be
> able to use to make my chain reasonable secure? TIA -Rich
You will need two sections.
- A long one that you loop around one tree and bolt together with one
bolt through it. The loose end would go to the other tree
- A short one that you loop around the second tree. The loose end would
be less than 1 ft long and you would use a padlock there.
The limited experience I have with chains is that they are very heavy,
especially if you have a fairly wide opening. A steel cable would
probably be easier to handle. Both are not that resistant to the person
who really wants to break in... or who wants to break things. Worst, if
you have vandals coming on motorbike, they will go around and the police
will have a harder time to reach your house. So, you get limited
security.
However, make sure your chain or cable is visible. Paint it green fluo
and add a few flags on it. That way, no one would try to sue you if they
cut their head pretending they did not see it. Chains and cables are
indeed a problem -- not too bad if they break a car or ski-doo of
someone who does not belong there yet wants to go, but it is another
story if it breaks the car of the unsuspecting (or lost) tourist, or,
worst, if a cross-country person breaks his neck on it.
--
Michel Gagnon -- Michel...@videotron.ca
Montréal (Québec, Canada)
John B. Hines
A cap lock nut (?) with the plastic insert, usually used for vibration
resistance, is very hard to take off without a set of wrenches.
Same goes for thread locking compound. Locktite is one brand, as well as
metal adhesive, which would make unscrewing just about impossible. In a
pinch, plain paint, or nail polish, applied to the threads before
assembly works ok.
Place the chains on the trees inside of rubber/plastic tubing so it
doesn't damage the tree bark as much.
Running the chain thru a hole in a post would be a simple way to hold it
up, you could bolt cross wise thru it, to lock the post to the chain
next to the tree.
..
I had thought of tying plastic colored ribbon to the chain, but had not
considered painting it.
James J. Momenee-DuPrie
log, and raise it up onto a platform of some time at each end. Make sure
that one end hangs well over the onther side of the platform., Now, hang
cinderblocks (or other heavy stuff) from the free end until it *almost*
counterballanceds the weight of the log. Most people won't even bother
trying to move it, but a small kid can open the gate (if its ballanced
right).
Ascii:
------------------------------------ <-- log
| ^ ^
| || ||
O || ||
|| ||
^ ^ ^
heavy Post#1 Post#2
stuff
If you want to get fancy, a spike or bolt through the log into post #1
makes it impossible to swivel the log off of hte post.... To open the
gate, you just grab the log at the end (right end in this drawing), lift
up a couple of inches, and swing it out of the way....
I lived with one of these for about 8 years, and *never* had someone
open it. Whgen I had folks over, I'd either leave it open, or explain to
them how to open it. They used to get a real kick out of it.
--JD
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