Hinges for Heavy Iron Gates

By the time a heavy iron gate starts to drag, the hinge has usually been wearing for months, as the notes at carlsbad wrought iron gates inside michigan politics describe. A steel gate in Carlsbad, CA can weigh several hundred pounds, and the hinge type and placement decide whether it swings freely for years or sags against the latch post.

Barrel hinges

Weld on barrel hinges are the traditional choice. A pin runs through two steel barrels, one welded to the gate frame and one to the post. They are strong and simple. Without grease fittings they wear and start to squeak, and on the coast the pin can rust in place.

Ball bearing hinges

Ball bearing hinges carry the weight on a sealed bearing. They swing more easily and wear more slowly, which matters on wide gates and gates with automatic operators. Sealed bearings also resist salt better than an open pin.

Adjustable hinges

Adjustable hinges use threaded bolts so the gate can be raised, lowered or moved in and out after installation. They let the installer correct a small sag without cutting or welding. They are common on driveway gates where posts may shift slightly over the first year.

Where hinges go

Hinges are placed near the top and bottom rails. On tall or heavy gates a third hinge goes in the middle. The top hinge carries the pulling load, the bottom one the pushing load. The post must be set deep enough to hold that pull, or it leans toward the gate.

Keeping hinges working near the coast

In the marine layer that settles over neighborhoods near Agua Hedionda Lagoon, hinges collect moisture every morning. A hinge with a grease fitting is greased a few times a year, and a stainless or coated pin lasts longer than bare steel.