Introduction: Fun Flower Gate

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This is an expansion upon the fun flower fence instructable. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Fun-Flower-Fence/

 

When I was out of town a few months ago, my wife surprised me by building a gate for our picket fence. She told me on the phone that she did this. She is actually a good woodworker, so I was expecting something pretty nice. Surprise! The gate was a pallet that was painted yellow and attached with hinges. It was big and heavy. But, it was a gate, which we needed for our dog (now 2 dogs). I have waited a respectful amount of time and now I am ready to fix the gate.

 

 

 

 

 

If you like this PLEASE vote for me. I really would like to win a camera so I can stop borrowing one to post instructables.

 

This instructable  respectfully submitted to the Instructables Sponsorship Program by Eukaliptos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Materials

Wood

Paint

Exterior screws

Hinges

 

Tools

 

Table saw or radial saw  (You can skip this if you are using pallet wood and tying it to another fence)

 Band saw, Scroll saw or jig saw to cut flowers

 Rotary tool or wood carving knife

router

Paint brush

Step 2: Cut Stems

You can use pallet boards without cutting them. Or you can cut the stems from whatever wood you have. The width can be anywhere from 2-4”. Choose the height that you would like for your flowers. Mine range from 3 1/2- 5' tall. On this gate I am varying the heights of the flowers to come to a point at the center

 

 

Paint them green, unless you would like some other color stems.

Step 3: Cut Flowers

Trace a flower design on the wood.

If you are making a complete fence, it helps to cut out a template for the flower out of hardboard. You can paint the template and drill a small hole in it to decorate your shop space.

 

Cut out the flower. I cut into tight corners with my band saw to avoid binding the saw blades on the flowers curves (see pics).

 

After you cut out the flower shape, round over the front edge of the flower with your router.

 

The next step is to carve out the flower details with the dremel rotary tool. The flower here has very basic details, you can carve them more intricately if you want.

Step 4: Paint Flowers

I paint the centers of the flowers first. Then I cover the center with a jar or bottle cap and paint the petals. You can add highlights and details to the petals if you like. I don’t bother with primer and I haven’t had any problems with them.

Step 5: Leaves

Cut and paint leaves using the same techniques you used on the flowers.

Step 6: Attatch Flowers to Stems

 

 

 

Find exterior screws that are just a bit shorter than the thickness of your flower and stem stacked together. 

 

Pre-drill the holes for the screws. Screw the flower to the stem through the back of the stem. Use two screws in the flowers for strength and to avoid spinning the flowers.

 

Do not attach the leaves yet.

 

 

 

Step 7: Make a Z Frame

Make a Z shape for your gate. I used 2X3” boards, though typically gates are made with 1X4” boards, I used what I had and you can too.

My gate is 32” across I spaced the boards so they would look okay with the existing fence. After placing the two cross pieces where I wanted them I laid the diagonal board in position. Then I marked the position of the cross pieces so I could make the cuts. After, making the cuts, I redid them a second time bit neater, oops.

Then I placed the diagonal board in position and pre-drilled holes for the screws.

This is all that you need for a normal gate. But, here I don’t have access to gate hinges, so I am using 3 inch hinges. I decided to add a support piece for the hingesas shown in the photos.

Step 8: Place the Pickets

I placed the two end pickets first. Then I just placed the other pickets on the frame until I was happy with the look.

I placed the leaves on the gate. Then I lifted up each stem, while holding on to the leaves and pre-drilled and screwed the leaves on to the stem from the rear.

The pickets are then predrilled and screwed down to the frame. 

Some of the flowers could only be screwed in one place because of the frame and where the flowers were. To secure these flowers, I flipped over the gate and pre-drilled and screwed the flowers and/leaves to other flower stems from the back side of the gate.

Step 9: Attatch the Gate to the Fence

I screwed the hinges in to the fence post.

Admire your new gate!

 

PS…Get ready for requests for gates. While installing mine, I received 3 requests for gates.