Counter Balance Gate v1

Equipment

• 4 x 1.2m (4ft) staves or light spars
• 6 x 0.45m (1ft 6inches) staves
• 1 x 3m (10ft) spar
• 1 x 1.8m (6ft) stave
• 1 x 1m (3ft) stave
• 1 study forked stick approx 1.2m (4ft)
• 1 log counterweight
• 16 light lashing lengths

Method

Prepare two identical frames by lashing 2 x 1.2m staves and 2 x 0.45m staves into rectangles.

Join them by lashing a fifth 0.45m stave between them see a)

This frame stands upright with the extra cross member at the bottom on the side away from the opening where the gate will be. The uprights should be let into the ground by making holes in the appropriate places with a tent peg and mallet.

Lash the last 0.45m stave across the 3m spar to provide a pivot.

Lash the 1.8m and 1m spars to the 3m spar to form a triangle on the same side of the 3m spar as the pivot see b).

The log is lashed to the opposite end of the 3m spar to the triangle as a counterweight. The position of this will need to be adjusted so that the spar will balance.

The gate is balanced on the two 0.45m staves on the top of the rectangular frame made earlier. The counterweight is adjusted and the forked stick set into the ground so that the end of the gate will rest on it.

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