[[image:fence-before.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Before]]
 
[[image:fence-before.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Before]]
 
[[image:truck-with-block-and-mortar.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Materials]]
 
[[image:truck-with-block-and-mortar.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Materials]]
The old driveway gate and the corner post to which it was attached has been falling apart for quite a while.  I already replaced the other gate with a welded steel one (which you can see a little on the left); a neighbor threw out a section of iron fencing a few years ago, and last year I just cut it in half and stacked up the pieces.  Now I suppose I have to try to make the wider gate to match.  I like the hinges though; they swing both ways.  I welded them up from pieces of angle iron, and they attach to the block pillar via embedded anchor bolts, which I welded to the rebar that is inside.  So I put the anchor bolts into this new pillar on the opposite side as well.  It's a little tricky to weld down in the cavity inside a block after you have laid it, but the result is very sturdy.  It took two weekends to build the pillar.  There are about 4 bags of concrete just in the footing for it, then one row of block which is below soil level, and 10 rows high above the soil level, and the whole thing is filled with rebar and concrete, so I hope it will be sturdy enough to support such a wide gate.  If it doesn't feel right, I can have the new gate ride on a wheel, like the old one did.  I'm also thinking I might be able to support a carport awning on this post some day if I get around to that project.
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The old driveway gate and the corner post to which it was attached has been falling apart for quite a while.  I already replaced the other gate with a welded steel one (which you can see a little on the left); a neighbor threw out a section of iron fencing a few years ago, and last year I just cut it in half and stacked up the pieces.  Now I suppose I have to try to make the wider gate to match.  I like the hinges though; they swing both ways.  I welded them up from pieces of angle iron, and they attach to the block pillar via embedded anchor bolts, which I welded to the rebar that is inside.  So I put the anchor bolts into this new pillar on the opposite side as well.  It's a little tricky to weld down in the cavity inside a block after you have laid it, but the result is very sturdy.  It took two weekends to build the pillar.  There are about 4 bags of concrete just in the footing for it, then one row of block which is below soil level, and 9 rows high above the soil level, and the whole thing is filled with rebar and concrete, so I hope it will be sturdy enough to support such a wide gate.  If it doesn't feel right, I can have the new gate ride on a wheel, like the old one did.  I'm also thinking I might be able to support a carport awning on this post some day if I get around to that project.  For now, at least the fence and old gate isn't swinging in the wind, so I can put off building the new gate for a while longer.
    
[[image:gate-hinge.jpg|left|thumb|100px|Hinge for last year's gate]]
 
[[image:gate-hinge.jpg|left|thumb|100px|Hinge for last year's gate]]
    
[[image:garage-and-lawn-spring-2006.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Garage]]
 
[[image:garage-and-lawn-spring-2006.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Garage]]
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