Top-hanged gates and other types of sliding structures are popular due to their ease of manufacture. It is easy to make them yourself, for example, from corrugated board. You can use a ready-made locking mechanism or make a lock for sliding gates with your own hands.
Castle requirements
Since the door leaf is often subjected to a wind load, high strength requirements are imposed on the lock. The integrity of the structure should not be compromised by environmental factors. Regardless of whether a latch is made for a sliding gate with your own hands or purchased ready-made, it must also meet the following requirements:
- Ease of Management;
- good performance of the material - no susceptibility to rust, resistance to frost;
- reliability and burglar resistance.
If the structure is equipped with an electromagnetic or electromechanical unit, a dedicated power source must be diverted for it so that the locking device is not disconnected from the mains.
The main types of locking devices
Regardless of the design, a sliding gate lock must be supplied with several keys, parts for the cylinder and a receiving bar. It is better to mount it in a strip. When installed in a sash, an intruder can damage the latter if he tries to break into the locking mechanism. This is excluded when installing in a cover strip.
The following designs are most common for sliding gates:
- Mechanical models - conventional and code. The protective case, which protects against dust and water, is most often made of aluminum, and the internal mechanism is made of stainless steel. The use of this material discourages attempts to saw off the part. The design is very robust, if necessary, it is easy to replace. The device is not afraid of gusts of wind, frost, and other environmental factors, so it can be mounted in regions with any weather conditions. Modern mechanical designs are equipped with special panels that serve to enter from both sides of the coding, consisting of a sequence of numbers. If the user opens the gate manually, the code is automatically reset. The numerical sequence is easy to change if necessary.
- Double cylinder models. Their convenience is especially noticeable when used when access to the territory is open to some third parties - for example, the company's operating personnel. As in the previous case, the case is usually made of aluminum, and the mechanism is made of stainless steel. You need at least one cylinder to open or close the lock. It is easy to install the structure, there is no need to drill a large number of holes. To mount such a mortise type lock, it is usually enough to make 3 holes.
- Hook models. Suitable for systems equipped with automatic controls and for gates without such a block. A stainless steel hook is responsible for the mechanical closing option. The design also includes a chassis, a front plate and a day transom. Models are not equipped with a handle so that intruders cannot use this part as a support and climb over the gate. The design can have cylinders with dimensions of 4.6-8 cm. When installing, you need to monitor the positions of the hook and support bar.The latter must be fastened in such a way that complete locking of the gate by means of the crossbar is achieved.
According to the installation method, models for sliding gates can be divided into embedded and overhead. They can be very simple and designed for a fence with a complex security system. The lock can cut into the material of the canvas itself or into the rack support. It is easy to integrate it into the metal profile pipe from which the gate frame is made.
It is possible to install on sliding gates and more complex locks, for example, lever or rack locks. Sliding gate locks are compact and neat in appearance. A variety of shades allows you to choose a model that will fit into the design of the fence and fit the features of the gate structure.
Particular attention is paid to the aesthetic aspect if the fence is decorated with artistic forging or other type of complex decor.
Most often, bolts are mounted in the middle part of the canvas, less often in the upper part.
Choosing a lock for sliding and swing gates
The lock can be purchased simultaneously with other fittings from the same company. In this case, you need to pay attention to the compatibility of parts with the design features for which they are purchased. On sale you can find, for example, sets of fittings for sliding gates without a beam and for other types of fences.
Some homeowners supply their gates with an automatic motorized unit, while others prefer to open and close them manually. Locks can also be designed for both of these uses. On the territory of warehouses, industrial premises and similar objects, it is better to install an automated model on the gate. For a country house, manual products are enough. When installing a lock on a fence that is already equipped with automation, it is worth consulting with the master who installed the electronic unit in advance.
Do-it-yourself sliding gate lock, as a rule, is made mechanical, of a simple design. Such a product can also be purchased ready-made. Some of them are locked only from the inside of the gate, others - from both sides. A convenient option is models with two control options: automatic and manual. Such a lock can be opened with a key or using a remote control.
There are also code-type models that do not require a key to open. The user only needs to know the digital code (usually 4-6 characters). Such locks can be operated from both sides. Now more and more options are gaining popularity with several cylinders, characterized by increased burglary resistance. They can be installed on different types of gates. Flattened keys are used for control.
How to make a lock yourself
Most often, they make their own locks, hooks, latches, latches.
Required tool
To create a castle, you will need to purchase or rent a welding machine. In addition, you will need an electric drill with a set of drills designed for working with metal. Of the equipment, you also need a screwdriver and a grinder. For measurements and drawings, you need a ruler and a pencil. It is also required to prepare spanners.
To protect the mechanism from environmental factors, it is advisable to install it in a pre-assembled recess or a light aluminum box. Several drainage holes need to be made in the lower area. The lock structure installed on the street needs to be lubricated from time to time. For this, a special silicone-based product can be purchased.
Crafting tips
Before you start assembling the structure, you need to draw its sketch, which reflects the main components, their dimensions and relative position.The scheme can be created independently, borrowed from drawings or video channels. The easiest way is to mount a pair of brackets under the hitch. It is better to choose such a model if forged or mesh gates are installed.
Another easy-to-implement option is the hook design. It is installed on a rolling sash. It is important that the hook is long enough and sturdy. A loop or groove is made on the support, into which the curved part is threaded when the gate is closed. It is very easy to mount the structure, but it can only be locked from the inside. It is impossible to open it from the outside.
A locking mechanism with a transverse latch can also be made. Fasten it by welding. You can make a hole in the moving flap or weld a piece of pipe to it. A latch is inserted into the resulting hole, engaging the support post. Located across the plane of movement of the sash, it fixes the structure in the locked position. Like the previous version, this mechanism is designed to close the gate from the inside.
