GateCrafters.com Materials

Each gate is constructed from 6061-T6 rust free wrought aluminum alloy. 6061-T6 wrought aluminum is a high-grade alloy with a yield strength of about 35,000 pounds per square inch. For comparison, this is much stronger than mild steel which has a yield strength at about 20,000 to 30,000 pounds per square inch. 6061-T6 wrought aluminum is used for the purpose of durability and resiliency, providing a quality dent resistance and lasting beauty. GateCrafters.com ships nationwide we chose this higher grade of aluminum also to avoid any shipping damage. We take pride in the fact that our gates will stand up to the tough trials of shipping and still last a lifetime.

Most aluminum gate manufacturers use 6063 aluminum, which is a weaker grade of aluminum and does not have the yield or resilience of 6061-T6. Other gate manufactures use this cheaper grade because they fail to see past the importance of the additional resiliency when driveway gates absorb the bumps of everyday life. A key test for gates is their resilience. Gates should be able to absorb pressure and than return to it's original shape. To resist snapping, 6061-T6 alloy has a high level of pliability, much like an airplane wing. When pressure is exerted on the material it yields to the pressure, and when the pressure is released it regains its original form.

Hinges:
Each gate comes standard with special ball bearing hinges. Ball bearing hinges are provided to permit smooth and effortless longitudinal movement of the gate. These hinges provide a higher level of consistency over other hinges and less of a chance of becoming jammed or rusted. Additionally this design of hinge allows for higher level of adjustment insuring a perfect DIY installation. Each set is rated at 1000 pounds, far over the heaviest of GateCrafters.com's gates. The hinges also are equipped with grease fittings. Grease fittings allow for easier lubrication of hinges and assure all bearings are receiving lubrication. A grease fitting contains a ball check in the head of the fitting that prevents dirt and grit from getting to the bearings. Dirt and grit is a constant battle in an outdoor environment, the grease fittings that GateCrafters.com includes standard help to assure your hinges will work each and every time.

Posts:
Posts are available through GateCrafters and are designed to be compatible with our gates. Choosing our post insures perfect compatibility for installation without any welding necessary. The posts come with the hinge barrels attached for sure placement. The hinge barrels themselves are adjustable to account for slight variations from the mounted post being perfectly plumb this unique DIY installation system allows for greater flexibility while insuring level swing even if post are not perfectly plumb.