I am currently working on a lay-out in which I am considering a folding extension that will be incorporated into my yard. I am just wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions as to how to provide as seamless a joint as possible between the folding section and the stationary layout?
Do you want to fold Up or Drop Down?? I would think to get the most ‘seamless’ you would drop down as less of a gap would be required for movement clearance… Is there an access reason you want to do this or is there some other reason?
Jeff
I’ve been thinking the same thing. I’d like to add a fold-down section, staging or a yard, to get more space without violating the wife-and-daughter permanent real-estate covenants. The thing I would look into first is one of those long continous-hinge plates. If you line everything up right, it should just fold up and into place. You can hide the gap line with shrubbery or buildings…
I’m going to need to figure out how to make one that swings left or right, but with two different levels of track on it… I guess it’s going to be pretty much the same as one that swings up or down, just 90 degrees different. It puzzles me, though, so if anyone has any experience, I’d sure appreciate any pointers/advice…
How wide are the tracks? I mean from one side to the other. If it is narrow you could make the opposite side of the hinges rounded so it would swing wouldn’t touch the other end as it opens. Then the other side (hinge side) would have a gap between the main part and the hinged part.
ex (ignore the dashes
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Swinging down is the best option, unless you devise some means of putting the pivot point above the top of he rails. If you do a swing section, make sure you use some alignment pins. Doing so will greatly simplify closing the joint.
I was actually just looking at my layout in progress and thaught of the same thing . I could add a nice 3 foot extension… would you lay the track and just cut it where the seam would be ??? Joseph
Advantages of swing up: track and scenery doesn’t get bumped or brushed against going through the gap, even strain on hinges. Needs positive stop at non-hinge end to avoid going below planned level.
Disadvantages of swing up: hinges must be mounted on solid base raised above track level, can’t use continuous (piano) hinge because it would interfere with trains. Dropping could have hard impact with positive stop, and create alignment problems. Need method to lock in vertical position.
Advantages of swing down: hinges mounted on underside of benchwork. Gap/hinges are much easier to conceal. Can use piano hinge if desired. If swinging portion is short enough, dropping does no damage other than stressing hinges.
Disadvantage of swing down: Track and scenery is very easily brushed against/snagged by clothing /bumped when passing through gate. Requires fold-out/hinged stop at non-hinge end for positive support in up position.
Advantage of horizontal swing: Easiest to operate. Hinges are attached to benchwork below track level. Gap can be made fairly unobtrusive. Not likely to get bumped or brushed against. Cannot be “dropped”. Does not require protruding vertical stop at non-hinge end (although one would be helpful to maintain vertical alignment in closed position).
Disadvantage of horizontal swing: Most difficult arrangement to keep gate section “true”. Most difficult arrangement to build. Easy to put weight on in open position stressing hinges and trueness of alignment. Requires swinging room to open gate.
Pick your poison, but it still beats a duck under (aka head knocker) any day.
yours in folding
Fred Wright
I was planning on the whole “piece” that swings to be two feet long by 1 foot wide. There will be three tracks on the piece, about 3" apart from each other. The layout will be donut shaped, and I have planned that the inside of the donut that surrounds this swinging gate will be tapered, so I can swing the gate in towards the layout rather than out, as there will be no room to swing out.