Wrought Iron Basics

[HLAlexander]

I am a newby to this group.I am building a Wrought Iron fence to replace my wood fence. It has brick pillars every 13 feet and a wood support in the middle of the gap. I plan to keep the brick pillars and replace the wood post in the middle with a 2x2 metal. The basic question is will I need to put in some sort of expansion joint in the horizontal run. I cant see the brick pillars giving much and the run will be bolted to the pillars.Thanks, HLAlexander

[nfinch86]

I am a newby to this group.I am building a Wrought Iron fence to replace my wood fence. It has brick pillars every 13 feet and a wood support in the middle of the gap. I plan to keep the brick pillars and replace the wood post in the middle with a 2x2 metal. The basic question is will I need to put in some sort of expansion joint in the horizontal run. I cant see the brick pillars giving much and the run will be bolted to the pillars.Thanks, HLAlexander

Hi and Welcome; What Expansion are you talking about, up & down ??

If so just slot the connection to the pillers, to allow for movement !

........... Norm : PS. Where are you located ??

[fabricator]

I believe he means between the two colums. I dont feel it would be necessary but if you feel the need, use something like a rubber grummet.

[fjk]

Carbon steel has a coefficient of expansion of 0.0000065/degF
which means that for each degree-F of temperature change,
the steel will increase in length by 0.0000065. One foot
would become 1.0000065' and so on.

You don't say where you are. But if we assume a maximum temperature
swing, winter-to-summer, of 150 degrees f, that means that
the steel will expand/contract by 0.0000065 * 150 which comes
to 0.001' per foot -- so if you've got 13', the difference in
length from coldest to warmest would be 0.013', or about
0.15". As Norm said, you could use a slotted hole (or even
just a somewhat larger hole) for the bolts and you should
be fine.


Frank

[walker]

Nice work FJK! About the expansion joint no. In fact, if you are using steel verticals in there as well I wouldn't even use 2x2. You could use as small as 1 inch .065 square tube. I tend to use 1.25 or 1.5 square .065 tubing just for a stockier feel to it though.

[fjk]

Nice work FJK!

Thanks

In fact, if you are using steel verticals in there as well I wouldn't even use 2x2. You could use as small as 1 inch .065 square tube. I tend to use 1.25 or 1.5 square .065 tubing just for a stockier feel to it though.

Personally, I would think that having one or two verticals that are bigger
than the ones in the main panels and looking like they are real posts
would look better -- even if they are not needed for structural reasons.
Might even want to go bigger than 2x2 (if the budget allows), maybe
put a finial of some kin on top.

But then, some people say that my artistic sense is located in my ...


Actually, now that I think of it, the original poster might want to take
an hour browsing through the King Metals catalog (it's on line at
www.kingmetals.com). There are lots of good ideas, design hints,
and so on in it.

Let us know how it works out, and send pictures!

Frank

[turbo38t]

I'd say no. In all of the iron fence I ever did I never used expansion joints.......as a matter of fact I believe everything I ever made was cemented or bolted down and never had any issues. Dave