Everyone dreams of reliably protecting their site without spending a lot of money. For this purpose, a forged fence is made with your own hands. A regular board fence can protect you from prying eyes. It's not very pretty, but a short time solves the problem.
A wrought iron fence is intended to decorate the area, and it does not shade the plants located near it.
It is better, of course, to make a stylish, creative fence that can stand for centuries.
Methods for creating wrought iron fences
There are three methods for creating forged fences:
- Welding. It is the most in a simple way. In addition, the price scale here is the most affordable.
- Forging. The fencing is quite time-consuming and difficult to assemble, so it takes time.
- Combined, combining the two previous methods. This requires special equipment and is impossible to do without the help of a professional.
Assembling fences with your own hands
In hot forging, the elements are heated before joining.
Forged fences amaze with their whimsicality and variety; from a distance they resemble lace. Surrounded similar designs housing becomes a bearer of creative individuality and aristocracy. The service life of this design is very long.
A wrought iron fence is an expensive proposition, but you can try making it yourself to make it cheaper.
Forging is divided into hot and cold. The fencing is made as follows:
- First you need to choose a pattern. A variety of sketches are offered on the Internet and specialized publications. finished projects. Even a beginner can handle some of them, but where jewelry forging is involved, experienced professionals are needed.
To acquire the necessary skills, it is advisable to ask a blacksmith to help you. If you receive practical experience impossible, it is recommended to read specialized literature. A training video will also come in handy.
- Next, the future fence is placed around the perimeter. When installing pillars, you need to accurately calculate how many sections will be needed. The data obtained is carefully recorded, and on their basis a sketch of the structure being built is made.
When hot forging, the segments of the future fence must be heated and then connected using a hammer. Since the hot process requires optional equipment, then the most accessible method Mounting a fence at home is cold forging.
How a fence is made using cold forging
From the snail stamp for cold forging The result is a “curl” product.
To assemble fences using this method, you need the following equipment:
- Gnutik. Considered a basic tool. It is capable of bending a metal square or round bar at any angle.
- Snail. With its help you can create a spiral.
- Flashlight. The tool weaves intricate patterns from a round-profile rod.
- Wave. Here the metal is processed to produce wavy elements.
- Twister. The action of this device is similar to the flashlight mentioned above. The output is fragments with torsion.
Now a sketch is drawn up indicating all dimensions and calculating the required material. To avoid mistakes, it is best to go the experimental route: sketches are drawn in real scale on flat surfaces. After this, the contours of the patterns are laid out with wire. Then everything is carefully straightened out and measured. During the final calculations, the distances that separate the nodes from each other should be taken into account.
Next, the material is purchased. If you have to bend the rods manually, then the rolled metal should be chosen thinner. You also need to purchase small-diameter balls that are welded at the ends of the curls and serve as elegant plugs.
Step-by-step guide to creating wrought iron fences
Once the tools are collected, installation can begin. Before this, the auxiliary devices are carefully adjusted, since any defect will be very difficult to correct. The purchased metal is cut using a grinder into the necessary blanks.
- Elements of forging patterns are created. Being twisted in the same sectors, they are obtained with the same diameter.
- Having finished with the segment blanks, you need to start assembling the frames from the most accessible raw materials. In most cases, these are pipes with a square cross-section of 2.5 or 3 cm. The entire composition of prepared elements is placed inside the welded contour. This way you can immediately see how the final version will look. Changes can still be made at this stage.
- Assembly is carried out on a level surface. First, segments with twisted rods are welded. After this, the remaining parts of the pattern are added to the composition.
- At the end of assembly, all welding seams must be thoroughly cleaned with a wire brush.
- The finished product is degreased and primed.
- The fence is installed: a shallow trench is dug and frame legs are lowered into it. After that everything is concreted. In the future, it is possible to line the frame with stone.
- On final stage the fence is covered with paint.
Columns can be made from fragments square pipe. They are “closed” on top with balls or square plugs.
Forged fences have one significant drawback: the area is visible through them. Polycarbonate sheets will help get rid of this disadvantage. Such canvases are transparent only from the inside, and nothing is visible from the outside. They do not obstruct the passage of light, are not afraid of atmospheric influences, are quite light and inexpensive. The canvases are attached to the frames so that the forging remains on the outside.
What attracts welded fences
Real wrought iron fences look luxurious, but they are not cheap. Such elite structures assembled by welding are the simplest versions of such fences. They have the following advantages:
- beauty;
- clear geometric pattern;
- have excellent strength and long service life;
- require minimal maintenance.
However, such designs have certain disadvantages, namely:
Forging technology in the form of a “sheet”.
- such fences allow street noise and wind to pass through and do not resist the penetration of dust and dirt into the area;
- defenseless against rust (hence, they need anti-corrosion protective agents).
To make a forged welded fence, you should stock up on the following tools:
- grinder;
- welding inverter;
- vice;
- a spray bottle connected to the compress;
- special devices that transform individual elements.
On preparatory stage During the construction of the fence, the boundaries of the site along which the fence is to be installed are determined. After this, the foundation is built:
- A series of holes are dug for the supports. The depth of the latter is equal to 1/4 of the total length of the column. The distance between them does not exceed 2.9 m.
- To prepare the potting mixture, you should take crushed stone, sand, cement and water.
- The hole is filled with the mixture.
- A column is immersed in the unhardened mixture, the verticality of which is checked using a level.
- To securely fasten the supports, you need to secure them with spacers. The frozen pillars must be equal in height. They can be either round or square.
- The supports are equipped with upper and lower transverse plates.
- The tops of the columns are closed with plugs. This increases the durability of the fence.
Sections can be made from metal profile pipes or strips. The frame is welded and then filled with fragments of the general pattern (it is easier for beginners to mount the grille). Pipes and strips are welded in increments of 2-3 cm. There are options when a set of ready-made forged elements is purchased, the parts of which are fixed in the grating area.
After this, all welding points must be carefully cleaned using a grinder and primed. When the soil dries, the sections are covered with enamel paints.
Now the sections can be fitted to the supports. For this purpose, special fasteners purchased on the construction market are used. Holes are drilled in the thickness of the pillars. To prevent the fasteners from unwinding, when finished installation work The nuts can be welded to the bolts or the threads can be cut off.
Wrought iron fences are one of those things classic look fencing, which almost never goes out of style. But their cost is high enough to make them mass-produced fencing. That's why many property owners are looking for ways to make a wrought iron fence with their own hands without incurring too much high expenses.
Advantages of forged fences
What are the benefits of such fences? They have the same advantages as metal ones: strength, durability, safety. In this case, the use artistic forging allows designers to use limitless possibilities for decorating the exterior of various areas.
One can say about forged sections that these are magnificent works of art, created by real metal artists, masters of their craft. Due to the huge variety of decorative elements, various techniques metal processing, forged fences always look original and unusual.
They are great for different types buildings, be it luxurious mansions and institutions in the city center or a quiet cottage area. In addition, forged fences, being sectional fencing, are installed easily and quickly.
Wrought iron fence at home
No need to complicate things
An excellent manufacturing option is to decorate it with forging. If you have a desire to get inexpensive beautiful fence, then it’s best to do it yourself, with your own hands. It is believed that making forged fences with your own hands is very difficult; only professional blacksmiths can solve such problems.
Without having a forge, it is impossible to make a beautiful forged fence or decorate it with forged elements. This statement is not entirely true. Indeed, it is possible to make an impressive and solid, beautiful wrought iron fence through a rather labor-intensive technological process.
But you can make an inexpensive, beautiful wrought-iron fence without letting something come out from under your hands that can be called a work of art. Limit yourself to just getting an original and picturesque fence.
Especially if it will protect your suburban area, that is, a dacha. The price of such a forged fence will be determined by many factors: the main and consumables, type of forged sections, specific installation conditions.
Details that make up a wrought iron fence
When developing sketches and making drawings of forged fences, the artist must first determine how technologically feasible the production of this option is. Is this assortment of metal that is used in the project available at bases that sell the necessary material?
This sometimes happens especially in cases where the customer brings drawings of forged fences, and in them the architect has included metal of a cross-section that is not in the range of trading organizations.
Therefore, it is necessary to make a correction to the cross-section of the metal or, to use the second option - to increase the cost of manufacturing this project. After all, metal of this cross-section will have to be manufactured manually, in the event that the architect, using incomprehensible considerations, does not want to change the sections.
The details of forged fences are frames, which can have complex shape, different thickness and a different range of rolled metal products. may be filled with vertical lines or they may be absent. In this case, forged monograms are involved in drawing up the pattern, which intercept the girths and twists.
Also, such filling can be forged rods that imitate trees, hanging vines and grape vines. Such fences, merging with real vegetation, if they are entwined with living creeping bindweeds and vines, can very organically fit into the design of the fenced area.
It should be noted that such fences are quite complex and expensive, so they are not installed somewhere in the backyard. Their place is in the foreground, so that they are on public display and can be admired by both owners and passers-by. They are designed not only to delimit areas, but they also have an important artistic component, which emphasizes the taste of the owner.
Installation of a wrought iron fence
Forged fences consist of sections, and this greatly simplifies their installation, which involves fastening finished sections between pillars, called support ones. Typically, sections are installed between metal or brick pillars, sometimes decorative concrete fence blocks are used as support.
When installing forged fences, a columnar or strip foundation is laid.
Below are instructions for installing wrought iron fencing.
- The foundation is being poured. If it is columnar, then holes of the appropriate diameter are drilled at the locations of the tables, to a depth of 0.7 to 1.5 meters. A post is placed in the hole and a monolithic concrete solution is poured.
If you plan to implement a strip foundation, then columnar foundation complemented by monolithic tape. To do this, a trench is dug and holes are drilled in it to place the pillars. The trench is reinforced, pillars are inserted into the holes and everything is filled with concrete.
- If the support pillars are made of brick, then special embedded parts are mounted into the brick, to which the fence sections are subsequently attached. If the support pillars are metal, then special fasteners are mounted on them.
Attention: Brickwork must be reinforced. The role of reinforcement is performed by a metal pole, around which the brick is placed.
- Fastening sections. This is done in two ways: welding or special fastening structures are used.
- All are treated with anti-corrosion compounds metal elements and welding points.
- The fence is painted in the desired color.
Tip: It is best if the color of the anti-corrosion composition is contrasting with the color of the paint that covers the fence. Then, when painting, there will be no missed spots.
- Installation of protective caps, decorative elements, lanterns and other additions is in progress.
Let's sum it up
Artistic forging has limitless possibilities for decoration of any site. Openwork, transparent designs will fit perfectly into any landscape design and complement the style of the site.
And if you don’t chase complexity, then it is quite possible to design the site yourself using a fence that has forging elements. In the video provided in this article you will find Additional information on this topic.
Making a forged fence can be considered almost jewelry work, since only attention, skill and accuracy can help a master or even a novice in this complex task. This task is very difficult, but if you have a desire to independently carry out the plan and fence your territory with an attractive fence, then it’s worth a try. To make a forged fence with your own hands, you need to select not only materials, but also special tools that allow you to realize your plans. Detailed description steps will be given in this article.
Methods for creating wrought iron fences
A wrought iron fence has many advantages:
- luxurious look;
- harmonious combination with any style of site and house;
- clear geometric shapes;
- high strength;
- long service life;
- minimal care.
It’s worth starting any business by studying the chosen area. If we talk about a wrought iron fence, then here Special attention is devoted to the methods of its production. There are currently three of them:
- Welding. Simple and most affordable way with reasonable prices. But it will be necessary welding machine and certain skills to work with it.
- Forging. A complex and lengthy process that will require a lot of effort and time.
- Combined. Combines both the first and second methods. It is also necessary to involve a professional, since a beginner will not be able to make a fence using this technology.
By choosing any of the described methods for creating a forged fence, you can make an original and exclusive element landscape design. It should also be noted that if all requirements are met, as well as additional protection such a fence will last forever.
Note! In addition to the advantages, you should also consider the existing disadvantages, of which there are not many. The fence will allow noise from the street and gusts of wind to pass through, which will bring debris and dirt into the area.
Cold forging
Since not everyone has a welding machine and the skills to work with it, the most preferable option when creating a fence is cold forging. In this case, you need to collect special tool to create elements.
- Gnutik – basic tool during the forging process. With its help, you can easily bend a metal rod of any cross-section.
- Snail – used for making spiral elements.
- Flashlight - will help in creating intricate patterns. Suitable only for round profile rod.
- Twister is similar to a flashlight. With its help, metal fragments with torsion are obtained.
- Wave – the tool corresponds to its name, that is, it is used in the formation of wavy elements.
In addition, you will need a hacksaw or grinder to cut the rods into pieces. As well as a welding machine for fixing finished elements together.
Note! When working with metal, do not forget about your own safety. Eyes, skin and respiratory organs must be protected with a respirator and protective clothing.
Manufacturing of elements
To do everything correctly, you will need drawings and diagrams in which sketches are made and indicate exact dimensions. This professional approach will allow you to complete all the work accurately and accurately. It should be noted that for beginners it is best to take sketches in real scale in order to take accurate measurements of the nodes.
- After the material has been purchased and the tool has been assembled, you can begin to directly create forging elements.
- Cutting metal into pieces of the required length.
- Dividing the rods into groups - each for a corresponding element.
- Creation of forged fence blanks using special equipment. Pay attention to the need to adhere to the limit point when twisting. This will allow all elements to be identical, with the same diameter.
- The frame for the segment consists of pipes with a square cross-section of 25–30 mm. 4 frame elements are welded together, forming a rectangle or square, depending on the project.
- The finished frame is placed on a flat surface, a table, and the blanks are laid out inside. Before you start welding them, you need to make sure that all the elements fit together correctly. At this stage, everything can be replayed and the forged blanks can be swapped.
- After welding, all weld seams must be cleaned using a wire brush.
Note! In addition to metal rods, it is necessary to purchase balls that will serve as plugs on the curls.
Fence installation
To secure the finished sections, you need to return to the site. The foundation is built along the drawn lines or pegs with a cord. Let's explain how to do this:
- Holes are dug for supports. The depth should correspond to ¼ of the length of the post. The maximum distance from pillar to pillar should not exceed 3 m.
- The filling mixture includes the following components: water, sand, cement and crushed stone. The resulting concrete is well mixed.
- One by one, fill the holes with prepared concrete and immerse the pillar. It is important to maintain verticality; to check, use building level. For more reliable fixation of the supports, spacers are additionally used. As a result, all posts must be of equal height, and also be equipped with upper and lower cross plates.
- To protect the metal from atmospheric influences, each pillar is covered with plugs on top. They will add decorative value and also extend the service life of the supports.
After concrete pouring completely dry, you can remove the spacers and attach the sections to the supports. To accurately represent the future picture, use special fasteners for fixation. Holes are drilled in the thickness of the pillars with a drill. To prevent the fasteners from unraveling during operation, after installation work, the nuts are welded to the bolts using a welding machine. Apply a primer;
Degreasing can be done with simple white spirit or another solvent. Thanks to the application of a primer, the metal will be additionally protected from rust, and it will also allow the paint layer to lie more evenly and not spread.
Note! When choosing paint, it is worth considering that the fence will be used in a variety of weather conditions.
As you can see, it is possible to make a forged metal fence with your own hands. It is enough to have a great desire, opportunity and a little time to do the job carefully. As a result, your Vacation home or the site will be fenced off from the street and neighbors by an elegant and sophisticated fence that will decorate the entire landscape design.
Video
By watching the following video you will learn a lot useful recommendations for assembling a wrought iron fence:
The process of cold forging and welding of a forged fence is clearly shown here: