DIY Network

Custom Safety Gate Construction How to build a customized baby gate From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-605

The DIY crew begins the rescue by building custom safety gates for the interior stairs of the home.

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Materials:

drill
miter saw
measuring tape
wood glue
pneumatic nail gun
spade bit drill
3/4 inch nails
random orbital sander
water based polyurethane stain

Custom Safety Gate

1. Measure at the base from the wall to the opposite spindle (figure A). Then, measure the height and take the same measurements at the bottom of the stairs (figure B).

2. To cut your wood, set the miter saw to 90 degrees and trim the ends off to make sure everything is squared. Cut three pieces of wood to 28-15/16ths inches (figure C).

3. Trim the balusters for the gate to 29-1/2 inches.

4. Run two lines of wood glue on the bottom board (the bad side), then with the good side facing up, simply sandwich the two boards together (figure D). Check to make sure the ends are flush with the side boards.

5. Add two nails at the corner. Continue to add two more nails every six inches (figure E).

6. Add wood glue, checking if the boards are flush. Then, nail them together with a pneumatic nail gun.

7. Drill the larger baluster holes with a 3/4 inch spade bit, spacing each about four inches apart.

8. Switch to the 11/16 inch spade bit for the smaller baluster hole and finish drilling the top baluster holes (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

9. Add a generous amount of wood glue to the tip of the baluster (figure G) and slide it into the drilled hole (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

10. Using a nail gun, drive a nail through the drilled hole directly into the baluster's tip (figure I).

11. Repeat these steps and insert all the remaining balusters (figure J).

12. Once the glue dries, fasten the rest of the frame together.

13. Confirm that the gate is square, then fasten everything together by driving 3/4 inch nails around the perimeter of the frame.

Figure I

Figure J

14. Finally, use a random orbital sander to remove any blemishes on the balusters (figure K). Follow that with a protective coating of water based polyurethane stain (figure L).

Figure K

Figure L

RESOURCES :

HITACHI Power Tools
Website: www.hitachi.com

Porter Cable Power Tools
Website: www.deltaportercable.com

Delta Power Tools
Website: www.deltaportercable.com

Klein Tools
Website: www.kleintools.com

Waterloo Industries
Website: www.waterlooindustries.com

Gladiator Garageworks by Whirlpool
Website: www.gladiatorgw.com

Benjamin Moore Paint
Website: www.benjaminmoore.com