Adding walls to the Hahobas Smithy | Problem Solving | Forum

 I'd like some feedback on this plan, (plus I have some specific questions toward the end.) The smithy building at the Camp Hahobas Boy Scout Camp is a 20'x40' open-side pole building. We used trees harvested from the property for the uprights, and it lends a lot to the atmosphere of the smithy to have the nice look of the wood posts.

However, I'd like to add a low wall around the smithy; something to help block wind, direct foot traffic and provide a simple barrier. I've decided on a 3' wood wall. That'll be tall enough to be effective, but short enough that the kids observing can see over it comfortably. However instead of a fixed wall, I want them to be able to swing open to move equipment in and out easily.

Between the posts on each side is an 18' span. I plan to have two "gates" covering each of these. These will likely be rough-cut cedar 4x4's with 2x6's as facing. On the ends of the building we have door sills already cast into the concrete footing, so the walls on those end will not swing. Instead they will be fixed on each end (but could theoretically be lifted out).

Some pictures may help:

Here's a couple views of the smithy today. The rope around the edges is where the "walls" will go.

Current smithy view 1:

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Current smithy view 2:

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Here's a rough sketchup picture of what the walls may look like:

Sketch:

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The "gates" will swing on strap hinges, I'm figuring 2"x1/4" stock. I haven't decided on simple rolled eyes or rolled & welded. With the number of hinges needing to be made, I'm likely going to make a hinge roller tool, like the one in Donald Streeter's book ()

Since a 9' wood wall is going to be pretty heavy, I'm also looking to support the gate end with a tie that goes back to the top of the posts. This can be cable or rod with a turnbuckle in the middle, or perhaps a forged chain.

I was originally thinking of driven pintles for the hinges, kind of like these:

Driven pintles:

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However, I 'm wary about something that's going to damage the posts, or work its way out over time. I like the simplicity of them though.

Then I thought of those really great looking post wraps I saw all over Government Camp at the Western States conference: Post wraps:

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With those, I thought maybe I can use pintles like these:

Pintle plate:

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and use the same bolts that close the post wraps to bolt them to it. The issue there is that on the corners, the pintles are 90 degrees to each other, not 180 like they are on the middle posts. I could add a second strap that just connects to the short walls, but that's not as clean.

What do you think? Any glaring problems with this plan?

• How long do you think I should make the strap hinges?
• Is 2"x1/4" strap going to work?
• Rolled eye vs. rolled and flat welded- here's a rolled & welded strap:
  

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  I'm concerned about the rolled eye opening. Even though the end of the gate will be supported by a tie, I'm sure at some point it'll have kids hanging on it, so I'm leaning towards rolled & welded. Any thoughts there?
• I was looking at 1/2" pintle pins, do you think that's enough or should I go larger? 3/4"?
• Lastly, do you think the wraps around the posts with the pintles bolted to them is better or worse than driving pintles into the posts? (both in terms of asthetics and durability)