Spring - cast iron gate

[madge1]

Hi
I would like to put a spring on my cast iron gate at the front of the house (to stop the daughter running into the road!) - everything I can find though has screw holes etc. Can I drill through cast iron to bolt it onto the gate/fence or should I be looking at something else? And if so what!

Ta

Madge

 

[Diyisfun]

Yes you can drill cast iron.

 

[madge1]

do i need a special super duper titanium drill bit or would a normal masonary style one be good enough?

 

[Diyisfun]

Masonary drill no good.
You need a drill bit for metal, the cheapest way to buy them is in a set, whilst they wont be top quality, they should do your job, drill a pilot hole first.

 

[madge1]

Cool thank you...

 

[madge1]

I got a B&Q gate spring, and i've fixed it on with zip ties for the time being (lazy i know) but it doesn't shut the gate. Obviously this a bit of a flaw, but it does come with a tensioning rod and couple of little bits of metal - anyone got any idea how to use them, as the helpful people at B&Q didn't say...


thanks

 

[Diyisfun]

If its the type I am familiar with then you use the rod to turn the spring (using the hole at the bottom) then insert the pin into the hole to hole it. It will take a couple of attempts.