I have a need for a piece of rustic fence, maybe 10ft long - to block off a sudden drop at the end of footpath. A custom section of hurdle might be just the ticket and it would probably suit the location well (as the area is quite visible), unlike modern alternatives. It'll likely need to be custom made (perhaps by me), as the path will it be at one end, next to a wall - so it will be unsupported/cantilevered at that end, i.e. it will need to look something like this (as I'd rather not screw it to the wall):
H -|-------------------|----------
e -|-------------------|----------
d
g .. Flower-bed....... Footpath. Wall
e
I'm thinking I might be able to get some chestnut. What size tenons would something like this typically require? Should I just drill them & then clear them with a chisel? (I'm new to tenons)
I met a greenwood worker at a fete a couple of years ago, he made some fantastic looking cleft chestnut gates - using a similar approach and materials to the hurdles. The gate would have really suited our home too but I couldn't justify purchasing one as our current metal gate, which is nothing special to look at, is at least 50 years old and with occasional painting could easily last another 50. He also had some really interesting examples of rustic 5-bar gates, rose arches and rustic trellises too - all very much in keeping with the area and using a similar approach/materials. Maybe I should give him call?
