Electric driveway gates

[lopburi3]

On 3/8/2022 at 8:54 AM, Crossy said:

Our gates are stainless with wood infill, I'm not sure of anyone is doing aluminium gates, there may be strength issues.

Unable to find newer threads but things may have changed as talking with major gate maker yesterday here in Bangkok for a manual sliding gate informed almost all SS types are now only framed with stainless steel but have aluminum for interior rails and such to lower the weight.  So have the SS strength and the aluminum weight advantage in one gate.  We shall see.

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Unable to find newer threads but things may have changed as talking with major gate maker yesterday here in Bangkok for a manual sliding gate informed almost all SS types are now only framed with stainless steel but have aluminum for interior rails and such to lower the weight.  So have the SS strength and the aluminum weight advantage in one gate.  We shall see.

Do not do it. Aluminium attached to stainless steel is a recipe for corrosion in the aluminium. You are unlikely to have a significant weight reduction adding aluminium as the thickness required for SS is so much less than for a similar strength with stainless steel. It is likely that your gate will be cheaper in the mixed material.
 

That doesn’t address the difference in looks between the two. I very much doubt that your gate will look the same as new in 8~10 years time whereas our stainless steel looks exactly the same now as when first installed, the only thing that is at all different is that the gate opener rail (galvanised steel) has rusted a bit.

[lopburi3]

30 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Do not do it.

Thanks for the post but "That's not my department!" says Wernher von Braun.  The boss makes that decision and it is made.  In any event we do not expect to be around in 8-10 years and this is a last wish for her to see before we expire.  The  aluminium rods we are advised are made for this use and are round so that should help.