How to Build a Dog Gate

By: Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. Oak 1x2 Get at least eight 6-footers—enough to make legs, crosspieces, spindles, stiles, rails, and feet for the two-section gate shown

2. ½-inch oak veneer plywood Get enough to make two 12-by-22½-inch panels

3. Oak panel molding Get at least two 6-foot pieces to trim the panels

4. 1½-inch finish screws to assemble the legs, crosspieces, and spindles

5. 1½-inch pin nails to attach the panel, rails, and stiles to the crosspieces and legs

6. 1-inch pin nails to attach the trim to the panels

7. ¼-20 40 mm threaded insert nuts Get four, or enough to insert one into the bottom of each leg

8. ¼-20 40 mm hex-head joint connector bolt Get four, or enough to attach one foot to each leg

9. 1½-by-¾-inch butt hinges Get three per pair of gates

10. Medium-grit and fine-grit sandpaper

11. Stainable wood glue

12. Stainable wood filler

13. Finish of your choice (could be tung oil; sanding sealer with stain and shellac and acrylic clear-coat; or primer and paint)

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Miter saw
- Circular saw
  to cut the plywood panel
- Combination square
- 24- to 36-inch bar clamp
- Pneumatic pin nailer
- Drill/driver
  fitted with an 11/32-inch drill bit, a 3/32-inch drill bit, and a 1-inch paddle bit for installing the gate's feet
- 1-inch paintbrush to apply glue
- Allen key or wrench
  sized to the insert nut and hex-head bolt for attaching the feet
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person cutting the wood to proper lengths for the dog gate

Photo: Laura Moss

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
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1. Cut the Parts

Milled hardwood has sharp edges that can cut your hands while you work, so before making any cuts, dull the edges of the lumber by passing a piece of medium-grit sandpaper over the edges a few times.

Using a miter saw, cut 1x2s to length according to the cut list. Using a circular saw, cut ½-inch oak plywood to size, using a straightedge as a guide.