A GATE that swings, without fail, is every farmer's dream.
That is the goal of Warrnambool fencing contractor Peter Singleton, who has designed a new gate hinge that he claims can withstand 10 times the pressure of usual gates.
His He-Man design uses two threads, top and bottom, to give extra strength. Curved plates secure the threads to the post, and also prevent the post from splitting and digging into it and weakening the hinge.
"I've been fencing for eight years and had had to hang and re-hang gates hundreds of times," he said.
"I'd had enough of seeing my quality fencing work being let down by gates on the ground, washers pulling into the back of post, bending hinges or threads and splitting posts at the hinge site.
"I decided it was time to create a hinge that could withstand the regular duties that it should."
Mr Singleton said the new design created massive tension on the nuts and stayed tight for long periods.
The hinges are being manufactured by local firm Houston Engineering. The firm is now marketing a small version that is three-times stronger than a Franklin-hook hinge with a thread and gudgeon, for $100; and a larger hinge for $137 that has about 10-times the strength.
The invention has also taken out the Beef Expo innovators award last year, and 400 have been sold so far.
