Attaching wood horizontals to metal verticals

[fencechick]

Hi, I'm wanting to replace an old fence and would like to use metal support posts but not sure how to then attach wooden horizontal beams for palings to attach to so they sit flush with metal posts?? Does anyone know if its possible???

[Barry_White]

Hi Fencechick

Welcome to the forum. You could purchase some Lysaght Handy "C" Cleat or you could get a fabrication shop to weld some cleats on the sides of the posts.

[malb]

Have done it in the past with a large self drilling metal tec screw, two for each rail where they cross the post. Rails obviously are sitting on the side of the post, rather than flush between. If you need the rails flush, the big B and other hardware places sell 2-3 mm thick galvanised brackets that could be tec screwed into the posts to carry rails flush to face of post.

When we did our job, it was a quicky to enclose the side of a ramp as new tenants had a child starting to crawl. Set the posts in concrete below ramp and screwed into concrete ramp base, then tec screwed rails to the posts on the inside face of the post, then nailed pickets on the wall side of the rail so the little devil couldn't climb the rails and topple.

We found it usefull to drill pilot holes in the rails, but let the tec screws self drill and tap the metal post. Screws tended to wander if left to drill through the timber rail.

[fencechick]

Thanx for responding so quickly, Barry.
I will go in search of these C cleats and see how I go.

Happy fencemaking, here I come.

[fencechick]

Hi Malb,
I do need them to sit flush so will have to look at cleats as Barry suggested and your galvanised brackets to see which one will suit my idea best. Thanx heaps for the tip about the pilot holes as I have used tec screws before and know what you mean.