I DIYed myself some invisible gate latches 14 years ago and those invisible, magnetic gate latches are still working perfectly. Here's how to do your own.
At the time I was looking for a discreet gate latch. All I could find were big, honking latches that looked like they belonged on the gate of a medieval castle. I do not live in a medieval castle or a country barn so I wasn't too enamoured with the offerings.
I wanted sleek, discreet and cheap but I couldn't find any of those options so I ended up making my own gate latches.
For gate handles I used wood cupboard handles from Ikea because they were cheap and sleek.
Now I had to come up with a way to keep the gate closed because I am not a "come on in" kindda person - I'm a "stay away" I'm in my p'jamas lipsynching to Beastie Boys in the backyard at 2 in the afternoon kind of person.
Rare earth magnets were the answer.
These have worked so well for me that I used them again for the doors of my modern chicken coop. You can get the same Rare Earth magnet sets I used here on Amazon or from Lee Valley Tools.
Table of Contents
Installing a Magnetic Latch
Materials
- Drill
- Forstner Drill Bit
- Rare earth magnet set
- Scraps of wood
A Forstner Drill Bit
(In the same size as the magnet you have)
A Forstner drill bit will drill a cup with a flat bottom into wood. Don't worry if you don't have this type of bit. Neither did I. You do need one for this project but they aren't a speciality thing. You can get one from any local hardware store or you can buy a kit with 8 sizes on Amazon.
Rare Earth Magnets
Magnet, cup and washer set. (I used a 1" set)
The magnetic cup holds the magnet in place, while the washer is what is used opposite the magnet to attract it and hold the gate closed.
Installing a Rare Earth Magnet
- Cut the scraps of wood to the size you need depending on the width of your magnets. I cut my scraps to 5 inches long X 2 inches wide. The depth of the wood is ⅝ths of an inch.
- Drill your cup hole over to one side of the piece of wood. Not too close to the edge that it might splinter and break. - to make this easier mark the depth of your magnet cup onto the drill bit with a Sharpie.
- Drop the magnet cup into the hole and screw it in place.
- Slide your magnet into the cup being careful not to pinch your fingers.
REMINDER - Watch your fingers ... these magnets are strong and they bite.
Now you have to head outside with your drill, your block of wood and your washer.
5. Screw the block of wood with the magnet on it to your fence (not the gate) aligning it with the top of your gate.
6. Now screw the washer to the actual gate. Line it up so it aligns with the Rare Earth Magnet. I actually set mine off to the side a bit, so only ¾'s of the washer is touching the magnet. I did this because the magnets are so strong I couldn't even open it with the magnets at full contact.
When the gate is closed, from the outside it'll look like this. You'll see the little block of wood.
And from the other side it'll look like this. Completely invisible.
If you have an arbour, or some other weirdness with your fence, you may have to play around with this general technique to get it to work for you. For instance, on one gate in my backyard, I had to use a block of wood as opposed to a strip because of the way the structure was. No big whoop. Adapt and overcome.
The basics are the same. Screw a cup hole into a block of wood as opposed to a strip of wood and attach that to your fence.
Again, the reason for all of this (which seems like a lot of work but really isn't) is so you don't have to have ugly gate latches ruining your nice fence. Big hideous bolts and medieval looking handles that would imply a fair maiden lives here.
As an added bonus, you can push your gate open and kick it closed with your foot if you're carrying stuff and both your hands are full.
An Invisible Magnetic Gate Latch.
Make a sleek gate by using modern cupboard handles and this almost invisible magnetic gate latch.
Materials
- Rare Earth Magnets, magnet, cup and washer set. (I used a 1″ set)
- Scraps of wood that match your fence.
Tools
- Drill
- Forstner Drill bit (in the same size of magnet you have)
Instructions
- Cut the scraps of wood to the size you need depending on the width of your magnets. I cut my scraps to 5 inches long X 2 inches wide. The depth of the wood is ⅝ths of an inch. This is to accommodate 1" magnets.
- Drill your cup hole. Place it towards the edge of the wood not in the centre. To make it easier to know how deep to drill, mark the depth of your magnet cup onto the drill bit with a Sharpie.
- Drop the magnet cup into the hole and screw it in place.
- Slide your magnet into the cup being careful not to pinch your fingers.
- Screw the block of wood with the magnet on it to your fence (not the gate) aligning it with the top of your gate.
- Now screw the washer to the actual gate. Line it up so it aligns with the Rare Earth Magnet. I actually set mine off to the side a bit, so only ¾’s of the washer is touching the magnet. I did this because the magnets are so strong I couldn’t even open it with the magnets at full contact.
- Test the gate and if it holds, you're done!
Worried about the kids getting out? Don't. It'll do them some good to wander out into the big, bad world. Builds character. Plus it'll give you a break for that half hour before you panic and realize they're gone.
Oh, you like the kids?? O.K. Sorry. You still don't need to worry about the kids. The magnets are actually so strong that young kids can't push or pull the gates open. Sometimes Betty has trouble pushing or pulling the gate open. Which is fine by me. She doesn't need to see me dancing to Beastie Boys in my p'jamas.
Not for free anyway. I could charge for that kind of high level entertainment.
This is a really great idea and I'm going to recommend it to customers who need a different kind of gate latching solution. Thank you!
I am also in LOVE with your blog, I never have seen anything like it.
After reading this post I ordered some magnets back in September and have been holding onto them. I just got to used them, not as a latch but as a way to hold the gate while it is open. It works great and I impressed my hubby and dad at the same time!
Thanks Christine! ~ karen
I found the magnet cup holders specifically for the rare earth magnets at Hartville Tool and Woodcraft. Amazing Magnets also sells an inexpensive, one-piece counterbored magnet cup assembly.
Do you have a source for the cup washer for the magnet?
I have looked online and at several local hardware stores, with both large stock and more specialty fasteners. No one stocks a simple metal cup or can at least find one.
Haywood - Yes, if you look at the link I gave you for the rare earth magnets, (click here to see the Lee Valley link) you'll see it comes in a set. Washer and Cup. ~ karen!
I just found your blog and am in L-O-V-E. We're about to fence in our new yard, so quick question, did you build the fence you have pictured? if so do you have a tutorial online of how you did it?
Thanks and looking forward to following you now.
HI Kate! No I didn't build the fence ... I designed it. I can answer whatever questions you might have re: the design. I'm not sure it will be of any help but here is a post I did on re-doing my entire backyard in case you didn't see it and plan to do your own. Good luck with the fence! - karen
Those magnets are great! I've used them to attach the wood for a roman blind on a metal door. Just found your blog - it has great ideas. Love that your fence is different. And great to have different handles.
Thanks; I'll look. I've certainly garnered some strange looks at the name, but I love it! He even looks like the Vertus Heirloom turnip (I looked that up on Google)--only 16 pounds, but rather long with bedroom eyes and freakishly large ears. I call him my little root vegetable! Love reading you every day...
Very way cool...but I need advice beyond (or maybe before?) the latch. I just rescued my first-ever dog and I need to build a fence from scratch (actually, I need to hire someone to build said fence). I'd love to avoid the typical-looking fence and put in something that matches my contemporary home. Any ideas of where to look for ideas? Turnip needs a place to run! Thanks :)
Is "Turnip" seriously the name of your dog??? I L-O-V-E that! When looking for ideas for my fence I googled contemporary fence in images and found a few things. A lot of the images however, used exotic woods (which I can't afford) or very think pieces of wood, run horizontally. The problem with this is the narrower the piece of wood, the more likely it is to warp and bend. So beware of that when you're deciding on a design. I also drove around neighbourhoods where I knew there were contemporary homes! I found a few nice fences this way! Good luck.
Rare earth magnets are really, really strong, like Karen already said... They come with warnings like, "Once you set it, you won't be able to remove it from its holder again." They mean it.
Further, be very careful where you leave them laying around. They can suck the data off magnetic media, or mess up the delicate workings inside a watch. They should be kept well away from anyone with a pacemaker or other internal metal device.
Etc. Etc. These are NOT your cute little gradeschool magnets.
Er...Didn't mean to sound all gnarly, and I forgot to say they make the *perfect* zen gate latch. :)
Ok that is freakin genius! I would have never, ever thought about that! You are so freakin' awesome! Inspiration abounds here! Thanks!
Nice! I had a hunch magnets might be involved somehow...and I LOVE the application. Mod and chic!
Brilliant! I would have to put mine on the bottom of the gate, the better to keep my dog from pushing it open.
Evelyn. If you pit it on the bottom you're bound to remove skin from your shin or ankles every rime you go through the gate! And don't worry ... A human can barely open this gate so unless you own an exceptionally large St. Bernard you'd be O.K. ! - Karen!
now I just need my very own backyard to enclose...
Super awesome. Just another reason I wish we had a "normal" backyard, which could be easily fenced.
Yep....freaking brilliant! When next I have a fence I know what I'll do to close the gate. Thanx
I feel a tremendous sense of shame. I feel I have a fairly evolved sense of modern style, and my home reflects as much. But I have put up with ugly ordinary latches and hardware on my gates. Blissfully unaware that there was anything I could do about it. My eyes have been opened, um thanks... Except now I fear I cannot, in good design conscience, live with my ordinary ugly gate hardware and my to-do list has grown. Niicely done, Karen!
You're welcome! :). Heh heh
genius!
What a great idea! Tres chic.
If you're designing the fence AND figuring out the hardware at the same time instead of back-engineering, it'd be easy enough to design your gate so there's an overlap at the opening (assuming the gate opening only on one side of the fence so that you don't have anything marring the line of your fence. I like the idea of putting it on the side of the gate and post!
i know i'm not the 1st to say this, and certainly will not be the last, but you are truly brilliant.
Brilliant! Could you make it completely invisible by putting the magnet on the edge of the door? In some cases that might work. You don't wanna walk too close to those holding your bank card though, do ya?
Hi Rebecca! I considered putting the magnets on the inside of the post and the edge of the gate, but for the magnets to work they have to be touching. All gates have to be given space between the actual gate and post to allow for swing and swelling from dampness and humidity. Therefore magnets on the inside don't work. - Karen!
Karen this is brilliant! I am currently coming up with ideas for a very contemporary wood gate and much different from our neighbours very traditional gate. I cannot afford the $500-$900 for contemporary pulls so am using an exterior door handle but the latch is the hurdle. Thank you for sharing as some how I am going to make this work! :
Hi Kelly! Oh it'll work. You'll figure it out. My gate rare earth magnets are now years old and they're still working absolutely perfectly! ~ karen