Picket Fence

[Dr. Zack Jennings]

After several weeks of building Bluebird Houses, stopping roof leaks and finishing shop cabinets, I have started back on my Courtyard Wall Project . This is a improvment first envisioned 27 years ago.

My courtyard is an Ozark Primitive version of a New Orleans Courtyard entrance. I planted the trees in 1979. The main wall is 44" high and very solid. It has a barnwood facade and rusted tin on the other side. I am adding a 25' picket fence to the original 30' wall.

The first photo shows my helper, Bobby, morticing the treated 2"X4" stringers into 4"X4" posts using a saw guide jig I designed.

<img src="http://www.zackjennings.com/1/MorticingRails.jpg">

Morticing the rails makes the fence rock solid and more attractive from the inside. This photo shows Pickets installed in the first 10 feet.

<img src="http://www.zackjennings.com/1/3972PicketFence.jpg">

[Jim Becker]

What an incredibly interesting look! It do have the wheels turning... :D There just may be an application for this on our property here in the countryside!

[Ken Garlock]

Hi Zack.

Why do you call the recess in the fence pole a mortise, and not a dado? I thought that a mortise was closed on all 4 sides with the possibility of an open bottom for a thru tenon. A dado has 3 sides, and an mutant dado is a rabbet.

I am not trying to be critical, but rather trying to understand the correct terminology and definitions.

Regardless of the names/terms, that is a cool fence which compliments the surrounding landscape.

Inquiring minds want to know :)

[Tom Sweeney]

Zack your Ozark primitive look is really growing on me - I don't know about the shiny new looking shop building in the background though ;)

Any idea to make a picket fence more sturdy is a good one.

Thanks for posting.

[Jim Becker]

Originally posted by Ken Garlock
Why do you call the recess in the fence pole a mortise, and not a dado? I thought that a mortise was closed on all 4 sides with the possibility of an open bottom for a thru tenon. A dado has 3 sides, and an mutant dado is a rabbet.

I think you are correct, by jinkies! (But that fence still looks incredible!)