How crazy is this idea?

[wurm]

Typically (for me) I'm trying to find something that doesn't exist, so I'm wondering about jerry-rigging what I need. I'm looking to cross a 2x3 over a deck rail, but they won't be perpendicular. Think of the 1st picture, but with the ability to sort of pivot where they meet.

So I'm thing of connecting two basic U ties (2nd pic). Questions are whether it would work and if so, how best to join them. I don't care about looks. Fugly is fine. I also don't want this to be a permanent installation, but it should be able to withstand some minor strain. Thanks for any ideas.

BTW, plenty of time to think about this, as I won't need it for a couple of months.

[special]

I would use a hinge so you can adjust the angle, on the left side screw 2 upper holes in the upper 2x3 and on the right side screw the 2 lower holes in the lower 2x3. Use another one of these on the opposite side, or even better 4 of these for maximum strength.

[nwyaker]

Drill hole centered in bottom of “U” in both pieces. Attach together with bolt & Nyloc nut ( adjust for desired friction).

[wurm]

Thanks. I thought about a hinge, but that's even more permanent than I want. I'm thinking with the U brackets, I can just sort of hang the bottom one across the deck rail and lay the 2x3 into the top one. If I wanted to, one screw would probably hold them in place well enough.

And nwyaker, there are already holes in the bottoms of both pieces, so it's just the fastener to join them that I'd have to deal with.

[Ombligo]

Look at pivot hinges. They are generally used for swinging doors, but could easily be adapted to what you want.

[RAMd®d]

Drill hole centered in bottom of “U” in both pieces. Attach together with bolt & Nyloc nut ( adjust for desired friction).


This.

Elegant in it's simplicity.

Does everything you want.

If I'm visualizing this correctly, you'll need to relieve the wood some to make room for both ends of the bolt that binds.

[wurm]

As mentioned, no need to drill a hole as it already exists in those pieces. I did think about needing to make room for the binding bolt, but as long as it holds the pieces and lets them pivot, they don't have to look neat. If necessary, I just won't push the pieces flush against the bottom/top of the bracket, but instead leave a little room for a bolt head or whatever.

Ombligo, those pivot hinges look nice, but the ones I saw in a quick search were a lot more than the .68 ea. for those U ties I'm considering.

[Cary]

Perhaps 2 hurricane ties: Hurricane tie?.

Check out the Simpson Strong Tie Catalog. They have all sorts of connectors…

[wurm]

Thanks, Cary. Believe it or not, Once I knew the manufacturer of these kinds of things, I pretty much went through the catalog looking for what I needed. They do have a couple of angled braces, but aside from being more costly, they are fixed angled. And I don't know exactly the angle I'll need, which is why I'm looking for a swivel of some kind.

For less than five bucks total, I'll probably try my Rube Goldberg approach.

[RAMd®d]

I'm curious as to why one long bolt, maybe three or four washers, and a Nyloc nut wouldn't work for your temporary situation.

Drill through both boards at the hinge point, washer on top, drop the bolt through, one or two washers next, put it through the second board, slide on washer, attach nut and tighten to taste.

If you're not going to relieve the boards for the bolt head or nut, the boards won't be sitting flush in the brackets.

Will both mounting holes in the bracket allow both screws to have good purchase?

I'd drill pilot holes to give better grip and lessen the possibility of the wood splitting.

You might come in even less than your current budget.


Or, mark and drill all the pilot holes for the screws and bolt, then drill to purpose.

Mount the brackets, drop the bolt through the washer, board, washer(s), board, washer, and nut, tighten to taste.

Or maybe that's your intention all along, and I misconstrued the connecting two basic U ties... ... how best to join them bits.

Or, I'm just not 'seeing' this right.