Fences

I know this is a weird question, but where better to ask it than here? :) Besides, it will be nice to talk about a subject other than 2007.

Would anyone happen to know the manufacturer of the fence that surrounds most of the new coasters? For instance, the black fence in this picture:

http://pointbuzz.com/gallery/35.jpg

I need to try and use a material similar to this on a project I'm working on in the Caribbean. Any thoughts?

Its just two pieces of flat bar welded together. Drill some holes, paint, and run some cable and you've got the fence. Not really much to it. Could probably get quotes from any steel supplier.

Not the top part simulating barbed-wire. The actual fence itself. The same fence surrounds parts of Raptor too.

You mean the little skinny bars? Thats just little skinny bars welded together to form a fence. From what I remember of up close, its almost like rebar thats been welded together and then painted. It's nothing too fancy. Pretty much stuff that could be quoted by any steel supplier.

Yes, I'm talking about the "skinny bars". But, Cedar Fair uses this at all their parks, so I know its not a custom item. It has to be a stock fence component. I'm trying to save money, so doing a custom fence is out of the question.

Don't have much help then. I would suggest contacting the park directly though. I doubt they'd have much trouble giving you what you need.
But remember, with a project like Dragster (20 mil), even 10 grand spent on a custom fence is only a small drop in a very big bucket. CP may use it at all their parks, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is a stock component (but I would wager you are right).

Yeah, I know that 10 grand may seem cheap, but the project I'm working on is 4 times what dragster cost, and we still need to cut costs wherever we can to help out the bottom line. We're going from a custom concrete and wood fence to something such as the one in the dragster pic. So, we'd already be saving a considerable amount.

I emailed the park earlier, but I thought I'd check here as well. Never hurts to ask more than one place. :)

Oh, no it doesn't (hurt to ask). I understand the cost cutting though, every bit you come in under budget is a bigger bonus. Good luck with finding the fence. May I ask what this is for (my guess is resort, but I may be wrong.)

No, you're right. Its a resort. :) Is there anything else being built in the Caribbean? :) I wish I was building a coaster though. That'd be way more fun!

So that fence around dragster would probably not stop a train if it were to derail (god forbid) like a fence would at a real track.. would it?

No, but you don't have idjits parking their car on the tracks either.

Yeah, I'm talking about a race track. If someone comes up with a barrier that would stop a train.. that would be pretty amazing.

I'm sure you could come up with one, but would it be cost effective?

The blast barriers that can stop a semi at 55mph (designed to guard against terrorist car bombs) cost roughly $10k for a 6' long barrier.

They were all over Detroit for the super bowl and are permanent in front of the FBI building downtown.

I've seen test video on the intrawebs... and they do a pretty good job.

Is that what they had blocking off some of the streets downtown? I was down there the week before the superbowl (MSU/UM at the Joe) and noticed lots of streets blocked that weren't blocked before.

Those were the barriers...

They look like common everyday highway dividers... just a bit shorter. Maybe around 3'-4' tall...

Instead of arguing about it, why not do a Google search for "steel fence"? You might find this site:

http://www.merchantsmetals.com/

That site is particularly interesting if you go to the wire mesh fencing page. Their Secur product might be exactly what you are looking for... :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Who's arguing Dave? You tryin to start some drama up in here? ;)

I didn't see any arguing either, but thanks for those links Dave. :) Looks to be the manufacturer from their pictures.

PointBuzz answered before CP did too. (Not that I expected CP to jump at the chance to tell me who manufactures their fence!)

Thanks Dave

It is a custom fence. ASTM (for amusement rides)rules dictate a 4" X 42" fence surround amusement rides. In this case more fencing was needed and it was designed accordingly. As you can see the 4-42 rule comes into effect on the lower portion. You would need to contact a locla fabricator for your needs.