Building Chase Barn Cloches?

[Linda.J.D.]

Greetings. My name is Linda and I live on the west coast of British Columbia in Canada. I do not often read forums, but I have a ... challenge.

I have inherited several buckets of wire framing that I understand to be Chase Barn Cloches. No instructions came with them. Just piles and piles of wire bits like a jigsaw puzzle without a photo to guide me.

My searches on these forums have not yet yielded enough information that would allow me to put these cloches together. Might someone have a link they could pass along?

Thank-you.
Linda

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine!

I've found this old thread from the Vine- which may help...

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oches_979.html

[zazen999]

How to Build a Chase Barn Cloche | eHow.com


Kitchen Garden Chase Barn Cloches | Hibbitt


http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4673784_bu...rn-cloche.html

No actual instructions but those might help....

[Linda.J.D.]

Many thanks for the information!

I think this link from the old Vine thread may be the most useful with its abundance of photos: Garden World Images - Home
I searched on cloches and on barn cloches, and found some images that clear up most of my confusion. This afternoon will be the test! (Thank-you, Nicos!)

The video was chatty, but not extremely useful for building the cloche.
The eHow page described how to build a boxy cloche, but not actually a Chase (or Chase-type) cloche.
The Hibbitt site looks excellent for shopping, but not so much for actual construction.
All were interesting links, even if not for my needs.

Thank-you for your help. With these cloches functioning, I should be able to participate in the Seed-Savers Exchange next March!

yours,
Linda

[Linda.J.D.]

And a drawing!

I changed my Google search words and found a drawing:

Chase Barn Cloches - Solway Gardener

I still don't understand the function of the T-bar, but I will try again to put it into place, with the specifics of this new link. So far, the cloches are holding together without it.

Thanks, again.

Linda

[endymion]

I remember my Dad putting these together, it used to make me cover my ears!

I think the T bar is to support the upper layer of glass, the same way as greenhouse glass is supported, and it stops the cloches from collapsing either outwards or downwards.

Don't be tempted to glue anything in place because the metal can/will expand when it gets warm and if it hasn't got anywhere to move it might make the glass either crack or shatter.

[taff]

any help?
Chase Barn Cloches - Solway Gardener

[Linda.J.D.]

Taff, it helps a bit more than the other images; the drawing doesn't have plants and sunlight to distract from its construction.

Endymion, I -still- don't understand the T-bar's placement nor function. The glass is already supported by the main frame. The arch (the main frame of heavier wire) over everything actually is the centre point of the tension between the glass on one side and the wire hooks on the other. I tried to set the T-bar in such a way that a roof panel would be removeable for generous ventilation, and failed.

At this stage, the cloche holds together without the T-bar, and functions sufficiently. I think. A growing season will tell!

Thanks!

Linda

[chris]

Perhaps it adds stability for windy conditions? Welcome to the forum from the other side of the pond! I've seen a few of those clotches on my old plot in the past - most were broken and fashioned together by canes/string/what not. They do look great though

[bossjafo]

If you send me your e-mail address I will send you a copy of the original leaflet that comes with the Chase Barn Cloche

[SarzWix]

What a great first post bossjafo Welcome to the Vine

[jaivee]

Assembling your Barn Cloche

go to Barn Cloche - YouTube for assembly instructions. If the link doesn't work just google - utube barn cloche - I'm the one with the green gloves

Hope this helps

jacqui - NZ

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jacqui and welcome ...........Nice gloves

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for the video Jacqui
I spotted cloche wires for sale on ebay the other day if anyone's after some.

[R1200R]

Linda, this is a very late reply to your original post which I have only just seen. This may be helpful. You are very lucky to have inherited the various wires necessary to make Chase Barn Cloches. Chase Barn Cloches are indisputably the Rolls Royce of cloches and although there are many modern plastic cloches you can still buy the wire kits, they cost £12 for each cloche and the glass is extra! So you are very lucky to have acquired them for nothing.

In my book, "The Handbook of Garden Machinery and Equipment", which was published over 30 years ago there is a simple line drawing of a Chase cloche which might make things clearer for you. Assembling a Chase is not easy, there is a knack, and it is difficult to describe, but the drawing may help. I will scan the drawing and email it to you if you are interested.

let me know if you still need this information.