weep holes in a driveway gate

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I  am  building a driveway gate with 1 1/2 "  tubular mild steel as a frame and 3/4" pickets. The pickets will be butted against the frame (top and bottom) and therefore sealed. The frame uprights will be open at the bottom so I was thinking of just leaving these open to let any moisture drain out. The rail at the bottom will again be butted to the left and right uprights and another horizontal support will be butted in the same way about 1 foot from the top rail. The top rail will have a butt weld to the left vertical frame member (left vertical frame member will extend about 6" above the top horizontal member) and the right end will have a miter cut to weld to the right vertical  frame member. I was wondering if I should drill 3/8" weep holes along the bottom s of the  horizontal frame members?
Reply:If it butts against a post on both sides, and IF it is 100% welded all the way around, why do you need drain holes to drain water that cant get in?...
Reply:Like TEK said, if you're worried about water getting in, it shouldn't if your welds are decent. If you are worried about existing moisture inside the tube, preheat it with a tiger/roofers torch to dry it just before you weld it. Weep holes are dicey with a horizontal tube with regards to effectiveness as any moisture may not reach the hole to drain. Plus moisture can get in as well. Dry your tube and weld it closed.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Weep holes a ARE the prudent thing to do. Weeps help to equalize atmospheric pressure, and keep moisture from being "sucked in" to a closed tube. A good weld is not always a PERFECT weld, We often loose a bit of quality at the corners or over tacks. it is a rare person that makes airtight welds on gates and similar structures.To explain how water can get in, lets look a  sealed 55 gal. oil drum. It is sealed thought with the bung covers in place and tight. Over time a bit of water collects on the top, during the heat of the day, the barrel heats up, the air expands, the pressure pushes out a bit, as the drum cools at night a vacuum is created, because the water is there, it gets sucked into the drum. this process repeat itself every hot/cold cycle, and the drum takes on water. This will happen even if the drum has some oil or other product in it.If you have a welded tube or pipe, with "sealed" ends and no weep hole a similar effect happens, the water that it pulls in could be the evening dew, or a Summer shower.An in depth article was printed in an issue of the "FABRICATOR" within the last couple of years, I will see if I can locate it.Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:I suspected I needed weep holes because I called a gate manufacturer and they build their gates with weep holes.
Reply:I leave the bottoms of vertical tubes open, but I don't drill weep holes in horizontal tubes for gates and fence, etc.  Like said above, weep holes are a hit or miss thing.  Even though you have a hole, that doesn't mean the water is going to reach it and drain out.  I use galvanized steel for most projects that will spend their lives outdoors, especially the thin wall tube in gates, fence and railing.  The galvanized coating protects both the inside and outside of the tube, except right where the welds are, since it burns off during the welding.  Cold galvanized spray protects the outside of the welded areas, then primer and paint further protect the outside.  The only part left unprotected are the back sides of the welded areas.  If complete protection is needed, I have the part hot-dip galvanized after the welding is done, or use stainless instead of carbon steel.  Hot-dip galvanizing requires drilling holes in each end of any closed off tube, so the liquid metal can flow through the inside of the tube.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op