This project was built and designed by Marcus from Salty Woodworking.
When a friend needed a baby gate, Marcus decided against the typical plastic option found online and instead offered to build a custom version out of maple. The goal was to make something sturdy enough to handle daily use while still looking like an actual piece of furniture rather than a plain safety barrier.
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Design
Marcus wanted the gate to feel substantial without being bulky. Maple was chosen for its durability and clean look, since it needed to match the style of the home while standing up to the wear and tear that comes with a household full of kids.
He also planned a curved top rail for the gate, giving it a softer, more furniture-like silhouette instead of the boxy look typical of most baby gates.
Lumber Prep
Since the wood had traveled a long distance and experienced a significant shift in humidity, Marcus made sure to double-check everything before building. Every board was run through the jointer and planer to flatten and square it up, giving the material a fresh surface to work with before any cuts were made.
To build up thickness for the main frame, he laminated two boards together rather than relying on a single thick piece. This added strength without making the frame look overly heavy, which was important for a piece that would be mounted and used frequently.
Joinery
With the frame pieces glued and squared, Marcus moved on to cutting the interior slats to matching sizes using a miter saw. He mentioned wanting to eventually build a full miter saw station for the shop, but for now the current setup got the job done.
For assembly, he relied on a domino joiner to create strong, hidden connections between the frame pieces. A helpful tip he shared was to line up the top and bottom rails side by side when marking joinery locations, ensuring both pieces match up perfectly once assembled.
Before committing to glue, Marcus did a full dry fit of the frame. Taking the extra time to test everything without adhesive helped him catch any fit issues early, avoiding the frustration of disassembling or recutting parts after the glue was already applied.
Shaping
To create the curved top rail, Marcus used a quarter-round template he already had on hand and shaped it to fit the curve using screws. Since his bandsaw wasn’t cutting accurately at the time, he switched to a reciprocating saw for the rough cut, staying a safe distance from the line to account for blade drift.
From there, an oscillating spindle sander helped him sneak up on the final line and smooth out the curve until it matched the shape he was after. Once the frame pieces fit together well, every edge was rounded over on the router table, an important step given that small hands would be gripping and touching the gate constantly.
Finishing
Before applying any finish, mineral spirits were used to clear dust from the wood grain and prepare the surface. For the topcoat, Marcus used Rubio Monocoat, but instead of the usual clear finish, his friend requested a black tint.
The black option gave the maple a subtle, rustic look without going fully dark, and it turned out to be a finish Marcus was genuinely impressed with despite using it for the first time. Hardware was kept simple, with a long piano hinge for movement and a standard gate latch for securing it closed.
Final Thoughts
Although the gate wasn’t installed in time to be filmed in its final location, Marcus was happy with how the build turned out and expects it to hold up for years of use. The project shows how a functional, everyday item like a baby gate can be elevated with solid joinery, thoughtful shaping, and a finish that fits the rest of the home.
See Marcus’s website here: https://www.saltywoodworking.net/
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Building furniture that also has to survive daily abuse from kids is its own kind of challenge, and maple is a smart call for that. It’s hard enough to resist dents and scratches but still takes a finish beautifully, which matters when you’re trying to make something look intentional instead of purely functional. Laminating two boards for the frame instead of hunting down thicker stock is a good habit to get into generally — it’s often more stable than a single thick piece since you can control grain orientation on each layer.
The dry fit step before glue-up is one of those things that separates a smooth build from a frustrating one. Dominoes are great for hidden strength, but once glue is in those mortises, you’re committed. A few extra minutes of dry assembly can save you an entire evening of chiseling out a stuck joint.
Switching to a reciprocating saw when the bandsaw wasn’t cooperating is a good reminder that you don’t need the “ideal” tool for every cut, just one that gets you safely close to the line. Sneaking up on a curve with a spindle sander afterward is a technique worth having in your back pocket any time you’re shaping by hand. And rounding every edge on something kids will be grabbing constantly isn’t just a design choice, it’s a real safety consideration.
Rubio Monocoat with a black tint is an interesting choice on maple specifically, since maple can look almost sterile with a clear coat. Tinted hardwax oils are worth exploring if you want some depth and warmth without hiding the grain entirely.