[TheForge] Fw: setting fence posts

[David E. Smucker]

Hell Terry,   Have a fence company do it.  They will not put it down, 48 
inch in a 9 dia. hole.  At least get a quote from some of these guys, in 
these hunger time I will bet they know a way around this.  While I 
understand the power of frost (I grew up around there) for a fence this is 
crazy.

Dave,


--------------------------------------------------
From: "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com>
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 5:06 PM
To: "Bruce Freeman" <freemab222 at gmail.com>
Cc: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [TheForge] setting fence posts

> hello bruce;
>
>
> On Sun, 24 May 2009, Bruce Freeman wrote:
>
>> I calculate you're digging 12" holes, 9" in diameter.
>>
>
> 9 inch diameter hole 48 inches deep. this is a dekalb county illinois
> rule. i am zoned agriculture and they still say that since it is a chain
> link fence and not a field fence that i have to sink the posts 48
> inches. i am trying to get them to allow a variance of only digging 36
> inches deep. a 6-inch diameter hole would be less expensive on the
> cement. that is yet another variance being asked for.
>
> i have had wood post field fences last with just the wood post pounded
> into the ground for 3ft. i do not understand county building rules and
> regulations. basically, just a way to produce revenue.
>
> 48 inches is considered to be the frost depth for dekalb county
> illinois.
>
> 1 cubic foot is equal to 1728 cubic inches.
>
> ( 48 * 9 * 9 * pi / 4 ) / ( 1728 ) = 1.767145868 cubic ft.
> ( 36 * 9 * 9 * pi / 4 ) / ( 1728 ) = 1.325359401 cubic ft.
>
> ( 48 * 6 * 6 * pi / 4 ) / ( 1728 ) = 0.785398163 cubic ft.
> ( 36 * 6 * 6 * pi / 4 ) / ( 1728 ) = 0.589048623 cubic ft.
>
> 1.767145868 cubic ft * 50 = 88.36 cubic ft.
> 1.325359401 cubic ft * 50 = 66.27 cubic ft.
> 0.785398163 cubic ft * 50 = 39.27 cubic ft.
> 0.589048623 cubic ft * 50 = 29.45 cubic ft.
>
>>
>> I can't help thinking how much better off you'd be to dig deeper and
>> narrower.  Rule of thumb is 1/3 the post should be in the ground - and
>> then you don't need the concrete at all (but local conditions may
>> vary).
>>
>> Alternatively, just dig narrower.  Any chance of getting a smaller
>> auger?  If you can swing it, it might be cheaper to make your own
>> auger.  The blades on the bottom need be sturdy, but the screw needs
>> only be strong enough to lift the earth out of the hole.  I'd envision
>> a stout rod as the axis with a couple bands spiraled up around it and
>> tack welded in place, or maybe to some cross-supports like skewers
>> through a BBQ spit.  Might could make something that attaches to the
>> existing 9" auger, but bores a hole only 4" or so in dia. x 12" deep.
>>
>
> looking at making a 6 inch auger. they are basically 2-inch pipe with
> 1/16 inch thick flat mild steel tack welded to it in a simple helix. the
> tip is where the is some heavy duty steel.
>
>>
>> That would reduce your concrete usage to about 1/4 cuft per hole x 50
>> holes = 12 cuft.
>>
>> On Sun, May 24, 2009 at 8:26 AM, terry l. ridder <terrylr at blauedonau.com> 
>> wrote:
>>> hello;
>>>
>>> i have received my county permit to build my fence. i am looking at the
>>> various cement mixtures offered by quikcrete and others and do not get a
>>> good feel for just how many 40/80 lbs bags would be needed per fence
>>> post. i am using a 3-pt hitch post hole digger with a 9inch auger. the
>>> fence posts are 2 inch galvanized pipe. basically each hole is roughly
>>> 1.76 cubic feet. the pipe does take up some space but it is small
>>> compared to the hole. the fence is 400 ft long with a fence post every 8
>>> ft. roughly 50 fence post. so roughly 1.78 cubic feet x 50 gives 88
>>> cubic feet of cement is needed. what is the least expensive why to make
>>> up the necessary cement mixture for setting fence posts?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> terry l. ridder ><>
>>
>
> -- 
> terry l. ridder ><>
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>