[TheForge] setting fence posts

[dann at wctatel.net]

For steel 2 inch "pipe" posts that are only going into the ground a foot
or so, I'd consider using concrete,  only on the corner posts. For the
line posts, I'd not be inclined to dig them in, rather, I'd use a pipe
type post driver to drive them into the ground.

I think you can still buy new  post drivers,  ( a hand powered slide over
the top weighted pipe drivers) in a farm supply store that would also
sells  the common "t" posts used for holding up barb wire.

If you have cow, horse, or hog kind of livestock pressure pushing on a
fence, a 2 inch post will get bent, unless you run electric fence wire to
keep the critters - away and wary.

In northern Iowa,  any wood post that I dig in, has a hole dug to 42
inches or more. Except at the bottom of pole building poles, I have rarely
used  concrete, but do a lot of tamping,  to pack the soil as it is
backfilled.  My fence posts don't tend to move after I plant them.

Fencing is a lot like work. I intend that my fences last a very long time.

For the last 25 or so years,  when I put in a wood post, I've used sawn up
lengths of perhaps 10 foot each old creasoted electric poles that are
often 12 to 15 inches diameter, and holes dug a good 4 feet deep. The goal
is that the next time they have to be replaced, it will be the adult grand
kids doing it.

Dann

> Why set these in concrete?  We never set fence posts in concrete - we just
> dry pack the soil back in in shallow lifts.  If you can get all the soil
> back in the hole, then you are not packing it tight enough and using too
> big a lift before packing.
>
> ---- Original message ----
>>Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 07:26:36 -0500 (CDT)
>>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net (on behalf of "terry l. ridder"
>> <terrylr at blauedonau.com>)
>>Subject: [TheForge] setting fence posts
>>To: theforge e-mail list <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>
>>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 ><>
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