Lifespan of a fencepost?

[dmccarty]

I'll have to check on the Shaver post driver, not familiar with it.

I know when the contractor originally began our fence, he tried using a post driver on a skid steer and found it didn't work very well due the the amount of rock we have. I'm afraid most hydraulic post drivers would have the same problem.

That is interesting. I looked at a post pounder and Shaver was the brand my dealer sells. It looked like a good piece of equipment when I researched years ago. In the end I did not by it or an auger. No money and n time to use the attachment if I had the dollar.

I also decided I would rather have an auger. The post driver only drives posts. It does it well but I have other uses for an auger.

A kennel was built near us using 6x6 posts. The land in the kennel is more rock than dirt. Before they worked on the kennel you would have a tough time walking across that land and stepping ONLY on dirt.

They used an old Farmall with a front mounted post pounder to drive in the 6x6s. They had to move from time to time to avoid a rock but they were able to put in the posts.

This surprised the heck out of me. I really did not think they could drive posts into that ground because of the rocks.

Later,
Dan

 

[clemsonfor]

I have a few extra posts from when the fence was built. I'll have to check them and see if there's a tag on them anywhere.

My current plan is to set T posts along my existing fenceposts, and attach the fence to them. I'd rather have wood posts, but I don't think I can get an auger that close to the fence without damaging the fence. I would probably need to take the whole thing down and start over.

Mark where your hole needs to be and take the fence wire or barebed wire off the closest post and maybe one on either side of it. Then push the wire back, with a helper, and back your auger into place every 75 feet or so to get a solid post in.

 

[clemsonfor]

Just a thought, i have never done it but thought about it. Has anyone experimented with used motor oil? I mean taking your, say cedar post and putting it in a 5 gallon bucket and filling it up with oil and letting it sit for a few days/weeks. I know a 5 gallon bucket would only treat say 18-20 inches of it, but my thoughts is this may extend the life a good bit?

 

[tallyho8]

Just a thought, i have never done it but thought about it. Has anyone experimented with used motor oil? I mean taking your, say cedar post and putting it in a 5 gallon bucket and filling it up with oil and letting it sit for a few days/weeks. I know a 5 gallon bucket would only treat say 18-20 inches of it, but my thoughts is this may extend the life a good bit?

If your post is set in the ground 36", then the most important part to treat is about 32" to 40" from the bottom because this is where they rot out.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If your post is set in the ground 36", then the most important part to treat is about 32" to 40" from the bottom because this is where they rot out.

Same idea -- Mine rotted from ground level down to about a foot deep.
larry