how to get old telephone poles

[bridge4]

One of the old farms I work in my area has hundreds of overly thick fence posts made of old T-poles. He must have had a connection with someone that just dropped them off at his farm. Short pieces of T-pole everywhere on the property.
I need 15 to rebuild a lean-to roof in the upcoming months. None to be found.

I think as others said in the past, they are getting harder to sell to the public. I've called a few scrap yards looking for steel lengths and most won't talk to me because they can't sell to me. It's really a shame.

 

[Hay Dude]

I think as others said in the past, they are getting harder to sell to the public. I've called a few scrap yards looking for steel lengths and most won't talk to me because they can't sell to me. It's really a shame.

We have a similar situation brewing here with compost. We have millions of tons of compost created here locally from all the mushrooms grown in my area. The mushroom farmers give it to the local hay farmers and we spread it on our fields to help grow our crops. Then we sell hay back to them. A perfect way to keep each others businesses going. Lately a G___________ agency has been cracking down on piling of compost, the way it’s spread, etc. It’s just a matter of time before they interfere too much and ruin this cooperative that’s been in existence for over 100 years.

 

[ArlyA]

It's funny how people always call them telephone poles but 99.9% of the time they are talking about power poles. Not many telephone poles around since nearly all telephone lines are now buried underground.

You must not have many rocks in Lubbock TX. Some places you can't get wires underground without a costly trench dig.

 

[kenmbz]

In this area they have started to use what looks like copper soaked poles instead of creosote.
Not sure what they do with the old ones, they are replacing quite a few around here.
I know across the river in NJ they are hazmat material, so they just pile them by the RR, where they "suddenly" catch fire every year or two.....

 

[lman]

You must not have many rocks in Lubbock TX. Some places you can't get wires underground without a costly trench dig.

All of our phone and fiber cables are buried in my county. On my property fiber, phone and electric are buried. Not many rocks in this farmland.

 

[Hay Dude]

You must not have many rocks in Lubbock TX. Some places you can't get wires underground without a costly trench dig.

back to where to get telephone poles.….have any of you ever looked in Amish or Mennonite lumber yards? Also, Craigs List may have some, too.

 

[grsthegreat]

We used to be able to purchase them, but nowadays they are cut into pieces as there removed. The installers place new post right next to original, transfer wires, than start sawing old post.

 

[M59]

I live in upstate NY 30 minutes west of albany can anyone tell me who I can buy old telephone poles from?

Contact your local utility company. They frequently have piles of damaged posts ( hit by vehicle, damaged by weather/high wind) and want to dispose of them at little to no cost. You will have to deal with random lengths.

Best time to ask is just after nasty weather that caused many people to lose power.

 

[hube2]

Last year a pole only 100' from my property was damaged by a corn combine hitting the wires and snapping the pole. I went down and talked to the guys and asked if I could have the old pole. They told me that NY required that they dispose of the poles because they could contain creosote and in NY anything with creosote cannot be reused for another purpose.

Because this came up I took the time to look it up Creosote

 

[CobyRupert]

Last year a pole only 100' from my property was damaged by a corn combine hitting the wires and snapping the pole. I went down and talked to the guys and asked if I could have the old pole. They told me that NY required that they dispose of the poles because they could contain creosote and in NY anything with creosote cannot be reused for another purpose.

Because this came up I took the time to look it up Creosote

Typical. “Sorry, but these poles that line every road and street in every town for miles on end are super dangerous and harmful once we take them down. Until then, they’re perfectly safe.”

 

[hube2]

Typical. “Sorry, but these poles that line every road and street in every town for miles on end are super dangerous and harmful once we take them down. Until then, they’re perfectly safe.”

Yep, exactly.

My step father worked for the NY DEC. This was many years ago but even then it was illegal for the average person in NY to soak fence posts in creosote or oil. But the people that actually worked for the DEC was allowed to do it. Every post he put in was soaked in one or the other.

 

[bridge4]

I called a handful of places and the most common answer was "we don't do that anymore". Either they sold the ones they had, or aren't able to sell. I did find some very nice ones for sale on Facebook, but they are in Cape Cod and the delivery is more than the poles!!! I have a few local folks I got tips on I am calling today. I think the older creosote ones are being held back due to hazmat worries, but hopefully can get a few of the newer "green" ones.

 

[Hay Dude]

Pretty simple reason they won’t sell them.
The municipalities and power companies don’t want a lawsuit because there’s some “genius” out there who will sue them saying he got cancer from creosote.

 

[grsthegreat]

When i installed my lighted arena, i purchased new green poles from the local post and pole company. There treated, but not with creosote.

 

[Eagle1]

Here they will gladly leave used poles for you if you ask nicely.

 

[bridge4]

When i installed my lighted arena, i purchased new green poles from the local post and pole company. There treated, but not with creosote.

Yes, this is the one business that can help me, but the "local" one I found was 3 hours away and a 1500 delivery fee. Ouch.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes, this is the one business that can help me, but the "local" one I found was 3 hours away and a 1500 delivery fee. Ouch.

3 hours aint bad. Got a long trailer? Borrow one?
$1500 is highway robbery. $3/loaded mile should be price

 

[bridge4]

3 hours aint bad. Got a long trailer? Borrow one?
$1500 is highway robbery. $3/loaded mile should be price

I'm trying to work that angle too, and if I cant borrow one, I think I might have a guy who would do it a bit cheaper if worst came to worst. Would love to find some within an hour or so though.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm trying to work that angle too, and if I cant borrow one, I think I might have a guy who would do it a bit cheaper if worst came to worst. Would love to find some within an hour or so though.

You could try U-ship. I bet theres a few guys out there who haul equipment who arent busy that would do it cheap. If you were in PA I would do that for you. I haul stuff on the side for people.

 

[thclimer]

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Bridge4, just curious, what do you want to do with the poles?