Cedar post fence

[bindian]

A couple of months ago, I asked (in the South forum) where I could get cedar posts cheap. Lee (Weldingisfun) offered to let me take all I could cut down and trim.:thumbsup: I will be using these cedars for a fence from my barn along my driveway and curving past the pond. Back on April 10th I was at his Goat Ranch and we worked hard. I cut the trees down and he drove his tractor and we both trimmed. Hard thing about it was we had to chain and pull the trees off a draw over a stream. We would have had a lot harder time loading my trailer if it was not for Lee's Mahindra 4500 and loader. We sat the loader bucket over a bunch of logs and wrapped a chain around them and the bucket to sling the logs to my trailer. Here are a few photos from unloading the trailer this afternoon and stacking the cedar. I counted 45 posts anywhere in size from 12 inches down to 4 inches and about a dozen braceing posts. I used the Big RED Beast to unload without breaking a sweat.
hugs, Brandi

 

[CurlyDave]

A lot of posts there.

Two questions:

1. Do you debark those before using or do you use them as is?

2. Do you burry the big end or the small end?

 

[bindian]

A lot of posts there.

Two questions:

1. Do you debark those before using or do you use them as is?

2. Do you burry the big end or the small end?

CurlyDave,
I will debark them. I salvaged a cedar log from Hurricane Ike debris back in 2008 and the bark is falling off of it now. Why would I want to bury the small end?
hugs, Brandi

 

[CurlyDave]

Brandi:

Somewhere I read about people installing them small end down for a reason which escapes my tired old brain at the moment.

I was hoping you might know.

 

[studor]

I pile the posts to cure for a year or so and then the bark comes off with little effort. I have put little and big ends in the ground -- not sure it really makes any difference -- just depends on what fits in the post hole

 

[bindian]

I pile the posts to cure for a year or so and then the bark comes off with little effort. I have put little and big ends in the ground -- not sure it really makes any difference -- just depends on what fits in the post hole

I got 2 or 3 of my Dad's draw knives. They peel bark most easily.
hugs, Brandi

 

[weldingisfun]

The guys around here who work with cedar logs commercially use a 3000 psi pressure washer to debark. If you have access to one, you might give it a try. Don't have one myself so I can't testify to their effectiveness.
Glad you got it all home OK.

 

[bindian]

The guys around here who work with cedar logs commercially use a 3000 psi pressure washer to debark. If you have access to one, you might give it a try. Don't have one myself so I can't testify to their effectiveness.
Glad you got it all home OK.

Thanks Lee! It sure was easier unloading then loading. Only problem I had was getting all the logs with the big ends in the same direction. All my trees slowed that process. I rent a pressure washer every few years to clean off my wood deck and anything else that needs it. I was going to rent one this summer, but sooner now.
hugs, Brandi

 

[QRTRHRS]

Years ago I hauled Atlantic White Cedar posts out of Canada into New York state for farm and vinyard use. The mill in Canada would put a point on the butt end (kind of like a big pencile sharpener, lol) and leave the bark on. There were two sizes, one about two or three inches or so and the other five or six or so.

I would think the heavier butt end down would be best for a good anchor. That is the only way I ever saw it down, pounded or drilled.

 

[mikim]

I've used both a draw knife and press washer to debark my cedars....can't say which I prefer ...bit of a toss up. The press washer is a little easier but sure makes a heck of a mess....a lot more than the draw knife even.

 

[PILOON]

Makes sense that the big end would be down as they would take much longer to rot being thicker.
Also the contact area with ground would be the breaking point (from side loads) and stronger.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Here in VA, we used to use ONLY cedar and locust posts...big end down and do not debark them...not sure why but if you take the bark off they seem to "wear" down to the heart much faster than if you leave the bark on....I never saw a cedar post that rotted clean thru even after 50 years...just my 2 cents worth. BobG in VA

 

[studor]

In a pile, a debarked post lasts a lot longer than one with the bark still on since moisture gets trapped between the bark and the wood. Moisture against the wood seems to be key -- the dryer the cedar is the longer it will last so drainage around the pole bottom is important. I noticed a lot of fences in my neck of the woods with the pole butt end up -- still think it has to do with what will fit in the hole. The other way to get the bark off and make the poles nice looking is to get a "log wizard" for your chainsaw JMHO

 

[bindian]

Here in VA, we used to use ONLY cedar and locust posts...big end down and do not debark them...not sure why but if you take the bark off they seem to "wear" down to the heart much faster than if you leave the bark on....I never saw a cedar post that rotted clean thru even after 50 years...just my 2 cents worth. BobG in VA

BobG_in_VA,
Nice to hear from you.:thumbsup: I am thinking it is wetter down here, is why were are suppose to peel them. Not sure now.:confused2:
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Makes sense that the big end would be down as they would take much longer to rot being thicker.
Also the contact area with ground would be the breaking point (from side loads) and stronger.

That was what I was always taught.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I've used both a draw knife and press washer to debark my cedars....can't say which I prefer ...bit of a toss up. The press washer is a little easier but sure makes a heck of a mess....a lot more than the draw knife even.

Mike,
I like the house avatar.:thumbsup: How about a full size photo? It is kinda like what I am wanting to build.
hugs, Brandi

 

[mikim]

Mike,
I like the house avatar.:thumbsup: How about a full size photo? It is kinda like what I am wanting to build.
hugs, Brandi

Brandi -- that's the TBN guest cabin. So named cause I bought it from txdon last year and moved it here. Free of charge to any TBN member .....or anybody else for that manner..:laughing:...It's gotten a lot of use the last year....mostly by some folks from Plano who are building a small weekend house a mile up the road and need some place to stay and stage out of. We've become good friends of course and at Easter had an egg hunt for Trevor (g'son we have custody of) and their grandkids.

 

[The Dougster]

Brandi, I remember you asking about getting cedar posts and almost offered you full access to our place in Lampasas County, but assumed you'd rather find a place closer. I'm happy that you found a cooperative TBN member.
If you ever need a large volume of cedar posts, about 1 mile South of Lampasas (on Hwy 183) there is Meyers Cedar Yard. They have tons of cedar post of all sizes as well as cedar lumber. I have bought a lot of cedar lumber from them for various projects.

 

[bindian]

Brandi -- that's the TBN guest cabin. So named cause I bought it from txdon last year and moved it here. Free of charge to any TBN member .....or anybody else for that manner..:laughing:...It's gotten a lot of use the last year....mostly by some folks from Plano who are building a small weekend house a mile up the road and need some place to stay and stage out of. We've become good friends of course and at Easter had an egg hunt for Trevor (g'son we have custody of) and their grandkids.

Mike,
Ok, that sounds great.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Brandi, I remember you asking about getting cedar posts and almost offered you full access to our place in Lampasas County, but assumed you'd rather find a place closer. I'm happy that you found a cooperative TBN member.
If you ever need a large volume of cedar posts, about 1 mile South of Lampasas (on Hwy 183) there is Meyers Cedar Yard. They have tons of cedar post of all sizes as well as cedar lumber. I have bought a lot of cedar lumber from them for various projects.

I saw them when we went up to Lampasas. I will keep them in mind.
hugs, Brandi