Fence Post tops

[57JD320S]

I am curious if any one has any amazing ideas on capping round wooden fence posts. I am NOT looking for a decorative top. I want to cap them to make them weatherproof to prevent rot on the tops were water can soak in. I want something that blends in and looks like the post. Issue is the inconsistency of the diameter of the posts. Hit with your best ideas.

Thanks
Forrest

 

[SandburRanch]

I am curious if any one has any amazing ideas on capping round wooden fence posts. I am NOT looking for a decorative top. I want to cap them to make them weatherproof to prevent rot on the tops were water can soak in. I want something that blends in and looks like the post. Issue is the inconsistency of the diameter of the posts. Hit with your best ideas.

Thanks
Forrest

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Gulf Wax canning paraffin and a propane torch. If it ignites on occasion you have it just the right temperature. Size doesn't matter.

 

[57JD320S]

Sounds good. The only issue that I forgot to mention is that I need something that Horses will not eat off. Would they eat the wax?

 

[smstonypoint]

IMO, the simplest way would be to "miter" the tops to shed the water.

Steve

 

[57JD320S]

Mitering is the front runner at this point but would like something a little more sealed if anyone has developed something.

 

[smstonypoint]

Mitering is the front runner at this point but would like something a little more sealed if anyone has developed something.

Although it would require periodic replenishment, you could use a deck sealer. You could spray the sealer on, but if you are only sealing the end-grain, it would probably be just as easy (and less wasteful of the sealer) if you brushed it on.

Just my :2cents:

Steve

 

[57JD320S]

We are staining the post black in color with a deck stain and was planning on sealing the end grain. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[tallyho8]

I have seen fences capped with old cans. Cans come in many different sizes and when they rust they somewhat match the poles.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I cut them at an angle and paint with whatever leftover paint I have handy.

 

[kenmac]

roofing tar

 

[Chilly807]

I like the wax idea, though most of ours are slightly mitered.

Long story short, it turns out I have astigmatism in one eye. New glasses (first in 45 years) and this country boy can't cut anything even close to 90 degrees with a chainsaw anymore..:laughing:

It's better after a year now, but we still laugh when we look at some of the posts I cut last winter.

Sean

 

[firemanpat2910]

too funny about the glasses. Im 44 got my first pair ever last year and saw how crooked some of my work was.

 

[clemsonfor]

Angle cut and pour old oil on the top, if this is a fancy fence in your highdollar house cancel the old oil idea, you could use new cheap hydro oil! Te other suggestion would be tin beat to the shape of the post and secured with a few nails. They have it that way on one of the military bases i work on and i think that fence has been there for 30-40 years, im sure the ground contact areas are rotted but the tops look intact.

 

[RSKY]

Save your old motor oil and pour it on top of the posts. Don't know if this is legal or not.

 

[om21braz]

roofing tar

+1 Seeing as how you're going black with the rest of the post, tar seems like a good match.

 

[gerard]

I used old motor oil to prevent them chewing. They don't seem to mind chewing pressure treated wood but don't like the oil. It does wash off eventually and needs reapplication occasionally. A little pricy, but they make pvc post tops for marina's to keep the birds from landing on the piling tops. Not sure what they cost but I would assume at least $5 each so you may not want to go that high if you have a lot of posts. I'd also suggest creosote but I don't think you can even buy that anymore.

 

[JimRB]

My observation taking down a mile or more of old fence posts in Georgia is that the posts rot at the ground first. Some of the posts were rotten the whole way. At another property that had pressure treated I had a few rotted or termite eaten at the ground. At my house I think the wire fence is going to rust away before the post rot. Limited data set of course. I did not know you can get barely galvanized or well galvanized wire from the same brand of fence.

 

[Maynard Reece Byrd]

In this area worn out cowboy boots are used. Wish I had a picture for you.

 

[RobertBrown]

I have used this stuff at my place and it is great. Will seal a post and if a horse eats it..... a horse won't eat this. I don't know how many posts you can get out of a bag... I guess it depends on the post diameter. It's only about 5 bucks a bag so try it and let us know if it works for you.
fibergalss reinforced concrete, no agregate other than fiberglass.

QUIKRETE® - QUIKWALL® Surface Bonding Cement

 

[57JD320S]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep them coming. Maynard, I really need you to post a pic of the boots (The wife loves the idea, her horse pens anyway). Robert, I like yours too, how messy is it, or can you paint it on neatly?