Fence post types

[Lebneh]

I need to put in some fence post and I don't know which type of post will do better job. This is going to be a fence around fruit trees. I think just about everyone in the area is using wood posts on their farms/land. In the past I have done T-post.

I may do some electric or I may just put all barbed wire, not sure yet.

Basically, I am looking for a pros/cons of wood vs t-post fences. The prices are similar so it would be what's the best fit.

3.5 inch wood post (treated) or t-post.

 

[turnkey4099]

I need to put in some fence post and I don't know which type of post will do better job. This is going to be a fence around fruit trees. I think just about everyone in the area is using wood posts on their farms/land. In the past I have done T-post.

I may do some electric or I may just put all barbed wire, not sure yet.


Basically, I am looking for a pros/cons of wood vs t-post fences. The prices are similar so it would be what's the best fit.

3.5 inch wood post (treated) or t-post.

T-posts will outlast any wooden post by decades. Problem with them is somehow bracing the corners.

Harry K

 

[texasjohn]

T post....let me repeat...T post. Fast to drive, not too hard to remove, are reusable. All wood posts I have used have caused problems...rot, hard to dig post holes...T posts work for electric, barb or net fence...wood posts are traditional, but I wish I had never used even one...I have tried all sorts of treated posts....all rot or go bad all too quick....For end braces, use welded pipe if you can...

 

[Ken45101]

Why the welded pipe?

 

[Lebneh]

T post....let me repeat...T post. Fast to drive, not too hard to remove, are reusable. All wood posts I have used have caused problems...rot, hard to dig post holes...T posts work for electric, barb or net fence...wood posts are traditional, but I wish I had never used even one...I have tried all sorts of treated posts....all rot or go bad all too quick....For end braces, use welded pipe if you can...

Can you give a link from TSC or Home Depot for the welded pipe that you are talking about.

Thanks for the knowledge.

 

[forgeblast]

T-posts have a corner bracing kit. tsc has them, that's were I got them from. The only thing I have noticed is that there was a bit of frost heave on them. I will go back out tomorrow and smash them down but with all the accessory's for them I like them a lot. They have stand offs for e'fence etc. I also found its easier to install, we have so much rock, digging a hole to put a fence post is difficult on a good day, let alone when you find a huge rock right where you need to place a post.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Back in my childhood days, all we had were wooden post and one of my spring jobs was to go around with a hand post hole digger and replace all the rotten post. Sure wish they had T post back then. We put up several miles of fencing here on the farm and used all T post except at corners and at gates. Gates are still hung on old telephone poles that are put at least 4 feet in the ground. Telephone poles are about the only thing that has enough creosote on them to prevent rot. We used treated post for H bracing at the corners. These will likely outlive both me and my brother in law.
We had a pole barn on the home place that my Dad and I built (mostly Dad as I was about 10 or12 years old) using telephone poles that is over 50 years old and poles are still as good as the day we put them in the ground.

 

[oldballs]

Wood PT posts rot all too soon as another has posted. I just discovered three posts that rotted at ground level, just like they had been sawed off. Those posts were not more than 10 years old. I had used them for corner posts. Darn-n-n-. Am replacing them again with wood, but in ten more years, I'll be gone too.

 

[EddieWalker]

Every wooden post that I've ever seen that rotted out was because there was a low around the base of the post where water stood after it rained or the area was watered. For a wood post to last, water must drain away from the post. What happens is the fill that goes in around the post either settles if it was dirt, or the concrete is only brought up to ground level and once the grass grows back, that area becomes the low area. You have to mound the dirt or concrete up and if you use dirt, you have to go back and check it periodically. Usually after a few months and several rains it's done settling, but just like everything else, keep an eye on it and fix it when it needs more dirt.

I like treated posts for my corners and either every fifth or sixth t post, or an H bracket on longer runs that go up or down, or change direction. You can't have too many H brackets!!

Eddie

 

[DT86]

3.5" wood posts are basically useless. They are very easy to break.

I would use t posts as the like posts and good 6"+ corner, gate and end treated posts.