Fencing question

   / Fencing question #1  

bunyip

Elite Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2017
Messages
2,543
Location
Flynn Victoria Australia
Tractor
Kioti DK 5810 HST
We need to replace a short section (about 100') of boundary fence using 5 or 6" treated pine posts and I have seen foam used to secure them into the ground.
My questions are:
1. Is expanding foam as good as the makers claim.
2. What sort of space do I need between the post and soil, I have an 8" auger on my post hole digger which would only leave a 1" space, is this enough or would I need more (or 1.5" gap on a 5" post).
3. Would I be better off just using quick set concrete mix.
4. What are the differences between a 5 and 6" post.

I am looking at the fastest but don't want to compromise on strength, normally I would use a contractor but as there are a lot of trees on the boundary he cannot get his tractor in and would have to hire a dingo, my BX2370 will fit in and will save me the dingo hire fee.
This is going to be a wire fence with a sight wire on top, I can wire myself, the corner posts are in good condition and I can use these again.
 
   / Fencing question
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Because that is all people use here, not familiar with metal T posts.

Edit. Did a quick google, that is what we call star pickets, not strong enough to hold livestock back, horses will bend them over getting to grass on the other side.
 
   / Fencing question #4  
OK, well the only thing I've ever used for a wooden post is concrete. Not familiar with any foam product for that use.
 
   / Fencing question #6  
I've lived around cattle and horses more than 70 years and never heard of setting post in foam. Steel T-post restrain's horses and cattle all over Texas. Unless something is bad wrong with the T-posts,you need to feed your horses if they break post getting to grass. 90% of wood posts around here are driven into ground with a tractor or hand tamped when set in holes.
 
   / Fencing question #7  
^^ Yeah, cattle, horse, goats, everything here is behind T-Posts. The only place wood is used is for corners and gates and those are often old utility poles cut in sections.
 
   / Fencing question
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I just saw the idea and thought I would ask the question, they are well fed but as they say, the grass is greener on the other side, they also have their own water troughs but reach over the fence for the neighbours cattle troughs.
Posts are driven but as I stated tractor cannot get into this spot but I can with mine, traditionally metal posts are only used inside boundaries and often as temporary fencing, we can get boggy and metal posts will lean over with little pressure even though driven deep, wooden posts will resist this with the greater surface area.
The appeal was the two minute set time which means we can wire up quicker and have a secure fence in a couple of hours.
 
   / Fencing question #9  
Around here very few horses. This is cattle & wheat country. I've never seen cattle behind wooden posts. Wood is used so horses won't hurt themselves on the metal T-post. T-133 metal post is the almost universal choice for cattle fencing along with four strands of barbed wire.

In rare instances ranchers still ride horses to manage cattle. The modern rancher is on his ATV as he moves his cattle.

Like you indicate - foam would allow rapid set up. 100 feet - what is that - seven/eight posts. I'd give it a try. The foam will grip the soil as well as concrete - question is - - is the foam rigid enough to resist toppling under pressure.
 
   / Fencing question #10  
The appeal was the two minute set time which means we can wire up quicker and have a secure fence in a couple of hours.

When I set a wood post, I pour the concrete mix in dry, wiggle the post a bit then check it for plumb, tamp the dry concrete mix down, then tamp dirt on top. Moisture in the ground leaches into the concrete mix and sets it. If it's been overly dry, I'll pour water around the post after setting it. The dry, tamped concrete is usually firm enough to hang wooden fence panels right away.
 

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