Long term fence project.

[MF1455v]

My pipe fence is nearing completion after almost 3 years. As many of you know we have been in an extended drought so welding has not been an option. This is my first pipe and sucker rod fence. It has been a real learning experence. I would like to give wrought'n harv (Harvey) a special thanks for all the helpful information and inspiration.

I will spread out the pictures over the next several weeks as I get them all together and resized.

These pictures are of the north and south sides of my property. I have 8.5 acres here. The sides are around 950ft. Picture 2 shows a terrace at the back of the property.

James

 

[MF1455v]

Setting the corner posts along the front of property. These will be at the driveway before angling back to the gate. Note the date on this one. Oh well you can't rush mother nature.

James

 

[MF1455v]

Here is a few pictures of the gate posts installed. Both are 4 1/2" pipe 3/16" thick. Each post is 25' long. They are roughly 9 1/2' in the ground. The paint blotch on the left post is the center mark. When setting with the FEL I wanted to know the tip point.

James

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin MF 1455,
Looks like a darn nice job for someone that doesnt do it for a living ! Your third pic is sized about right and came out nice ! Keep them commin !

 

[MF1455v]

The gate posts holes were easy the first 3 1/2'. After that they were dug by hand. I have a screw type manual post hole digger. It had to modified using 2 sections of 3/4" black pipe. A lot of water, a lot of patients and elbo greese and the holes were complete.

James

 

[weldingisfun]

Here is a few pictures of the gate posts installed. Both are 4 1/2" pipe 3/16" thick. Each post is 25' long. They are roughly 9 1/2' in the ground. The paint blotch on the left post is the center mark. When setting with the FEL I wanted to know the tip point.

James

How did you manage to get 9.5 feet into the ground in Texas. Tell me your secret.
Nice looking fence. All your hard work paid off.

 

[weldingisfun]

How did you manage to get 9.5 feet into the ground in Texas. Tell me your secret.
Nice looking fence. All your hard work paid off.

Guess I should have read your last post before I asked the question.
You didn't run into much rock did you?
My problem is not only rocks but rock strata. Can't dig that out. You have to break through.

 

[RedRocker]

Shoot, I was welding the last few weeks on my fence and developed a new technique.
Weld.........Stomp out the fire, Weld........Stomp out the fire. It was a total body workout!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

James,

Thanks for the pictures. It really looks like allot of work!!!

Are you buying new pipe or oil field pipe? What size are you using for your posts and if you don't mind, what did it cost you?

Your hand auger reminded me of a nightmare from my youth. My dad wanted to dig a well to water our lawns in the Bay Area of California. Dad bought the auger and we dug down as deep as it would go, then started adding lengths of pipe. After the second length of pipe, I had to stand on top of the house to help pull it up and to ballance it while he emptied it. This went on until we got down 27 feet and about two months of weekends.

The only saving grace was that it was during football season and we lived real close to Oakland. The Raiders were doing really good back then with John Madden as the coach and when they came on TV, we got to stop working. I became a Raiders fan then just because they saved my brothers and I from a few hours of digging that well. hahaha

It wasn't clay, but I feel your pain at digging those holes by hand.

Eddie

 

[BTDT]

James,

Thanks for the pictures. It really looks like allot of work!!!

Are you buying new pipe or oil field pipe? What size are you using for your posts and if you don't mind, what did it cost you?

Your hand auger reminded me of a nightmare from my youth. My dad wanted to dig a well to water our lawns in the Bay Area of California. Dad bought the auger and we dug down as deep as it would go, then started adding lengths of pipe. After the second length of pipe, I had to stand on top of the house to help pull it up and to ballance it while he emptied it. This went on until we got down 27 feet and about two months of weekends.

The only saving grace was that it was during football season and we lived real close to Oakland. The Raiders were doing really good back then with John Madden as the coach and when they came on TV, we got to stop working. I became a Raiders fan then just because they saved my brothers and I from a few hours of digging that well. hahaha

It wasn't clay, but I feel your pain at digging those holes by hand.

Eddie

Eddie, I have a well on my place now that I dug in about 4 hrs using this method. 21' pipe and 3' sandpoint. I have sandy soil.