Round or square fence posts

[RonMar]

The only way to really tell how well the treatment penetrated is to cut the post in half, as it will wick along the endgrain quite a ways on either end. I have seen older treated posts where the core was powder, but the shell(where the treatment was) is mostly still viable. They still look OK, but you give them a good kick and they break fairly easilly.

That is probably the biggest reason I am looking at Concrete. Mine will be a pretty big fence job, and I don't want to have to do it again in 10-15 years... I have an old Cedar split rail fence across the front 600' that has been there for a very long time. About half the posts are rotted off at the ground, but they are big enough that they are still standing(just setting there) with the rail ends plugged into the holes thru them supporting them. Everything above ground is in solid condition, in fact, my plan is to re-use the rails in the new fence.

That would be a pretty brave move here in the northwest guaranteeing a non-cedar wood fencepost for 30 years.

"Square augers are expensive"... Now that is funny

 

[mjarrels]

Best post I ever had were telephone poles split in half... flat on one side and round on the other half... lets see.... hyd vs gears...tires? We can go on!

mark

 

[Soundguy]

For corner posts.. go with the big round.. square won't hurt you any.. just a tad bit of work depending on what you hang on it.

If putting up a board fence.. i've always used rounds.. but on my next one may go to half rounds.. or oblongs due to easier nailing matchup with board and post.. etc.

soundguy

 

[riptides]

If putting up a board fence.. i've always used rounds.. but on my next one may go to half rounds.. or oblongs due to easier nailing matchup with board and post.. etc.

soundguy

Man, them half-rounds kick my butt on line ups. My last batch varied greatly in size and threw my straight lines astray.

Less forgiving if you ask me.

But like you said, nailing is easier... if your spot on straight.

-Mike Z.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Since no one has come up with good reasons not to, I think I'm going to go with round. That way, I only have to worry about putting them plumb and not how they're pointed. Also, I can roll them around rather than having to carry them. Plus they're more "rustic" looking.

 

[Soundguy]

Man, them half-rounds kick my butt on line ups. My last batch varied greatly in size and threw my straight lines astray.

Less forgiving if you ask me.

But like you said, nailing is easier... if your spot on straight.

-Mike Z.

I usually pull a string on my runs.. makes lining up posts much easier..

soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

All things being equal, I prefer round. Either will do the job. No negatives with either.

 

[riptides]

I usually pull a string on my runs.. makes lining up posts much easier..

soundguy

Yeah, we do that... it is the spacing on round side, next to buildings, alignment for other fences, and other obstructions...

-Mike Z.